Letters written in 1847
To Mother Elizabeth McMullen, Superior of the Sisters of Charity, in Montreal
General Hospital in Bytown
November 11, 1847
My very dear Mother,
I must announce to you that our dear Sister Xavier has been dangerously ill since the sixth of this month. This dear Sister received the last rites yesterday, she has suffered martyrdom, during the space of six hours she was in such a terrible crisis that we thought she was at her last moments; she was conscious enough to request Viaticum, Extreme-Unction and the Indulgence. You cannot imagine our pain and our consternation in believing that this good Sister would die so suddenly. Fortunately, the faith of our Father and the medicines of Dr. Van Cortland have brought about the happy outcome that we expected. This good Doctor came three times yesterday, and today he told us she was out of danger. She is extremely weak but I hope this state does not last too long. I request prayers, especially from Father Larré, from yourself, my good Mother, and from all in the Community. Here, the rest of the Community is as always, the Hospital is always filled with sick immigrants.
You ask me to send back to you Mr. Tronson, it has been some time that I no longer have him; I sent him to you last winter with Sister Saint Joseph. I am eager to learn how Sister Phelan is managing at the sheds and Sister Curran at the Novitiate? Miss. Marguerite Limoges wrote to request her entrance into the Novitiate and asks me to give my response to Mr. Bardey. Would you please tell this Gentleman that I cannot receive her since we already have enough for the present.
Farewell, my good Mother, our respects to our Father Larré and to all our Sisters.
As always your affectionate daughter,
Sr. É. Bruyère