Le“AFIN D’ÊTREFORUM EN PLEINE POSSESSION DE SES MOYENS” VOLUME 33, #2 & #3 FALL/WINTER 2007 AUTOMNE/HIVER 2007

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Joyeux Noël et une Bonne et Heureuse Année!

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Ailleurs/Elsewhere –– Individus: $25 Organisation/Organizations –– Bibliothèque/Library: $40 Le FORUM, Centre Franco-Américain, Orono, ME 04469-5719 2 Vol. 33 # 2 & 3 • AUTOMNE/HIVER our public elementary and high schools, national Jetport on September 11, 2001 as required by the Supreme Court, and when Mohammed Atta boarded his plane. of providing emergency medical care to My father, Wilfrid Guignard, immi- illegals. Still others worry about crime . grated legally to the United States in 1919 My wife and I are foster parents to from Canada. He never became a U.S. our niece and nephew, who lived in Port- citizen and died in 1987. He carried his land, Maine prior to coming to live with green card in his wallet as required by law us. Their father, a widower and a Franco- and reported any address changes to what American, lived in a homeless shelter in was then called INS. He didn’t fear INS Portland. He has been unemployed for agents and travelled to Canada often with 4 years. Discouraged that he could only no problems. Growing up in Biddeford, The recent Bureau of Immigration find minimum wage jobs in Portland as I knew hundreds of immigrants. I never and Custom Enforcement raid in New rents were rising, he began neglecting his heard one express a fear of immigration Bedford, Massachusetts in which over 200 children and they were taken away from agents. While the 10 detained foreign illegal aliens were incarcerated has again him by DHS. He found day work from nationals in the 2004 Portland raid may raised the ire of the Portland Press Herald. time to time but could not raise his kids have come from countries where citizens In a March 15, 2007 op ed, piece, Louise competing with workers who, he says, fear a “Big Brother” government, such as Rocha- McCarthy condemned the raid. told him they were illegals. Barbara Somalia, Ethiopia or a Latin American This recent article reminded me of the Ehrenreich, in her acclaimed book Nickel dictatorship, hopefully the continued article written 3 years ago by Press Herald and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in assimilation of the foreign-born com- editorial page writer Bill Nemitz in which America about the working poor in Amer- munity in Portland will prevent those he criticized an immigration raid Portland ica has an entire chapter on the Portland, who are legally residing in the U.S. from accusing agents from the Department of Maine area where she worked incognito being afraid when the government em- Homeland Security(formerly the INS) of as a cleaning woman at minimum wage. barks on a campaign to enforce the law. leaving “Portland’s hard-won reputation She could not support herself, never mind as an immigrant friendly city in tatters.” raising two children. Certainly the plight Michael Guignard Why would immigration agents be of the working poor is not due solely to Alexandria, VA trying to enforce our nation’s immigration the presence of millions of illegal aliens laws in Portland, Maine (or for that matter in the U.S. The disappearance of good, Five years ago, a number of ar- in New Bedford, Massachusetts, a city manufacturing jobs for the undereducated ticles appeared in the Portland Press that once had a sizable Franco-American is central to this development. But, un- Herald relating to H-2B visas. The first population)? Since two of the September less you want to do away with the free two appeared in September, 2002 on 11th highjackers left on their mission market system, the government can’t do the same day and concerned the tragic from Portland, Maine, that morning, it is much about the loss of jobs overseas, but deaths of 14 Hondurans and Guatemalans not unreasonable for the U.S. government it can try to control illegal immigration. in Northern Maine, all of whom held to be searching for illegals in Portland. That is what the Border Patrol was H-2B visas. More recently there have For the sake of argument, however, let’s doing in Portland. Abusive behavior and been articles about Cianbro’s attempts say that none of the illegals who live in violence should not be tolerated from to bring into Maine foreign national Portland are a threat to our national se- Border Patrol agents. But, as Mr. Nemitz welders and other workers on H-2B vi- curity. How do these immigration raids noted, some of these agents came from sas to work on an oil rig it is building benefit Portland and the foreign-born the Southern border. Border Patrol agents for a Brazilian customer. What is this legal residents of the city. If I were an get killed there protecting us from terror- H-2B program and why has it come to immigrant, having waited many years ists, drug smugglers and other assorted Maine when unemployment is rising? to enter the U.S. legally, I would feel miscreants. The agents in Portland were The H-2B visa is the only nonim- some trepidation that illegal aliens could not violent and found 10 people “whose migrant status for non-professional for- brazenly enter the U.S. and remain here papers failed to pass muster.” - maybe eign workers. The program is not really indefinitely. There are approximately 11 illegals. The worse behavior noted was new to Maine, as Jamaicans have been million illegal aliens in the United States. a wisecrack by one agent to Mr. Nemitz’ coming to the Pine Tree State for decades No one knows the exact number as no one daughter at the bus station. At least, the to pick apples. What is new is the growing knows how many illegals live in Maine. agents are trying to enforce the law even- numbers. According to press reports, in But the general consensus, among con- handedly and questioning Caucasians 1996 there were only 50 foreign H-2B servatives and liberals alike, is that illegal too. Transportation hubs are targeted by workers in the Maine timber industry aliens hurt the working poor and recent agents because that is where the illegals in 1996. By 2002, there were 1,200. It immigrants because they lower the wage are. That policy has nothing to do with makes one wonder where the American scales. Other Americans worry about the skin color or country of origin. Too bad workers have gone, many of whom cost of educating illegal alien children in there were no agents at Portland’s Inter- (Continued on page 10)

