so devoted was her heart to the cause of doing good to the wretched, and instructing the ignorant, that many who regarded her as a heretic, could not but admire her zeal, and bless her charity. But when the first rebellion in Lower Canada broke out, the blind fury of those who felt they were oppressed, but were not qualified to discriminate between their friends and foes, was, at St. Johns, turned against Madame Feller and her adherents. She was driven by violent outrages from the country, and with about sixty of her pupils and supporters, took refuge in America. She was received at Champlain, whither she fled, with the greatest kindness; though her sufferings during her flight had been severe, and during the winter she passed in the United States, she and her poor followers had to endure many privations. But as soon as order was in some measure restored in the Provinces, the British authorities invited Madame Feller to return, promising her protection for the future, and urging her to appear against those who had injured her, and they should be punished. She accepted with gratitude the offer of returning to her mission labours, but she stedfastly refused to witness against those who had injured her.
"I came to Canada," said she, "to do good to all, so far as I have the ability—to those who injure and persecute, as well as to those who love and aid me. What these poor people did, they did in Ignorance. I pity and forgive them, and only desire the opportunity of doing them favours."
Her resolution soon became known, and the true Christian spirit of her conduct subdued her enemies. From that time she was comparatively unmolested. Her school increased, her influence augmented, and her character was respected even by those who still opposed her mission. In the autumn of 1836, she removed to Grand Ligne, a settlement about twenty miles from Montreal, where she opened a school. In July, 1837, Madame Feller was visited by the Rev. Mr. Gilman, pastor of a Baptist Church in Montreal. He found her with her school in a barn, open to the wind and rain. She herself was living in a small garret. Impressed with her devotion, he determined to use every exertion to obtain a house for the Mission. In Montreal, and in the various towns in the United States, he met with a warm and cheering response to his call for aid; sufficient funds were soon obtained to warrant the commencement of the building, and the Mission house was subsequently finished on a much larger scale than was at first projected; the visits of Madame Feller to the Atlantic cities for several successive years, having signally prospered. This institution and its branches now have over three hundred pupils. There is a Normal department, where about thirty young men, French Canadians, are preparing themselves to become teachers, colporteurs, or missionaries; and there is also a female department of the same kind lately established. The great aim of those engaged in this benevolent enterprise, is to teach all the children in the Canadas to read, and then place a Bible in the possession of every family.
Madame Feller's character has been purified in the fiery baptism of adversity. She lives for others, and in the devotion of heart and soul to the cause of benevolence, her powers of mind have acquired such strength, comprehensiveness, and discernment, as few of either sex can ever attain. By her wisdom and perseverance, she has overcome what seemed before impossibilities, and has
