le 5 juin 1666

Monsieur Deschamps returned today. An agreement has been reached. I may accompany her, but since I am so young Catherine insisted it will not be as a fille à marier, even though some girls even younger than I have married there. I cannot imagine marrying at eleven or twelve years of age.

Monsieur Deschamps seemed to think it would be perfectly correct. "Come now, mademoiselle," he said. "Would you not like to be the wife of a Montréal merchant?"

I could not help myself. I burst out that I was but thirteen years old.

Monsieur Deschamps and Cousin Pierre looked at each other in a way I disliked.

le 6 juin 1666

We leave on Friday. The mass this Sunday morning was the last I shall ever attend at our church in Reignac. I prayed that both Catherine and I will have the strength to make the journey and leave our dear home behind.

Monsieur Deschamps has travelled on ahead to the ship, but Madame Laurent has remained here at Le Cadeau so that she might act as our chaperone on the journey. She is a pleasant woman, pink-cheeked and jolly, and I think it will be a pleasure to travel with her.

It will be a journey of three days or so from here. We are to go by Cousin Pierre's coach to La Rochelle and then sail to New France. There will not be room for us to take much, only a few chests. Mine will be the small one, since Catherine has so many lovely things as a bride.

Cousin Pierre has shown us a kindness in the form of a gift of money. Fifty livres. It is generous, I suppose, and I pray it will be enough. As a fille à marier Catherine has one hundred livres. Some of that is for clothing, and sixty for the ship's passage. Monsieur Deschamps received ten livres from that as a fee for enlisting her. I understand his eagerness now.

Madame Laurent says that it may be possible to procure more private accommodations on the ship. Those with no money must share a common space. Catherine wrinkles her nose to think of such a thing, but it could be most interesting.

le 7 juin 1666

I have helped Louise carefully fold and pack Catherine's trousseau. Cousine Madeleine and Anne watched us. Madeleine made a suggestion once or twice. She does know a good deal about the care of fine clothing, as she has so much of it herself. There is another chest with our bedding, sheets and quilts and such. It has worn me out, and so I am writing this in bed.

I packed my own things alone in my room. Stockings, shifts, pockets, aprons, handkerchiefs, shoes, caps, a coiffe, a comb, a warm shawl, an everyday gown with its skirt and bodice, and a gown for church. Cleaning sticks for my teeth, my rosary and my prayer book. It is all crammed into my chest.

I bent down to pick up a ribbon that had dropped onto the carpet, and when I turned to my chest, there was Minette sitting inside it. It brought tears to my eyes. I picked her up and she purred in contentment.

"No, Minette," I said sadly. "You cannot come." I told her that she must stay here with Louise or go to the barn. She must be a good, brave cat and keep away all the mice. Life is unfair.


From Dear Canada: Alone in an Untamed Land, copyright © 2003 by Maxine Trottier.

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