3 Le Forum turned out to be of a very limited kind, and Already by the late 1600s the Ma- Native Peoples in the as the demand for land increased among lecite inhabitants of the Upper St.John European settlers and their descendants, River valley had been influenced by Eu- Upper St.John the various governments assumed sover- ropean colonialism, including by French eignty over that land, allowing the land of missionaries who had been active in New River valley the Natives to be taken by treaty, decep- France from the late 1500s. The Aca- tion, and at times by force. As the Euro- dian Genealogy Homepage (http://www. by Chip Gagnon pean-descent population increased, the acadian.org/indians.html) notes that: Associate Professor pressure to take land likewise increased. “The first recorded data that we Dept. of Politics In the area that came to be known have on the Indians of Madawaska, are Ithaca, NY as the Madawaska Settlement, as we’ll the notes of Bishop Saint-Vallier, second see below, this process took place over Bishop of Quebec. These notes were the course of about 60 or so years. At made during his visit to Acadia in 1686, http://www.upperstjohn. first, both the French and then the British one hundred years before the first settle- com/history/natives.htm authorities, though claiming the territory ment [by people of European descent] in as their own, recognized the rights of the the valley. The following is from ‘The Before the arrival of the first Malecites to live on and use the land in State of the Church and the French Col- Acadian settlers in about 1784, the the upper St.John River valley. But by ony in New France’ (L’État de l’Église et Upper St.John River valley was home the time the first Acadians arrived in the de la colonie française dans la Nouvelle- to Native Peoples, in particular to the valley, there had been a shift in attitude by France), published in Québec, in 1856: Wulustukieg or Maliseet (Malécite) Na- the British crown, which made a number ‘On the second day of our journey tion, a branch of the Algonquin peoples. of grants to the Acadian settlers; and, on the St. John River, on May 16, 1686, The very name Madawaska is from once the region was claimed by the US, we saw a hut belonging to Christian Indi- the Maliseet’s Algonquin language: the states of Maine and Massachusetts ans of Siller, who in order to go hunting, “madawes”—porcupine, “kak”—place. (Maine was a province of Massachusetts had stationed themselves at the mouth until it became a state in 1820) assumed of the river that they call Madoueskak The “Walloostook River” ownership of all of the land in the state and that we renamed St. Francis de of Maine that was not already officially Sales. (Note: On D’Anville’s map, the The Maliseet’s name for them- owned, and made grants of that land. Madawaska River is called the Great selves, Wolastoqiyik, or Wulustukieg, is Ironically, following the 1842 treaty that St. Francis, while the present St. Francis derived from the word wolastoq, which settled the border dispute between the US River is called the Little St. Francis). means “beautiful river.” Wolastoq (Wu- and Great Britain, the State of Maine de- Words cannot describe the joy of these lustuk, or anglicized, Walloostook) is cided to recognize ownership of any land poor Christians at seeing us, nor ours in the Maliseet name for the St.John River. that, though not officially granted, had finding them. They offered us a gift of The Wulustukieg or Maliseet been occupied and improved by settlers. part of their food, at a time when ours was people thus call themselves the people of running out. The next day, we found more the St.John River, which shows the extent History of the Native Peoples in of them in three other huts and they re- to which they identify with this region. the Valley ceived us in the same manner and begged us for a missionary, to instruct them. A Introduction: “Land Grants” and As is the case with most vic- few of them came from Isle Percee and their relationship to Native Peoples tims of European colonialism, the we were surprised to find one who spoke history of the Maliseets comes down a bit of French and had been to France. The lands that were granted by to us through European sources. The “William de Rosier’s map of the European and American governments story here is thus from the perspective Abenakis missions of the St. John Val- to the settlers of North America, includ- of Europeans and people of European ley (1699), indicates that at the same ing in the St.John River valley, were in descent. Of the Maliseet’s own percep- time there were nine Indian settlements effect taken from the Native Peoples. tions and perspectives of their encounters in the area; three on the Aroostook Although the European states and the with Europeans, we know very little. River, four on the St. John River, one US negotiated treaties with various The earliest written European re- on Eagle Lake and one on the Squateck Native Peoples, recognizing implicitly cords of the Maliseet came from French Lake. One St. John Settlement was at the a form of sovereignty or “ownership” sources, who reported the existence of a mouth of the St. Francis River (Mada- over land, the European theory of land nation of native peoples they called the waska).” [Source: Acadian Genealogy ownership also held that, since the natives Etchemins. This group included today’s Homepage, “Indians of Madawaska” at had done nothing to “improve” the land, Maliseet and Passamaquody nations (in http://www.acadian.org/indians.html] they had forfeited their right to own it. the map on the left, the Maliseet territory At the end of the 1600s the native Indeed, the Natives’ sovereignty is in brown, the Passamaquody in gray). (Continued on page 5) 4 Vol. 33 # 2 & 3 • AUTOMNE/HIVER (Native Peoples in the Upper St.John from Europe to North America where [1748] settled the problem France and River valley continued from page 4) it was known as the King George’s War Britain had with each other about the Aus- nations in the Maritimes began to form (1744-48). All the smoldering resentment trian throne, but neither side was willing an alliance to counter British expansion of the last 29 years of British occupa- to concede control of the Canadian Mari- into their lands. In 1701 the Maliseet tion erupted throughout the Canadian times. To the total outrage and disgust joined with Abenaki, Passamaquoddy, Maritimes, and the Micmac and Maliseet of the New England colonies, the treaty and Micmac Nations in this Wabanaki attacked the British outposts. Massa- returned the fortress at Louisbourgh to the Alliance.”The French both encouraged chusetts declared war in 1744 against French. The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 had this alliance and supplied it with arms to the Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, and St. failed to define the border between Nova block British expansion northward from John Indians (actually the Maliseet and Scotia and Quebec. Taking advantage of New England and to protect Quebec and Micmac). The Penobscot, Kennebec, and this and their alliance with the Abenaki Acadia from British invasion in case Passamaquoddy from Maine also joined and Maliseet, the French began in 1749 of war. With the outbreak of the King the fighting, and the British were over- to re-occupy the St. John Valley in New William’s War (1688-97) between Britain whelmed. The French immediately tried Brunswick. At the same time, the Brit- and France, the Abenaki Confederation and failed to retake Port Royal in 1744. ish decided the solution to control of the did exactly that.” [Source: Lee Sultzman, They tried again the following year, but Maritimes was to populate it with British “Micmac History” on the First Nations this, as well as an attack on Cape Breton colonists. In June 1749 Colonel Edward / First Peoples Issues website: http:// Island, was also repulsed. Even so, by Cornwallis arrived as the new governor www.dickshovel.com/mic.html] “The the end of 1745 the British were besieged of Nova Scotia accompanied by 2,500 Confederacy had its own symbol on a inside their forts. Their only military new settlers. After founding the city of wampum belt, which had four white tri- unit still able to operate effectively was Halifax, he made peace overtures to the angles on a blue background, signifying the solitary Ranger Company of John Abenaki and Maliseet using the ranger the union of four allied tribes. In times Gorham, a group of few white frontiers- captain John Gorham as his emissary. The of need, envoys took this belt to invite men and 50 Mohawk warriors recruited result was a peace treaty signed at Halifax allies ‘to take up the hatchet against by Sir William Johnson in New York. with the Maliseet and Abenaki, but the the enemies of the nation.’” [Source: “The French Acadians were of- strength of this agreement was indicated “The Abenaki,” Snow Owl, http:// ficially neutral but so open in their by the fact the Maliseet celebrated the snowwowl.com/peopleabenaki.html] sympathy for the Micmac that Governor signing with a war dance on the decks The Alliance, including the Mali- Shirley of Massachusetts in 1746 de- of Cornwallis’ ship.” [Source: Lee seet, continued to come into conflict with manded their removal from Nova Scotia. Sultzman, “Micmac History” on the First the British. They were very involved in This easily could have happened if a Nations / First Peoples Issues website, the struggle over the control of Acadia, 4,000 man combined British and colonial http://www.dickshovel.com/mic.html] a French colony in what is today Nova army had not captured Louisbourgh in Scotia and New Brunswick that the June, 1745. The capture of Louisbourgh Warfare nevertheless continued: British had taken over in 1713. The was the major British victory during the British, in their attempt to assert greater war. It not only removed the immediate “Offering £10 for every Micmac control of the region, moved more Brit- threat of invasion to Nova Scotia but scalp or prisoner, [British Colonel Ed- ish settlers into the territories of the permitted the British naval blockade of ward] Cornwallis dispatched the Cobb Wabanaki Alliance nations, increasing Canada which eventually brought the expedition with 100 men to hunt down tensions with them. Indeed, “Although French to their knees. However, it did and kill Micmac. [...] Cobb’s expedi- the Micmac, Maliseet, and Abenaki had not stop Micmac and Abenaki attacks tion destroyed just about everything signed a peace treaty with New England which continued throughout Nova Sco- they found, but Micmac resistance only at Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1713, tia and northern Maine until a year after stiffened. By 1750 the price of scalps they still refused to recognize Brit- the end of the war. Between 1747 and was raised from £10 to £50 which ish authority in Acadia.” [Source: Lee 1749, there was a lot of bushwhacking provided incentive for the formation of Sultzman, “Micmac History” on the First and ambush in the Maritimes which kept two additional ranger companies under Nations / First Peoples Issues website] Gorham’s Rangers [British forces] very Captains William Clapham and Fran- busy. Even though crippled by the loss of cis Bartelo.” [Source: Lee Sultzman, Sultzman describes the ensuing Louisbourgh, the French were still dan- “Micmac History” on the First Na- war between the British and the Wa- gerous, and an attack in February, 1747 tions / First Peoples Issues website] banaki Alliance, including the Maliseet: wiped out the British garrison at Grand The subsequent French and Indian Pre (Grand Pre Massacre). During 1748, War (1755-1760, Peace signed in 1763) “In 1744 Britain and France went however, the French ended their support resulted in the British expulsion of to war again - this time in a dispute over for the Micmac on Cape Breton which Acadia’s French population (1755), along who should sit on the throne of Austria. ended most of the fighting in that vicinity. with the Micmac who had intermarried The War of Austrian Sucession spread “The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (See page 6)

