Curé Antoine Labelle to His Friend William Scott, December 17, 1876

A letter from Curé Labelle, read by a teenager.

Quebec City, December 17, 1876

My Dear William,

You are always good as life itself, in comforting my poor mother. They want to bully her with questionings, hoping she will contradict herself.

With your friends, you must oversee the work at the mine. My curate is busy with parish visits. Though I am far away, I am still hopeful.

The experiments in Paris on the titanic iron were so wonderful that Mr. Bessett offered his foundry to be part of our enterprise.

I shall press forward with my company bill,

I hope to be home for Christmas.

I am not discouraged in the midst of all my hardships.

I need strength and energy. I pray to God for His help and support in my troubles and perplexities.

I should like to start forges back home, for the titanic iron is abundant. We shall build inexpensive tiled furnaces.

I was glad to hear the news that the watch factory is already established back home.

I have many irons in the fire for a poor man.

Farewell, good-bye,

Yours, Antoine Labelle, priest.