make two good excursions, one Of 400 leagues, coming and going, and the other Of 20o. The occasion was as follows Our missionaries in the Rocky Mountains had urged me to obtain them some religious ladies for the education of young girls in Montana, and to take care, later, of orphans
and the sick. With the design of commencing this first Catholic establishment or boarding-school, the Fathers offered their own house, situated in Helena, the capital of the Territory. With my superiors' consent, I went to work without delay, in view of the approach of winter and the
great distance to be traveled. I obtained a colony of Sis
ters of Charity, chosen among sixty-six nuns. I accom
panied them to Omaha, in Nebraska. Well recommended, they took their places upon the Pacific railroad, to go I, loo miles and then take stage from Corinne, in the Territory of Utah; a six-horse stage, which makes the 5oo miles to
Helena in thirty-six hours. I have since learned, from private letters and the public prints, that the good sisters reached their destination, amid the acclamations of the citizens without regard to creed. Deo gratias! By this
time their first establishment is in full activity. It is to be hoped that each year other religious houses may arise, according to the needs of two vast regions of the Rocky Mountains, the Territories of Idaho and Montana.
A short time ago, I tried to undertake a second journey, or a visit among the Potawatomi Indians, in the State of Kansas.
We have two schools there, with about 300 pupils. The boys are under the care of our Fathers and the girls in charge of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart. These two establishments are self-supporting and prosperous. The pupils are giving entire satisfaction to their teachers, and their zeal, piety and application are exemplary.
I felt a strong desire to see the Potawatomies once more, especially at a moment very critical and important to them. It was among them that I commenced my missionary career.