5 Le Forum (Native Peoples in the Upper St.John asked the British to maintain the rights on or before the first day of May next. River valley continued from page 5) to their territory that the French (who By command of his Excellency. with the French and those that lived had ruled until 1763) had recognized. J. Goldfrap, D.Sec. [Source: Ap- alongside them. “Fort Beausejour in New Explicitly mentioned as their pendix No.28, “Extracts from the Quebec Brunswick was captured in 1757, and in territory is the Upper St.John River Gazette, 2d.--24th January, 1765...,” 1758 the British army swept through the valley from Grand Falls all the way to in First Statement on the part of Great remaining Acadian settlements on the St. Lake Témiscouata, including Rivière Britain, according to the Provisions of John River destroying everything in their du Loup and the Madawaska River: The Convention Concluded Between path. French resistance slackened after “Your Petitioner has also the Great Britain and the United States, on the fall of Louisbourgh in 1758 which honour to represent to your Excellency, the 29th September, 1827 for Regulating opened the way for a British invasion that his brethren Indians find themselves the Reference to Arbitration of the Dis- of the St. Lawrence Valley.” The war reduced to the lowest ebb of misery, by puted Points of Boundary under the Fifth ended with the defeat of French forces in the unwarrantable encroachments of the Article of the Treaty of Ghent (1829), Quebec, resulting in the British takeover Canadian inhabitants hunting beaver on p.225. The names of the Maliseet envoys of virtually all French possessions in the lands belonging to the nation, by are from Acadian Genealogy Homep- North America. This turn of events had which your Petitioner has been deputed; age, “Indians of Madawaska, part 2”] an enormous impact on the Maliseets of which tract begins at the great falls of the Clearly by 1765 the Maliseet had the St.John valley as well, who had taken St.John’s, and runs as far as Temisquata, already had much contact with white part in these wars. The Maliseet signed including the Wolf River, (or Rivière settlers: armies, missionaries, trappers, treaties with the British in 1760, al- du Loup) and the River Madawaska, hunters, and couriers. They were also no though “lasting treaties with the Maliseet which rivers discharge themselves into longer in control of their fate; the fact were not signed until 1770 and 1776.” the River St. John’s, making a space of that they were petitioning the British Thus, while the French and British about twenty leagues, on which the na- authorities for protection made that clear. colonial authorities in North America tion, whose grievances your Petitioner (See next issue for more) had recognized the rights of Natives to has the honour to lay before your Excel- specific territories —indeed, one of the lency, always had an exclusive privilege grievances of the American colonists that of hunting beaver in the time of the Filles du Roi led to the Revolution was that the British French Government; therefore your were refusing to allow white settlement Petitioner humbly requests, in the name (Daughters of the King) in territories recognized as belonging to of his nation, that your Excellency will By Denise R. Larson Native Nations (for more information on be pleased to continue their privilege, by this British policy, see the Royal Procla- forbidding the inhabitants of this Prov- To paraphrase Jane Austen’s open- mation of 1763)—by the late 1700s and ince to hunt beaver on the said grounds.” ing to her novel “Pride and Prejudice,” a early 1800s territories of the Natives had In response, in a letter dat- successful man should have a wife. Jean not only been subject to encroachment by ed 19th January 1765, the Governor Talon, Intendant of Quebec during the settlers as well as by hunters and mission- of Canada confirmed their rights: mid seventeenth century, did his best to aries, but had been crucial actors in the satisfy the needs of the 400 or so men colonial wars fought by the two powers. Quebec from the Regiment Carignan-Salieres Although it is not likely that the Natives Secretary’s Office, 19th Jan. 1765 who stayed in Canada to clear and farm could have remained apart from these the land after their military service was wars, they were seriously hurt by them. Whereas the Nation of Maricitte over. From 1665 to 1673, Talon sent Once the British had taken control Indians, by the following paragraph of about 1,000 eligible young women to of the former French possessions, the a petition to his Excellency the Gover- Canada, with the understanding that Maliseet requested that the new rulers nor of this Province have represented they would marry the former military respect their rights to specific territory in that they are encroached upon by the men. To the women from upper-class the upper St.John River valley, between Canadian inhabitants hunting beaver on families, Talon gave a dowry and ex- the Grand Falls and Lake Temiscouata. the lands therein mentioned, which have pected them to wed the former officers One early mention of the Madawaska ever belonged to, and are the property of the regiment. To the others, he granted Maliseet in colonial documents concerns of the said Nation : this, therefore, is to provisions for a household and 50 livres. this exact topic. This document is from give notice, that the privilege prayed for Some sources state that the 1765, and is a British response to a re- by the said Indians will be allowed and Filles du Roi were orphans who had lived quest by the Natives living in the valley. confirmed to them, unless any person in government-funded orphanages run by Maliseet envoys—Pierre Tomah and Am- or persons can show just cause to the nuns. Other studies contend that at least broise St-Aubin—complained in 1764 to contrary, by memorial to his Excel- some of the women had run counter to the the Governor of Canada (Quebec) about lency the Governor and Council, di- law in France and were given over to the trespasses on the Maliseet’s territory, and rected to the Secretary of this Province, (Continued on page 7) 6 Vol. 33 # 2 & 3 • AUTOMNE/HIVER (Filles du Roi continued from page 6) nuns for “rehabilitation” as an alternative to being sent to prison for theft, prostitu- tion, and other crimes. Reports from offi- cials in Quebec complained that many of the women were city girls with few skills in subsistence living on a farm. A request was made for country girls, and later recruits were drawn from the provinces. To answer the need for training for the early arrivals, Marguerite Bour- geoys, the founder of the secular Con- gregation de Notre-Dame de Montreal, established schools to teach domestic and brought out the stick. In 1671 Talon Encouraged by free land and skills and needlework. Taking a maternal signed an ordinance that stripped young French livres, Canadian settlers saw the interest in the young women, Marguerite bachelors of the rights to fish, hunt, or advantage of having large families. By carefully questioned the young men of deal in the fur trade if they did not marry. 1760 there were approximately 85,000 Montreal who came to the door looking Essentially, that eliminated the means inhabitants in Canada, but they were no for a wife. She continued her contact with of earning a living unless a man turned match for the much larger population the young ladies by running tuition-free to farming; and to farm, a man needed in the British colonies to the south. The schools for both native American and Ca- a wife who would cook, keep house, Treaty of Paris in 1763 ended French nadian children. Marguerite and her sisters tend a garden, and work along side him. rule in North America, but a way of life were ministers to the community, taking Bringing out the carrot once went on in rural Canada, unencumbered Mother Mary as their patron and guide. more, Talon offered 20 livres to a man by the arguments and contentions in the In spite of the arrival of so who married at age 20 or younger. Talon courthouses in Quebec and London. many lovely young ladies, the lure of the gave appointments to civil offices and Denise R. Larson can be boundless wilderness and life of freedom monetary bonuses to men who fathered reached at [email protected]. She in the woods was strong for the fit young large families. The annual award for 10 is the author of Companions of Cham- men who had known only the rigidity of children born to a wedded couple was 300 plain: Founding Families of Quebec, life in the villages and cities of France. livres, the average annual wage in France. 1608-1635, which will be published by For the men who were reluctant to settle For 12 children, it was 400 livres, prov- Clearfield Co. (www.genealogical.com). down as agreed, Talon removed the carrot ing the adage of cheaper by the dozen.

