Juila+L.

= = =Julia ’ s Page =


==== I , Julia, have been living in New France for about a year now. I  was brought to the colony when King Louis XIV of France was informed that New France’s population was not increasing quickly enough; he thought he needed more women to start families and offered a royal dowry of 50 livres, 50 livres worth of house provisions, 10 livres as recruitment grant, and 10 livres worth of clothes, so I took it. I mean, how could I pass this wonderful opportunity! I definitely miss the cool breeze in France but most of the women I met on the way to New France were orphaned without support just like me. As time passed  after arrival, most of the women found husbands within a few weeks or months since no bachelors were allowed to leave the colony until all the newly arrived women were married. My husband is a habitant who arrived in New France before I did to find a new life across the ocean in New France. To contribute to New France, I raise eleven children which I receive pensions of 300 livres to 400 livres for just that. However, it is quite difficult to raise all eleven in a small half-wood cottage. ====


==== In my crowded house, most of my furniture and structures are wooden or made out of stone that my husband, John, built. Other than the dowry, I received 1 hood, 1 handkerchief, 1 pair of gloves, 1 bonnet, shoe ribbons, 4 braids, 1 comb, 2 knives, 1 pair of scissors, 1 pair of stockings, 100 needles, 100 pins, and white thread which makes my daily life chores much easier to do.  I had to make most of the clothes that my family and I wear or we receive imported simple French clothes made out of animal skin. My upper class neighbours own extravagant detailed dresses wild turkey tail feathers on their fans which are quite popular among women right now; I wish I can own one of those fans... ====


==== Anyways, today was one of my son’s, Jack, birthday, so I prepared a fancy meal; dried green pea soup, salted pork, tourtiere, bread made in the outdoor oven, cucumbers with salt, melons with sugar, and bacon. I am so glad we weren’t short on food this year. Last year, I had to make him baked potatoes on his birthday which wasn’t such a great birthday for Jack. Also, I had to finish my long-listed chores which I have been pushing back. Just this morning, I had to feed and bed for the livestock, filled a wood box, spun, wove, and sewed. Then later tonight, my husband has to construct more furniture like chairs and promised to help me make candles, soap, rugs, and quills. ====

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====<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO; msofareastfontfamily: 바탕; msofareastlanguage: KO;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; line-height: 115%; msofareastfontfamily: 바탕; msofareastlanguage: KO;">When I have spare time, I practice my religion, Roman Catholic. My family and I sing songs like Les Filles <span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 바탕; mso-fareast-language: KO;">à Marier. To be good Roman Catholics, we fast on Fridays and Saturdays; on the day, we can only have one meal or a snack, absolutely no meat or milk, and only fish, vegetables, and bread. Oh gosh, hold on. More new women just arrived! I better go greet them. I’ll definitely write more tomorrow! ====

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Bibliography: Grant, Janet. //Madeleine de Vercheres//. Print. Horwood, Harold. //The Colonial Dream//. Print. Neering, Rosemary. //Life in New France//. Print. //The Canadian Encyclopedia//. Web. 20 Jan. 2010. []. "Filles-du-Roi (King's Daughters)." //Juliana L'Heureux - Franco-American Writer//. Web. 20 Jan. 2010. [].

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%; line-height: 115%; msofareastfontfamily: 바탕; msofareastlanguage: KO;">May 12th, 1662 Dear diary,

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I finally have time to write. I have been busy welcoming newly arrived women and showing them around. One of the nicest girls I met was (Zach). She was gorgeous even when she was just wearing a simple dress which immediately showed she was a middle class. She looked absolutely lost and amazed at the same time as she looked around the colony. After we became acquainted, she told me much about her life back in France and how miserable it was and her life as an orphan. Not only that, she talked on how she already found herself a young, rich, hardworking man who will always keep her warm at night, but he is already married.

Then I had a nice conversation with Clara Bousquet, one of my husband’s habitant friends. We discussed the old days when her husband almost had to pay tax because he was unmarried. After many thoughts, her husband decided to marry her and planned on having many children, so they could receive money from the King. However, Clara was unable to have too many children. Her tears dripped down her face as she mentioned her disability.

After we had our heart-to-heart and took her to her house for some rest, I walked along the forest to check up on my livestock. Then, I felt a swift breeze as if someone quickly had run away. Usually, if we see any intruders, I’m supposed to go back to the colony. However, I stayed where I was and observed the forest with my watchful eyes. Suddenly, I felt a rough hand on my shoulder. I shrieked and a unseemly man named Francois Patuine, a missionary. He explained how Algonquin group slaughtered his three fellow missionaries who were trying to convert their tribe’s woman. I felt terrible about this situation and took him to the colony. Oh wait, my husband is calling me to discuss about this missionary. I’ll inform you what happened with my husband!