Life in the Grey Nunnery at Montreal | Page 6

trifled with. Henceforth, OBEDIENCE must be my
motto. To every command, however cruel and unjust, I must yield a
blind, passive, and unquestioning obedience.
I dressed as quickly as possible, and hastened down to the Superior. As
I passed through the hall, I thought I would be very careful to step
softly, but in my haste I forgot what she said about closing the door,
and it came together with a loud crash. On entering the room, I found
the Superior waiting for me; in her hand she held a stick about a foot
long, to the end of which was attached nine leather strings, some twelve
or fifteen inches long, and about the size of a man's little finger. She
bade me come to her, in a voice so cold and stern it sent a thrill of
terror through my frame, and I trembled with the apprehension of some
impending evil. I had no idea that she was about to punish me, for I
was not aware that I had done anything to deserve it; but her looks
frightened me, and I feared,--I know not what. She took hold of my arm,
and without saying a word, gave me ten or twelve strokes over the head
and shoulders with this miniature cat-o'-nine-tails. Truly, with her, it
was "a word and a blow, and the blow came first." Wherever the strings
chanced to fall upon the bare flesh, they raised the skin, as though a hot
iron had been applied to it. In some places they took off the skin
entirely, and left the flesh raw, and quivering with the stinging pain. I
could not think at first what I had done to deserve this severe
punishment, nor did she condescend to enlighten me. But when I began
to cry, and beg to go to my father, she sternly bade me stop crying at
once, for I could not go to my father. I must stay there, she said, and
learn to remember all her commands and obey then. She then taught me
the following verse:
I am a little nun, The sisters I will mind; When I am pretty and learn,
Then they will use me kind. I must not be so noisy When I go about the
house, I'll close the doors so softly They'll think I am a mouse.
This verse I repeated until I could say it correctly. I was then taken to

the breakfast-room, where I was directed to kneel before the crucifix,
and say my prayers, which I repeated after the Superior. I was then
seated at the table, and directed to hold my head down, and fix my eyes
upon my plate. I must not look at any one, or gaze about the room; but
sit still, and quietly eat what was given me. I had upon my plate, one
thin slice of wheat bread, a bit of potato, and a very small cup of milk.
This was my stated allowance, and I could have no more, however
hungry I might be. The same quantity was given me every meal, when
in usual health, until I was ten years of age. On fast days, no food
whatever was allowed; and we always fasted for three meals before
receiving the sacrament. This ceremony was observed every third day,
therefore we were obliged to fast about one-third of the time. Yet,
however long the fast might be, my allowance of food was never
increased.
After breakfast the Superior took me to Priest Dow for confession. He
kept me with him all day, allowing me neither food nor drink; nor did
he permit me to break my fast until four o'clock the next day. I then
received what they call the sacrament, for the first time.
To prepare for this, I was clad in a white dress and cape, and a white
cap on my head. I was then led to the chapel, and passing up the aisle,
knelt before the altar. Priest Dow then came and stood before me, and
taking from a wine-glass a small thin wafer, he placed it upon my
tongue, at the same time repeating some Latin words, which, the
Superior afterwards told me, mean in English, "The body and blood of
Christ." I was taught to believe that I held in my mouth the real body
and blood of Christ. I was also told that if I swallowed the wafer before
it had melted on my tongue, IT WOULD CHOKE ME TO DEATH;
and if I indulged an evil thought while I held it in my mouth I
SHOULD FALL INTO A POOL OF BLOOD.

CHAPTER III
.
THE NURSERY.
While in the White Nunnery, I spent the most of my time in the nursery.
But the name gives one