said to expect some company. How- Above all, my mother told me to A Red Superstition ever, company did not always follow, never wear red clothes when I was attend- and if it did, would it be coincidence? ing a funeral service, a funeral procession, By Virginia Sand Fear of the unknown can lead to or a funeral oration. In that case, here is a superstitious actions like knocking on Bangor, ME small story for demonstrating superstition: wood. In that case, my mother was During my youth, I often heard my always knocking on the wood furniture, A Red Superstition Franco-American, Amerindian mother and it had to be real wood. For example, tell several paroles that were considered if my mother was explaining to her friend There once was a thirteen year old superstition. She had probably heard that she was having a good week, she girl named Sylvie Delarosbil. Sylvie these paroles from her own mother; would knock on the wood table for insur- was always listening to her mother, paroles like, “When a dog howls, that ing that her good luck would continue. including her mother’s superstitions. means that someone will die soon.” I Further, my mother hated spi- However, at thirteen years old, Sylvie do not recall my father having told pa- ders. She feared them and often killed began to test her mother’s superstitions. roles of superstition, only my mother. them. Each time that my mother killed One evening after dinner, while I believe that paroles of superstition a spider, she said that it would rain. Sylvie was watching television, she heard were passed down from generation to Still, the rain did not always follow, a dog howling in the neighborhood. Af- generation in my family, by oral tradi- but if it did, would it be coincidence? terwards, Sylvie heard her mother’s voice tion. But of course, these paroles of My mother was also saying that crying out from the kitchen, “Someone superstition did not always come to pass. it was bad luck to pass under a ladder will soon die!” Then, Sylvie heard her Take, for example, if one dropped or to open an umbrella in the house. I father’s voice from his office as usual, a knife, a spoon, or a fork on the kitchen naturally listened to my mother, so I “That is just superstition:” In the mean- floor at my parent’s house, my mother never opened my umbrella in our house. Continued on page 8) 7 Le Forum (A Red Superstition continued from ing. Sylvie heard her mother go to the of the door of the Albert’s house. Sud- page 7) door. Upon opening the door, the neigh- denly, while she was climbing the stairs, time, while Sylvie’s mother was drying bor, old Mrs. Albert, entered the house Sylvie tumbled down. She turned the dishes in the kitchen, she dropped a knife with an open umbrella. Without hesita- ankle of the left foot. Quickly, her father on the floor. Then, Sylvie and her father tion, the mother yelled at Mrs. Albert, seized her while she was crying from heard the mother’s voice one more time, “Close your umbrella, or else bad luck pain. The parents gently put Sylvie on the “We are going to receive some company!” will fall upon us!” The father responded, ground. Sylvie had apparently sprained Immediately after, Sylvie heard her father “There is nothing to make a fuss about; it the ankle. Suddenly, it began again to shout, “It’s only another superstition!” is quite frankly another old superstition!” rain very hard. There was no umbrella Well, when the parents joined Syl- Unfortunately, old Mrs. Albert with Sylvie and her parents. The parents vie in the living room, the mother sat in brought them some bad news. Her old carried Sylvie to their house. There were a wooden rocking chair. While she was husband had died during the night. In three houses between the Albert’s house rocking in front of the television, she such a case, she wanted Sylvie and her and the Delarosbil’s house. Meanwhile, expressed that the week was going very parents to come to her house tomor- Sylvie and her parents had become very well. Then she knocked on the wooden row evening for a funeral service in wet by the time they arrived at their arm of her chair. Immediately, the fa- honor of her husband. After Mrs. Albert house. In that moment there, Sylvie ther responded, “Let’s see, knocking on left, Sylvie’s mother cried, “Every- began to turn white in confessing to her wood, it is still another superstition!” thing is not always superstition, right?” mother, “Mother, I now believe your Later, the mother went to the The next day, Sylvie and her par- superstitions to be true!” On the other bathroom to take a shower. Suddenly, ents prepared themselves to attend the hand, the mother explained to Sylvie, Sylvie and her father heard a loud scream, funeral service at the Albert’s house. “Even though I knocked on wood, the with the word “spider.” Apparently, the The mother told Sylvie, “Never wear the week turned badly. Knocking on wood mother met a spider in the bathroom. color red at a funeral service!” The father does not work, right? What to believe?” Consequently, the mother killed the poor interrupted her in saying, “Let’s therefore That night-there, in her sleep, Syl- spider and flushed it down the toilet. All see, another superstition?” Henceforth, vie dreamed that dead Mr. Albert had been of a sudden, Sylvie and her father heard, Sylvie wanted to test these superstitions buried in a bright red suit. Immediately, “It is going to rain since I just killed the of her mother. So she decided to wear she awoke and began to turn white. Then spider!” The father again exclaimed, her new red dress that was very bright. she put forth a strong cry, “This entire day “Look here, it is simply an old supersti- This evening here, in her red dress, was a nightmare! I hate superstitions!” tion!” After that, everyone went to bed. Sylvie arrived at the Albert’s house with I’d also like to thank our readership The next day, when Sylvie and her her parents, on foot. She looked proud. for their continued submissions and let- parents awoke they noticed that it was There was a ladder standing in the yard ters to the editor. This is a wonderful op- raining very hard. Moreover, on getting of the Albert’s house. Sylvie still wanted portunity to have your voice heard please out of bed Sylvie heard some noise at the to test her mother’s superstitions, so she help us in keeping Le Forum in existence. door. It seemed like there was some com- walked under the ladder in wearing her “Our” publication has been around for pany that had arrived unexpectedly. It red dress. She was not afraid. Finally, over 30 years, help us to ensure that was only eight o’clock on Saturday morn- Sylvie approached the staircase in front it’s available for many more years. THE LIBRARY again. During school time, the Mont- parables. Although I didn’t realize it at fort School and later the High School the time, all at once I had access to one By: Jacqueline libraries provided the reading material of the most important literatures in the Chamberland Blesso to sustain my curiosity. Encyclopedias world. I think this was the moment when An out-of-breath man ascending were perused for reference material for I discovered the wonder of that other life, a mountain leading two mules carrying reports and other interests. I remember the vicarious one, which fed my love of books to a remote village in Venezuela the suppressed titillating laughter in the the printed word. As a pre-teen, I would was featured in a recent National Pub- school library as a couple of 4th grade read late into the night when caught up lic Radio broadcast. We didn’t have a boys passed around a volume so we could by Le Petit Chaperon Rouge in Perrault’s Mulemobile when I was growing up in familiarize ourselves with a clinical ex- Contes or Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. St. Agatha, Maine, even though there was posé of the body parts of the opposite sex. My room was next to my parents’ bed- no public library and the school library Years ago, my father, Gérard room; and even though the shades were was closed when school was out. Instead, Chamberland, had bought some furni- drawn, my mother, Eva, could still see the Bookmobile came during the summer. ture from a woman who was selling her the reflection of my light in their window. For many it was as impatiently awaited house. In the lot was a wonderful treasure She would often say: “Eteins la lumière. as the Mulemobile. I devoured the Nancy – a side-by-side secretary and bookcase Tu pourras pas te lever demain matin.” Drew and Hardy Boys series. Many filled with French books including Les I would reply: “Oui, m’man, encore other favorites were always finished by Fables by Jean de la Fontaine. I was en- quelques pages.” She was a practical the time the Bookmobile came around thralled and enchanted by the fabulist’s (Continued on page 9) 8 Vol. 33 # 2 & 3 • AUTOMNE/HIVER (THE LIBRARY continued from page 8) Longfellow:

