Jennifer

Diary of Mari Darrieussecq

July 18, 1664

Dear Diary,

It’s been three months since I arrived in New France. I was sent here along with eight hundred other women to assist in the population of this promising land. I miss the lush countryside of France, but with the incredible conditions that Jean Talon and King Louis XIV were to provide here was just too great of an opportunity to let go. When I arrived in land of my new residence, eager men waited along the shore for the arrival of the multitudinous Fille du Roi that occupied the ships. We ambled down the ramp toward the shore dressed in our finest dresses hoping to make a first-class impression on the men of the town. The majority of the women, including myself, were married off promptly to Habitants or to other members of the New French society. I got many apt opportunities and offers, but the one that struck me the most was a man named Henri Becquerel. He is a Habitant; his hair is curly, and auburn in hue. His eyes are a green as lush as the French countryside and the apples of his cheeks burn red from his long days out in the fields. I didn’t hesitate when he swiftly proposed to me shortly after we had become acquainted. We live in a quaint wooden cottage which is surrounded by fields in which we tend to. The cottage is furnished with substantial wooden furniture, glass windows and an elaborate stone fire place. Henri was quite pleased with my dowry of one ox and cow; two pigs, chickens, barrels of salt beef, and money and it has contributed extensively to the profit of our farm. Henri and I believe I may already be pregnant so he serves me French bread, cucumber slices and bacon served with salt regularly, but my favourite would have to be melons served with sugar which luckily are plentiful here. The churches here are corresponding to those inf France; they’re Roman Catholic and people are required to spend Fridays and Saturdays fasting. It’s fantastic here in New France and I am swiftly adapting and am quite enjoying my new life with Henri.

Dominique Olympe

Diary of Mari Darrieussecq

July 25, 1664

Dear Diary,

Henri and I suspect that I’ve been pregnant for about two months and being the considerate man he is, he bought me a gift. Being an orphan I’ve never received an actual gift before so when I awoke this morning to find a lovely wrapped parcel placed on my lap I was both astonished and elated. As Henri sat beside me, his eyes were twinkling with eagerness as I gingerly unfolded the extravagant floral wrapping from the parcel. Unable to hesitate any longer I tore off the top of the box to find the most pulchritudinous beaver fur hat I had ever seen. A voyageur by the name of Dominique Olympe had arrived in New France just yesterday with his canoe filled with furs. I had looked on, my heart burning with jealousy, as the wealthier Fille du Roi with their dresses decorated with gorgeous designs purchasing their furs as they were to be shipped to France the next day. I loathed all those women as they ambled away with their luscious furs in hand; while I treaded back to my farm with my average Habitant husband, dressed in my everyday apron dress, my head hung in shame. I knew we couldn’t afford it, but I couldn’t help wanting one of them. However, now I am a proud owner of my own fur hat which fits perfectly atop my heart shaped face. I’m guessing Henri bought it with the money we had received at our wedding from our neighboring Habitant friends and from my dowry; otherwise there was no chance we could have afforded this. I truly do love Henri; he is such a wonderful husband…

Ms.Talktumuch

Diary of Mari Darrieussecq

July 29, 1664

Dear Diary,

Today, after finishing our daily duties of tending to the fields and animals and baking the bread in our outdoor bake ovens, we went over to one of Henri’s friend’s house for dinner. He was just recently married to one of the other Fille du Roi in which had arrived on the same ship as me just three months ago. Henri and I had brought over some salted bacon for the dinner, but it did not compare to the meal he had in store. Henri’s friend, David Talktumcuh, was relatively wealthier then ourselves and served us the most appetizing meal I’d ever tasted. It is Sunday today and after my long day of fasting on Friday and Saturday, in which I could only eat bread, vegetables and fish, I was utterly ravenous and ate much more then my fill. The evening was filled up with lovely conversation of some scandalous new Coureur de Bois and of my progressing pregnancy. Every so often however I would look over at Mrs. Talktumuch’s face and couldn’t help, but notice the concealed look of annoyance displayed on her face. She rarely spoke a word throughout our entire visit and most certainly did not appear happy with her new husband. I would have expected her to be glowing with the feelings of new love, but she just looked miserable. I know I may be imagining things, but I think I should tell the nuns just in case... If she were to commit adultery to David that could just not be tolerated and I’m not sure how he’d cope…

Bibliography

1. Baldwin, Douglas. __New France and the Fur Trade.__ Calgary, Alberta, Canada: Weigl Education Publishers Ltd., 2003

2. Dicks, Stewart. __Les Canadiens: The French in Canada 1600-1867__. Scarborough, Ontario: WPrentice-Hall of Canda Ltd., 1980

3. Nelson, Sheila __The Settlement of New France & Acadia.__ Broomall, Pennsylvania: Mason Crest Publishers Inc., 2006

