Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/671

630 It was during this visit to America that she established the Tabernacle Society in connection with the sodality of the Children of Mary. In 1876, after her return to France, she was sent by the mother-general to visit the convents of Spain. Fifty years of labor, zeal, and devotedness to the good of others is the record of this noble woman. In September, 1877, when the superiors from sixty houses in the various parts of the world met for the purpose of a spiritual retreat, Mother Hardey requested that she be permitted to return to America with some of the visiting superiors owing to her failing health, and on the 20th of October, the little party sailed for New York. On the 18th of July, she sailed on her return journey to France. She accompanied Mother Lehon on several tours to various convents in Belgium, England and Italy. In 1882, she was again sent to New York for the purpose of saving the Manhattanville property, the encroachments of the city threatening its very existence. While in America on this mission, she experienced a severe illness, and it was doubtful whether she would be able to make the return voyage, but on February 18, 1884, she sailed for France, very weak and at the risk of her life. Although she never regained her health, gradually failing physically, she remained mentally strong until the very last. On Thursday, the 17th of June, 1886, at the age of seventy-six, she died, after sixty years and ten months' service for her church. Thus ended the life of one of the most remarkable women in America in labors for the advancement of education and religion.