Gentle Evangeline... Fair was she to behold, that maiden of seventeen summers. Black were her eyes as the berry that grows on the thorn by the wayside, Black, yet how softly they gleamed beneath the brown shade of her tresses! Sweet was her breath as the breath of kine that feed in the meadows. When in the harvest heat she bore to the reapers at noontide Flagons of home-brewed ale, ah! fair in sooth was the maiden. Fairer was she when, on Sunday morn, while the bell from its turret Photo Courtesy of Sprinkled with holy sounds the air, as the priest with his hyssop Sister Jacqueline Ayotte Sprinkles the congregation, and scatters blessings upon them, Down the long street she passed, with her chaplet of beads and her missal, woman who had reached the eighth grade Wearing her Norman cap, and her kirtle of blue, and the ear-rings, at the one-room schoolhouse in a back Brought in the olden time from France, and since, as an heirloom, settlement of our tiny town. Reading, Handed down from mother to child, through long generations. to her, meant perusing the newspaper, But a celestial brightness – a more ethereal beauty – ordering merchandise from the Sears Shone on her face and encircled her form, when, after confession, Roebuck catalog or staying current Homeward serenely she walked with God’s benediction upon her. with her subscription to Les Annales de When she had passed, it seemed like the ceasing of exquisite music. Ste-Anne. Her busy life of storekeeper, housekeeper and mother of six did not LeMay: leave much time to read for pleasure. Dad, on the other hand, would sometimes Et son Évangéline, elle était belle à voir read to us at night. We were mesmerized Avec ses dix-sept ans, et son brilliant oeil noir by Les Cinqs enfants perdus et retrouvés. Qu’ombrageait quelque peu sa brune chevelure, My later readings led me to appre- Son oeil qu’on eut dit fait du velours de la mure ciate Camus, Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Qui luit, près du chemin, aux branches d’un buisson. Molière, Rabelais, Voltaire, Gide, Saint- Elle était belle à voir au temps de la moisson, Exupery, Corneille, Stendahl, Proust, Et comme la génisse elle avait douce haleine, to name a few, and the Québecois and Quand elle s’en allait, en corsage de laine, Acadian writers Gabrielle Roy, Anne Porter aux moissonneurs, dans les champs plantureux, Hébert, Antonine Maillet, and many Le midi, des flacons de cidre généreux. others, including Assia Djebar, Patrick Mais, les jours de dimanche, elle était bien plus belle. Chamoiseau and Amélie Nothomb Quand la cloche faisait, du haut de sa tourelle, from other areas of the Francophone Pleuvoir les sons bénis dans l’air frais et vibrant, world. I read them all in the original. Comme l’aspersoir du pieux célébrant The old adage – to translate is to betray Tombe, après l’oraison, l’eau sainte en gouttes drues, – is well-known to those who read in On la voyait venir par les ombreuses rues, more than one language. Translations Simple en sa jupe bleue, et tenant à la main render approximations; they cannot Un chapelet de verre ou le missel romain. totally convey the beauty of the prose Sous son bonnet léger, bonnet de Normandie, and poetry of the originals – not from Luisaient des boucles d’or, qu’aux bords de l’Acadie English to French nor from French to Une aïeule de France autrefois apporta, English or any other language. There is Que la mère, en mourant, à sa fille quitta always something missing or something Comme un gage sacré, comme un noble héritage. added. One can see some of the differ- On voyait cependant briller bien davantage ences in comparing Henry Wadsworth Sa grâce et sa candeur que rien ne surpassait, Longfellow’s 1847 characterization of Quand, venant de confesse, émue, elle passait Evangeline in his poem of the same Adorant dans son coeur Dieu qui l’avait bénie. title with Pamphile LeMay’s excel- On aurait dit alors qu’une molle harmonie, lent and lovely1912 translation, which Comme les blés au vent, sur ses pas ondoyait. conserves the dactylic hexameter of the original, but creates a flavor all its own. (Continued on page 10) 9 Le Forum (Michael Guignard continued from page 3) the I-129 petition or the H-2B visa. In to H-2B workers, government officials were Franco-American in this industry. the November 21 Press Herald, Adam may want to investigate how these The most important legal hurdle in Fisher, a State DOL spokesman, is quoted workers are getting their green cards. obtaining an H-2B visa is that the work as saying that his office’s role is “purely In the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s, itself must be temporary. It is particu- administrative.” But actually, the DOL French Canadians from Quebec were larly suited for seasonal work. The for- is given much discretion in adjudicating regularly recruited by textile mills in the estry workers who drowned in their van these applications. They determine the Biddeford-Saco area through the pre- worked from May to October. They were job category and the prevailing wage, cursor of the labor certification process. supposed to earn from $8.27 to $10.40, for instance. Pat McTeague, the attorney It worked well and I have never read the prevailing wage depending on their for the Maine Building Trades Council, any accounts of fraud in the program job duties, according to the Maine State argues that the State DOL misclassified in those years. I have interviewed a Department of Labor (DOL). However, Cianbro’s oil rig project thus lowering number of French Canadians who im- Jose Soto, of the Maine Rural Workers the prevailing wage and discouraging migrated to the Biddeford area as late Coalition, was quoted in the Press Herald U.S. citizen response to its ads. More as the 1960’s through sponsorship by as saying that these H-2B workers do importantly, Cianbro expects to be build- a corporation then called the Pepperell not earn the prevailing wage and often ing more oil rigs thus making the jobs Manufacturing Company. They actu- do not pay tax on their salaries. If this is permanent ones rather than a one-time, ally came to work for their sponsor and true, the situation warrants investigation. temporary occurrence. If the work is while some left the employ of textile The process by which H-2B vi- permanent, H-2B visas are inappropriate. mills after a few years to start their own sas are obtained is cumbersome and Even the H-2B visas for the Guatemalan business or to go back to school, others time-consuming. Applications are filed and Honduran forestry workers are sus- remained with their sponsoring com- by the employer with the State DOL. pect because some of these jobs appear pany for the rest of their working lives. Advertisements must be placed for the to be permanent. Ginny Muilenberg Last year the Portland Press Herald positions. It would be interesting to of Labor Consultants International, the ran an expose in a series of articles about know where the ads for forestry work- company the recruits Central American fraud in the labor condition application ers were placed given that they drew so forestry workers, admits that sometimes process and the labor certification pro- little response. The State DOL would these workers are sponsored for green cess. Senator Susan Collins has recently also normally check its unemployment cards in a permanent job. It would be in- sponsored legislation to try to eradicate rolls to see if there are available workers. teresting to see how these applications are the kinds of fraud that is rampant in these Once the employer proves a short- worded to see how jobs can be permanent programs. If her legislation is enacted age of workers, the State DOL forwards and temporary at the same time. Even if and successfully curbs abuses in the the application to a regional office in the jobs offered for the green cards are system, perhaps these programs will Boston for final approval. Next, an I- different from the jobs offered for H-2B revert back to the way they operated 50 129 H petition is filed with the INS in status or the H-2B jobs are being granted years ago and may even lead to increased St. Albans, Vermont. The applicants because of peakload need, once a worker French Canadian migration into Maine. then take the approval notice to a U.S. has applied for a green card, he is no lon- Embassy and apply for the visas. At each ger eligible for an H-2B visa because he Michael Guignard stage of the process, government officials is an intending immigrant. Rather than Alexandria, VA can determine that the jobs are not tem- investigating why employers are not obli- porary and deny the labor certification, gated to provide transportation or housing (THE LIBRARY continued from page 9) a witticism or a double entente. However, discover that treasure of literature written The Longfellow version has a more St. John Valley folks have an advantage in French. Perhaps that small Venezuelan sedate and stately tone “fair..to behold” – they can read them all in the original town on top of the mountain will also one “fair in sooth” while in LeMay’s more language especially now that St. Agatha day have its own library so it no longer pictorial portrayal one can visualize has its own permanent library – the Long has to wait for the Mulemobile to arrive... “son oeil...fait du velours de la mure.” Lake Public Library – dedicated on July The English “home-brewed ale” turns 22, 2007. It was realized and incorpo- If you would like to help to “cidre généreux.” The “sprinkled” rated through the efforts of a volunteer the library reach its goal, please sounds of the turret “rain” [pleuvoir] group, led by Daughter of Wisdom Sister send your donations to the: down in French. Longfellow’s “celestial Jackie Ayotte, which has already raised brightness” and “ethereal beauty” be- $152,000 of its $250,000 goal. Housed at LONG LAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY come LeMay’s “grâce” and “candeur,” Montfort Heights at 384 Main Street, with P. O. Box 33 giving Evangeline more earthly qualities. its own separate entrance, the library is Even expert translators are not al- now open for lending, perusing and web St. Agatha, ME 04772 ways able to convey the turn of a phrase, surfing. I hope that patrons will, as I did, 10 Vol. 33 # 2 & 3 • AUTOMNE/HIVER (N.D.L.R. 2 ème installment de François tente provient de l’interprétation d’une Nous avons une confirmation indirecte Bélanger, soumis par Jim Bélanger, NH) apostrophe et d’une virgule. Doit-on de cette terre pour la culture dans le François Bélanger et Marie lire dans le contrat signé à Mortagne : contrat de mariage de 1645 de Jean Guyon à Beauport (1634-1641) à chacun d’eux, mille arpents ou bien Guyon fils et d’Élisabeth Couillard. par Raymond Bélanger à chacun, deux milles arpents? Une “ ...... Et outre, led Guyon et sa fois la séparation faite entre Guyon et femme donnent aux futurs espoux la Quelle fut la participation de Cloutier, chacun aura 5 1/2 arpents de jouissance de deux arpents de terre en François Bélanger aux événements sur- front sur le fleuve par la profondeur de labour seiz au dict Beauport faisant le venus à Beauport entre 1634 et 1641? la seigneurie, soit une lieue et demie. reste d’une pièce de terre de laquelle Qu’en est-il maintenant des événe- Le contrat de Mortagne stipulait François Bélanger a eu deux arpens à ments survenus à