Erin

Diary of Sister Joie Dear diary, Another exhausting week. Battles broke out again between the Iroquois and us. Many were killed, and even more were sent to the infirmary. Many of our Huron friends helped us in the battle too. Without their help I'm sure many more would have perished. I was working through the night to the next day at l’Hôtel Dieu, treating arrow and knife wounds, broken bones and burns. By the time I was allowed to go, my robes were stained with blood. I changed from my white nursing robes to my black nun robes and headed to eat my evening meal. Since it is summer, the food is bountiful. I enjoyed a delicious meal of warm bread, corn, trout, and eel stew. After an evening prayer, I walked back to the convent with Sister Adele and Sister Bernadette. There was a raging fire in the furnace, but the cold still crept in through the cracks of the house. Since our convent was burnt down, our home has been here. It isn’t the best, but I am thankful for this roof over my head. We wove and embroidered in silence, beside the crackling fire. The next day after Morning Prayer and breakfast, I headed to the infirmary to check on the injured. God had answered my prayers and helped these poor souls survive the night.

After seeing to the sick, I went into the village owned by seigneur Jacques Francois. A ship with some Filles du Roi came in today, and I went to help them settle in. I grew quite fond of one of the girls, Alexandrie was her name. She told of her horrible life in France, and how this could become her new life. I am thankful to God for her second chance in this new world. I went to visit some of the villagers after the ladies had settled in. Many are struggling to keep up with their rent. We try to help them stay on their feet with the small amount of donations we get from the church mass. But even I am uncertain how long that can help them for. One family, in particular, that I am worried about is the Heidel family. After giving away their last chicken, they have next to nothing besides their house. Ambros and the family have much spirit, and that keeps them on their feet. The wedding will raise their spirits. In the evening I walked over to the girl’s school. It was suppertime when I arrived, I greeted the girls, and they greeted back with very nicely. They’re English has improved since the last time I saw them. After the meal I treated the girls to some maple sugar candies I received from one of the Native women. They were very happy, and their joyous smiles made me happy too. After Prayer, I was off to my bed, exhausted, but very contented with my work.

Works Cited Cruxton, J. Bradley, and Robert J. Walker. //Community Canada//. Ontario: Oxford UP, 1993. Francis, Daniel. //Discovery First Peoples and First Contact//. Harwood, Harold. //The Colonial Dream//. Jaenen, Dr. Cornelius J. //First Contact//.