Beauport entre 1634 et également que Jean Guyon et Zacharie cause du mariage entre luy et Marie Guy- 1641, lors du séjour de François Bélanger. Cloutier posséderaient, en guise de on fille du dict Guyon et sa femme..... ” . Giffard devait établir l’infrastructure de salaire, la moitié des terres désertées pen- Selon le contrat du partage des base à toute seigneurie : recruter des cen- dant les trois premières années. Giffard, terrains désertés en juillet 1637, Giffard sitaires, leur donner des concessions, les en homme sage, nous dit Edmond Giroux, donnait à Guyon et à Cloutier les maisons loger, construire un manoir et un moulin. avait déserté en trois endroits différents, construites en 1634 et à l’hiver 1636- Dès l’été 1634, François participa active- près des rivières Beauport et Du Buisson 1637. Certaines questions déjà se posent ment aux premiers travaux de la seigneu- et aussi près d’une certaine anse située ici. Pouvons-nous, sur la carte de Bourdon rie. Une première maison construite en le long du fleuve. Les parties – Giffard, de 1641, identifier les maisons de Guyon 1634, près de la rivière Du Buisson, fut Guyon et Cloutier – procédèrent alors au et de Cloutier et aussi celles des autres habitée par les employés que nous iden- partage de ces terres le cinq juillet 1637 en propriétaires inscrites sur celle-ci? Cette tifierons bientôt. Non loin de celle-ci, présence des témoins François Le Dou- dernière question est pertinente car il selon Henri Dion, un moulin à farine ou blets, Robert Drouin et Noël Langlois. s’agit d’un souci de rigueur géographique pour faire des planches fut construit. Jean François fut certainement témoin, et de corriger aussi des mauvaises Guyon en deviendra propriétaire en 1646. encore une fois, des mésententes entre interprétations de la carte de Bourdon. À l’hiver 1636-1637, François Giffard et Guyon-Cloutier en ce qui con- Qui sont les propriétaires Bélanger participa certainement, à la cerne “la teneur juridique” de ces terres des maisons inscrites sur la carte suite d’une ordonnance du gouverneur désertées données, selon l’interprétation de Bourdon de 1641 (Beauport)? Huault de Montmagny et en vertu du de Giffard, « en roture », ce que confirme Nous répondrons à cette question contrat de Mortagne, aux travaux de un jugement du tribunal en date du deux en exposant l’interprétation traditionnelle la construction d’une autre maison de juillet 1637 les obligeant à payer des de la carte de Bourdon par Ed. Giroux 36 pieds par 16 pour loger les familles redevances. Guyon et Cloutier, même et Henri Dion. Ensuite, nous tenterons Guyon et Cloutier . C’est certainement s’ils reconnaissent dans l’acte de subdi- d’identifier, à même la carte de Bourdon dans cette maison commune des Guyon vision entre eux du 10 décembre 1637 interprétée cette fois par Grenier et que et des Cloutier, agrandie de huit pieds à cette obligation, ne la respecteront pas confirme Marcel Trudel, les propriétaires, chacune des deux extrémités et acquise avant 1646. Vint ensuite l’acte de part- les mesures et l’année de concession. entre 1638-1640 par Jean Guyon que age du 10 décembre 1637 entre Guyon demeurèrent François et son épouse. (Carte de Jehan Bourdon, et Cloutier des terres possédées jusque- C’est aussi dans celle-ci que fut ondoyé, section Beauport. Les là d’une manière indivise. Jean Guyon, en 1640, Charles, l’aîné, par Jean Guyon. identifications sont après tirage au sort, obtint la partie ouest L’année 1637 fut une année im- d ' E d . G i r o u x q u e sous le nom de fief du Buisson tandis portante pour le beau-père de François reprend Hentri Dion) qu’à Zacharie Cloutier fut échue la partie Bélanger car son contrat avec Giffard se est connue sous le nom La Clousterie. terminait à la Saint-Jean-Baptiste de cette Cependant, les maisons, granges, cours même année. Jean Guyon et Zacharie seront occupées en commun jusqu’à Cloutier acquirent en commun, le trois ce qu’il y ait un nouveau partage. février et sous forme d’arrière-fief, les Puisque, selon le contrat du trois terres promises par Robert Giffard au février avec Giffard, les terres cultivées contrat du 14 mars 1634 devant Maître près de la rivière Beauport et le terrain Mathurin Roussel. En vertu de ce con- de l’anse reviennent à Giffard, il semble trat, Jean Guyon et Zacharie Cloutier évident que les deux arpents donnés pour réclamaient 2000 arpents en bois et en la culture par Jean Guyon en cadeau de prairie pour chacun. Mais le jugement noces en juillet 1637 à sa fille Marie sont de Huault de Montmagny de 1636 donne une portion des terres défrichées par les 1000 arpents et exclut les prairies. En employés de Giffard entre 1634-1637, réalité, le fief mesure 1386 arpents, ce mais à l’intérieur du fief du Buisson. (Suite page 24) qui fait pour chacun 693. La mésen- 11 Le Forum The fifth baby in the family was went to the neighbors. When Dad came The Germain Saga born on June 18, 1918, and named for us we said, "Is it a boy or a girl?" Dad by Doris. She had blue eyes and blonde stood tall and said, "You have a new little S. Ella Marie hair. It was a sad day for us when she sister." Back home we walked quietly Germain, CSJ became very sick with meningitis. She to the bedroom, and saw Mom cuddling Fourth Installment was almost two years ol when God a small bundle. We wondered why the smiled on this beautiful angel, and baby needed all those blankets. It was came for her. She died on April 10, so warm outside. The baby had a round - 1920. This was very hard on Mom face and lots of brown hair. She smiled who was pregnant with another baby. in her sleep. There was much discussion On May 28, 1920, Mae Lorraine and suggestions about a name. finally was born. She ws a very pretty blond the name Bernadette Rita was chosen. baby with a sweet smile and soft curly Rita ws only eleven months when hair. Mae was very precocious. She Grandma came again to our house to learned so much at a very young age. stay for several days. It was July 2, Every time Mom had a new baby, 1926 when Dad brought us to Dulon's Grandma Laventure came to help. Dad house a mile away. Mom was pregnant, brought all the children to a neighbor. but this time there were complications. On the morning of April 24, 1922, Dad The labor pains came a month early. brought us to Uncle Delore and Aunt All of us were huddled near the phone Hattie's house, about a mile from our waiting for it to ring, a long ring, a home. A short wihle later Dad came for short and a long. At last, the phone Grandma is Coming us with big news. He said, "You have a rang. We jumped but waited silently. little brother." Imagine the excitement. Anna Dulon answered. "What We could hardly wait to get that first did you say, John? Please repeat." When Grandma Laventure came look aat our new little brother, Robert "We have twin boys, and they are very over with her suitcase, there was a new small. I'm leaving now to get the children." baby. Ella was only 12 months and a Anna hung up the receiver and week old when she gave up her place said, "Children, you have twin brothers." for the second boy, Andrew, born on We jumped for joy. Dad was com- March 19, 1914. He weighed almost ing for us, but Delore, Ella, Andrew, and nine pounds, and had blue eyes and Claire couldn't wait. They ran across blond hair. Mom said that he was a the field and tiptoed to the bedroom lively baby who laughed and smiled where they saw Mom, Grandma, and a lot. Ella wanted a little sister. Her the nurse. Doctor Armsrong had just wish came true on June 2, 1915, when left. The twins were in the small crib Marie Claire was born. She weighed together. They were very tiney, weigh- seven pounds and had sparkly black eyes. ing just 2 1/2 and 5 pounds. The nurse, About six months later Mom and Dad and Grandma took turns holding Dad wanted to have a picture taken of the smallest twin in the wood stove the four children. Claire who was only oven which was used as an incubator. six months was dressed in a beautiful The baby gasped for breath. His little white eyelet dress. The photographer Grandma LaVenture legs were no bigger than the little finger! seated her on a high stoll. Next to her Because the twins were so weak was Delore who was 3 1/2 years. He Urban. He was a tiny baby, but already and small, Father Parnell came to our stood on a footstool, colored dress with very active. We all wanted to hold him. home to baptize them the day they a white lace edging the neckline. In her On July 4, 1925, the family went to were born. They were named Donald hair was a white ribbon with rosettes. New Richmond for the big celebration. and Dennis. Claire and Andrew were Next to her ws Andrew who was 1 1/2 Dad gave us each 25¢ to spend. He called Dennis' godparents, and Delore and years. Both were seated together on a us together and said, "If you need more Ella were Donald's godparents. Den- Greg Chabot beautifully carved chair. Ella did not come to me and ask. You older ones take nis was not expected to live. Gradually want to have her picture taken until Mom care of the younger ones." While we with a lot of love and care he gained a Owner offered to let her wear her gold watch. were having fun, Mom went to Grand- little weight. Mom was very busy with Andrew imitted Ella when he refused to ma's house in town. It was a very warm three bottles to prepare and three babies Chabot, INK • 310 Main Ave. • South Hampton, NH 03827 have his picture taken. It was only after day, and Mom was pregnant. A week in diapers, but she never complained. Phone: (603) 394-0770 • email: [email protected] Dad let Andrew hold his jack knife that he later Grandma came to our house with sat quietly enough for the pohtographer. a suitcase again. On July 11, 1925, we (Continued on page 21) 20 Vol. 33 # 2 & 3 • AUTOMNE/HIVER (Germain Saga continued from page 20) were happy. Again Dad brought us to the Dulon house. The new baby was a boy, Dad was 39 years old when the born on June 23, 1928. We named him twins were born, and Mom was 35. Leodore. He was a healthy baby. We did They were the loving parents of eight not coax him to eat as we did with Dennis. children. It was a sad day on Septem- July 19, 1930 was another special ber 6, 1927, when Donald, the healthy day at our house. Grandma came again, twin became very sick with pneumo- this time on her birthday, to be with nia and died. He looked so beautiful Mom who was soon to give birth to her and peaceful in his little white coffin. 12th child. Claire and I (Ella) did not go When we came home from the funeral to the neighbors this time. We did the on September 8, Dennis crawled from housework, and shen the doctor came, we room to room looking behind all the went outside to sit on the granary steps to doors for his twin brother, Donald. We wait and pray. In those days, pain pills all felt sad and cried, but Mom told us were rarely given to the mother. Hearing thta our family had another little angel Mom painfully giving birth was hard. watching over us, especially over Dennis. Grandma called us in to see her birthday Grandma came to our house often, gift, a beautiful blond baby boy with blue but when she came with that little suit- eyes like Dad. He was baptized Ralph Claire, Delore, Ella, Andrew case, we older ones knew there was going Vincent. Because he was teh baby of to be an addition to the family, and we our family we probably did spoil him.

The twins, Doris Germain Dennis, Mom & Donald Donald & Dennis with Dad

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Chabot, INK • 310 Main Ave. • South Hampton, NH 03827 Phone: (603) 394-0770 • email: [email protected] (See the next issue for the 5th installment) 21 Le Forum (François Bélanger et Marie Guyon à de Grenier, à partir des deux cartes sui- se protéger des Iroquois. Mais en quelle Beauport (1634-1641) suite de page 11) vantes, est plus vraisemblable. Les deux année? Nous ne pouvons répondre . Deux remarques s’imposent à la premières maisons, situées à l’est de la Quant à la version de la carte suite de l’interprétation de cette carte rivière Du Buisson, seraient, selon lui, de Bourdon qui possède une huitième de Bourdon par plusieurs auteurs (Henri celles de Guyon et de Cloutier qui cor- maison, elle serait probablement située Dion, Ed. Giroux) qui ont localisé la respondent à la lettre B. Celle qui est en sur la terre de Martin Grouvel (9 ou G). maison de Cloutier par la lettre C, ce qui C, située environ à 22 arpents de la rivière Même si sa concession date officielle- est une mauvaise lecture . « ... à remar- du Buisson, indiquerait une maison con- ment de 1644, Giffard lui a certaine- quer à (A) la seconde maison de Giffard struite sur le fief de Jean Juchereau de la ment fait don sur promesse verbale. construite près de la rivière (Beauport) et Ferté marié à Marie-Françoise Giffard, Ajoutons aussi que les maisons sur la son manoir, tout proche (le petit carré). À mais appartenant à son fils Jean de la carte de Bourdon, nous dit celui-ci, remarquer à B les deux constructions près Ferté marié à Marie Langlois, sœur de sont des maisons commencées. “Ces de la rivière du Buisson : l’une, celle de Noël. Il ne s’agit donc nullement de la marques (dessin de maison) signifie Guyon et Cloutier, pour 1634, et l’autre, maison de Cloutier comme l’avancent, les abitatio quy y sont commencés”. celle dont Giffard a fait cadeau à Guyon pour la même distance de la rivière Du et Cloutier le 3 juillet 1637; enfin en C Buisson, Giroux et Dion. Quant aux deux est le logis de Zacharie Cloutier ... ». En dernières maisons, à l’est de la lettre G tenant compte d’une part de l’échelle de que nous avons ajoutée, elles seraient (Uncleluc suite de page 23) grandeur déterminée par Bourdon lui- construites sur les terres de James Bour- Pour un temps il enseigna l’espagnol même et d’autre part que les deux fiefs guignon (Provost) et de Pelletier qui au séminaire Oblat de San Antonio. Il de Cloutier et Guyon de 5/1-2 arpents reçurent, eux aussi, officiellement leur prit sa retraite en 1990 dans la paroisse de front chacun sont contiguës, cette concession en 1645. Mais tous deux, de St. Mary à San Antonio où il fut or- lecture est mathématiquement impos- en 1641 et en attente d’un titre officiel, donné en 1938. Atteint d’un cancer en sible. Giroux affirme que, sur cette carte, étaient certainement propriétaires de leur 1992, le père Miville est décédé à San Bourdon n’a pas tenu compte du partage terre à la suite d’une promesse verbale. Antonio le 19 octobre 1992 après avoir des terres fait entre Giffard, Guyon et Quant à la concession de trois arpents donné une dernière bénédiction à sa Cloutier. Au contraire, selon nous, il en de Côté, située entre celle de Cloutier famille en les personnes de ses derniers tient compte car les deux fiefs respect- et de Langlois, il n’y a, selon la carte de frères et soeurs vivants, Emile Miville ent l’échelle. Ils sont voisins et ne sont Bourdon, aucune maison. Langlois, dont et Bernadette (Miville) Autotte de Man- pas distancés d’une vingtaine d’arpents la terre concédée en 1637 est “proche de chester lesquels lui avaient rendu visite environ comme le soutiennent Giroux la Pointe de Lessai”, aurait habité dans à San Antonio dans ses derniers jours. et H. Dion. Bourdon n’a donc pas fait un premier temps, selon Henri Dion, La croix missionnaire du père Mi- la distinction entre la première maison l’ancienne maison de Giffard. Donc, sur ville est devenu par la suite celle du frère construite en 1634 et la deuxième à cette carte de Bourdon, Langlois n’aurait Valentin Kalumba le 20 février 2005 à l’hiver de 1636-1637. Pour lui, le débat pas encore construit sa maison sur sa l’occasion de sa profession dans la com- est clos depuis quatre ans et, comme terre. De même, Côté aurait construit munauté des Oblats de Zambie en Af- cartographe, il n’a pas à en tenir compte. préalablement une première maison sur rique, quelques mois avant son ordination Nous croyons que la localisation une portion de terre de Langlois afin de comme prêtre Oblat de Marie Immaculée le 22 octobre 2005. Il va sans dire que François Bélanger et Marie François was actively engaged in the le père Luc Miville, OMI en serait ravi! Guyon à Beauport (1634-1641) establishment of the Seigneurie. One of the first houses built near the Du Buisson par Raymond Bélanger A part de mes propres souve- River in 1634 was occupied by employ- nirs mes sources principales furent: (N.D.L.R. 2nd installment of François ees which will later be identified. Not far Bélanger, submitted by Jim Bélanger, NH) from this house, according to Henri Dion, 1. La Brosse-Montceaux: Avant et What was François Be - Giffard built a flour mill or a saw mill. après le 24 juillet 1944, Henri du Halgouët, langer’s participation in the events Jean Guyon became its owner in 1646. omi, Témoignages & Documents, OMI France at Beauport between 1634 & 1641? During the winter of 1636-1637, Documents, TD No. 1 – Janvier – 1994 François Belanger was active, as dem- 2. La délivrance: Mémoires d’un agent There are varying accounts which onstrated by an ordinance from governor secret de la France libre, Colonel Gilbert tell us of the events between 1634 and Huault of Montmagny and also a contract Renault dit Rémy, tome III, éditions France- 1641 at Beauport, while François Be- issued at Mortagne, in the construction Empire, 13, rue Le Sueur, 75116 Paris – 1998 3. Le silence des Oblats, Colo- langer lived there. Giffard had to set up of another home of 36 feet by 16 feet to nel Gilbert Renault dit Rémy, Im- his infrastructure for his seigneurie and house the families Guyon and Cloutier. primerie du Progrès, Montereau recruit tenant farmers, give them land It was in this common residence, later en- 4. Missionnaires et Gestapo, J. concessions, house them and build a man- larged by 8 feet at each end and acquired Thosac, éditions Les trois nefs, 2, rue or and mill. After the summer of 1634, (Continued on page 26) de Saint-Simon, Paris VIIième - 1945 24 Vol. 33 # 2 & 3 • AUTOMNE/HIVER (François Bélanger et Marie Guyon à Beauport (1634-1641) suite de page 24)

Carte de Bourdon annotée par Grenier. Nous ajou- tons la lettre G car ne figurent que sept maisons.

1. Jean Guyon 2. Z. Cloutier 3. Jean Coté 4. Noël Langlois, proche de la pointe de Lessai 5. Le fief Beaumarchais, nom que porta le petit-fils de Jean Juchereau 6. Fief de la Ferté, nom que porta Jean Juchereau marié à Françoise Giffard 7. Le fief Le Chesnay du nom de Nicolas, fils de Jean Juchereau qui épousa M. Thérèse Giffard 8. Pierre Lemieux 9. Martin Grouvel (selon Trudel, concédée le 19-10- 1649 et 10-01 1655) 10. James Bourguignon qui vend à Martin Pro- vost 11. Charles Cadieu 12. Jean Mignot 13. Les Pelletier (selon M. Trudel, terre concédée à Martin Grouvel le 17-04-1644 qui revend la Grenier, Aimé, Charles Gre- même année à Guillaume Pelletier) 14. François Hébert dit Lecompte. nier (Sieur de Bois-Fontaine), ancêtre des Grenier de Beauport A= manoir de Giffard; B= les maisons de Guyon et Cloutier; C= venu au Canada en 1663, de Tour- une maison appartenant à Jean Juchereau (fils) marié à Marie Langlois, nebu en Normandie, p. 64 et 110. sœur de Noël Langlois. Les deux autres maisons, à l’est de la lettre Si les dates de concession sont G que nous ajoutons, appartenaient à Martin Provost (Bourguignon) différentes de celles de M. Tru- et aux Pelletier. D= une largeur de dix arpents concédée par Giffard del, nous l’indiquons dans le tab- une fois que les terres entre les rivières Du Buisson et Montmorency leau de droite en l’insérant entre furent toutes occupées. Il s’agit des terres au-dessus du Bourg de Fargy parenthèse à côté du propriétaire. représentées par la lettre E. La commune est représentée par la lettre F. 25 Le Forum (François Bélanger et Marie Guyon à “la teneur juridique” (judicial status) of on and Cloutier and those of others listed? Beauport (1634-1641) continued from those cleared farmlands give, according This question is pertinent as it arises from page 24) to Giffard, “en roture” (with rental fees) a geographical concern and to correct any between 1638-1640 by Jean Guyon, which is confirmed by a judgement of misinterpretations of the Bourdon map. that François and his spouse lived. It the tribunal on 2 july 1637 where they was also in this home that Charles, were obliged to pay rentals fees. Then Who are the owners of first born of François, was baptized came the splitting act of 10 december homes inscribed on the 1641 provisionally at home by Jean Guyon. 1637 between Guyon and Cloutier of map of Bourdon (Beauport)? The year 1637 was an important the lands until then possessed in a non year for François Belanger’s father-in- splitting status. Jean Guyon after drawing We start answering this question law as his contract with Giffard was lots, became owner of the western parcel by looking at the traditional interpreta- fulfilled at St Jean Baptiste of that year. under the name of “the fief du Buis- tion of the Bourdon map by Ed. Giroux To Jean Guyon and Zacharie Cloutier son “ while Zacharie Cloutier became and Henri Dion. Then, we attempt to were granted jointly, on the 3rd of Feb- owner of the land commonly called La identify using the same Bourdon map as ruary, the farmland promised by Robert Cloustrerie. Meannwhile, the houses, interpreted by Grenier and confirmed by Giffard in the contract of 14 March 1634 barns and yards were commonly occu- Marcel Trudel which identifies the prop- signed before Mayor Mathurin Roussel. pied until the time of a new subdivision. erties measured in the year of concession. As a result of this contract, Jean Guyon According to the contract of 3 Feb- Map of Jehan Bour- and Zacharie Cloutier each reclaimed ruary with Giffard, the cultivated lands don, Beauport section. In- 2000 acres, some open prairie and some near the river at Beauport and the land at scriptions are from Ed. Gi- wooded. But, the judgement of Huault the cove returned to Giffard. It seems evi- roux taken from Henri Dion. of Montmagny of 1636 only gave 1000 dent that the two acres given for farming acres and excluded the prairies. In real- by Jean Guyon as a wedding gift in July ity, the entire parcel measured 1386 acres 1637 to his daughter Marie are a part of which gave each 693. The error was a the land cleared by employees of Giffard result of a misinterpretation expressed by between 1634-1637 and this at the interior Jean Guyon and Zacharie Cloutier of the of the fief du Buisson. We see an indirect signification between an apostrophe and a confirmation of this gift of farmland in comma in the text. In the original contract the 1645 marriage contract between Jean signed at Mortagne, we read in the French Guyon’s son and Elisabeth Couillard. text: (à chacun d’eux, mille arpents ou à chacun, deux milles arpents) which could “...... Et outré, led Guyon et sa mean 1000 acres for each of them or 2000 femme donnent auxd futurs espoux la acres for each one. Later when Guyon jouissance de deux arpents de terre en and Cloutier separated, each actually got labour seiz au dict Beauport faisant le 5 1⁄2 frontage acres (arpents could also be reste d’une piece de terre de laquelle a linear measurement as well as an area François Belanger a eu deux arpens a Two notions come forward after measurement) and a depth equal to that of cause du mariage entre luy et Marie Guy- one interprets this map by Bourdon and the Seigneurie, resulting in 1 1⁄2 leagues. on fille du dict Guyon et sa femme .... “ other authors (Henri Dion, Ed Giroux) The Mortagne contract also stipu- who located Cloutier’s house by the lated that Jean Guyon and Zacharie (Translation: . . . as well, Guyon letter C, which is a bad hyposthesis. “ Cloutier would receive, in lieu of salary, and his wife give to the future spouses the . . marked (A) is the second house of half of any farmland that was cleared gift of two acres of good tillable land in Giffard built near the river (Beauport) during the first three years. Giffard, a the said Beauport comprising of the re- and his manor close by (the little square). wise person says Edmond Giroux, had maining piece of land which François Be- Marked with a B the two structures close cleared land in three different locations; langer obtained as a result of the marriage to the river Buisson; the one belonging to close to the Beauport and Du Buisson between he and Marie Guyon, daughter Guyon and Cloutier in 1634 and the other rivers and close to a certain cove along of the said Guyon and his wife . . .) belonging to Giffard as a gift to Guyon the river. All three (Giffard, Guyon & and Cloutier on 3 July 1637 and lastly, the Cloutier) proceeded to parcel out this According to the subdivision agree- letter C is the home of Zacharie Cloutier.” land on the 5th of July 1637 in the pres- ment of July 1637 about land cleared, Keeping in mind of the scale ence of witnesses François Le Doublets, Giffard gives Guyon and Cloutier the determined by Bourdon himself and the Robert Drouin and Noel Langlois. houses built during 1634 and the winter two large land concessions of Cloutier Francois was again a witness to of 1636-1637. Several questions arise & Guyon of 5 1⁄2 acres of frontage as misinterpretations between Giffard and here. Can we identify, on the 1641 map one contiguous parcel, this hypothesis Guyon-Cloutier in a matter concerning of Bourdon, the houses belonging to Guy- (Continued on page 27)

26 Vol. 33 # 2 & 3 • AUTOMNE/HIVER (François Bélanger et Marie Guyon à River are, according to him, those of Cloutier and Langlois, there is no houses Beauport (1634-1641) continued from Guyon and Cloutier which corresponds as shown by the Bourdon map. Even page 26) to the letter B. The one marked C, situ- though Langlois obtained a concession of is mathematically impossible. Giroux ated about 22 acres from the Du Buisson land in 1637 (near the Pointe of Lessai) states that, on this map, Bourdon has not River, indicates a house built on the fief he had earlier lived in the former house of taken into consideration the splitting of of Jean Juchereau de la Ferte married to Giffard, according to Henri Dion. There- the farms established between Giffard, Marie Françoise Giffard but belonging to fore, on the Bourdon map, Langlois had Guyon and Cloutier. On the contrary, his son Jean de la Ferte married to Marie not yet built a house on his land. Even according to us, he did keep track of it be- Langlois, sister of Noel. A parcel the so, Cote had probably built a first house cause the two fiefs are within scale. They same distance from the river Du Buisson on a portion of land belonging to Lan- are neighbors and are not farther apart as that of Giroux and Dion cannot contain glois as protection against the Iroquois. than about 20 acres as claimed by Giroux only the house of Cloutier, as previously But, in which year? We have no answer. and H. Dion. Bourdon did not take dis- stated. As for the last two houses, marked As for the version of the Bourdon tinguish between the first house built in by the letter G which we have added, map which shows an 8th house, it is 1634 and the second built during the win- they were built on the land of James probably situated on the farm of Martin ter of 1636-1637. To him, the debate was Bourguignon (Provost) and Pelletier Grouvel (9 or G). Even if his concession a closed issue four years before and, as a who also officially received their land of land was dated 1644, Giffard certainly map maker, he didn’t need to keep track. concessions in 1645. But both of them, in made good on his verbal promise. We We believe that the locations as 1641 while waiting an official title, were should add here that the houses shown shown by Grenier on the two following certainly owners of this land as a result of on the Bourdon map are houses under maps are more believable. The two first a verbal agreement. As for the three acres construction. “The design of the homes houses on the East of the Du Buisson Côté concession, situated between that of indicate houses no yet completed”.

G r e n i e r, A i m é , Charles Grenier (Sieur de Bois-Fontaine), ancestor of the Greniers of Beau- port, came to Canada in 1663, from Tournebu in Normandie, p. 64 et 110. If the dates of concession are different from those of M. Trudel, we indicate this in the right column by insertion in parenthesis next to the property.

Maçon et père de notre ancêtre Marie et beau-père de François Bélanger

(Continued on page 28) 27

Le Forum (François Bélanger et Marie Guyon à Beauport (1634-1641) continued from page 27) La Roue-Enfer

Robert Leon Rivard Amherst, MA

Quand j’étais un petit garçon notre maison avait un grand fourneau dans la cave. Chaque matin en automne si la météo le demandait, avant que les enfants se lèvent, mon père se levait du pied gauche, descendait l’escalier en arrière pour mettre le feu au charbon. C’était une tâche désagréable et mon frère et moi avions toujours peur de parler ensemble ou même de chuchoter pour ne pas le faire enrager avant que le feu soit déchaîné. Quelques matins, quand le peu de charbon avait tout brûlé pendant la nuit, il fallait recommencer le feu de nouveau. Cela n’est pas facile à faire avec du charbon dur, et de temps en temps on entendait beaucoup de bruit et de hurlement dans les conduits. Si ça prenait beaucoup de temps ma mère venait se glisser dans notre chambre à coucher pour nous réveiller avec une tasse de chocolat chaud et pour nous dépêcher à faire notre toilette avant que mes trois soeurs se lèvent. Elles prenaient beaucoup plus de temps pour faire leur toilette, un après l’autre, mon frère et moi, nous n’étions pas gênée de Map of Bourdon annotated by Grenier. We added the letter G as faire notre toilette ensemble. Un se bros- the number of houses was only eight. sait les dents, pendant que l’autre faisait ses besoins au petit coin, deux minutes chaque côté de la salle de bain et nous 1. Jean Guyon 2. Z. Cloutier 3. Jean Coté 4. Noël Langlois, near the point of Lessai étions à la table pour le petit déjeuner. 5. The fief Beaumarchais, named for the grandson of Jean Juchereau 6. Fief de la Ferté, Un beau mercredi, deux jours avant named by Jean Juchereau married to Françoise Giffard. 7. The fief Le Chesnay named ma fête, mon père montait l’escalier for Nicolas, son of Jean Juchereau who weds M. Thérèse Giffard 8. Pierre Lemieux 9. avec les pas si lourds qu’il ébranlait la Martin Grouvel (according to Trudel, conceded 19-10-1649 et 10-01-1655) 10. James table. La porte s’ouvrait et un homme Bourguignon who sells to Martin Provost 11. Charles Cadieu 12. Jean Mignot 13. The farouche rentrait, noir comme un as Pelletiers (according to M. Trudel, land conceded to Martin Grouvel on 17-04-1644 de pique, les yeux fâchés, les coins which sold, the same year, to Guillaume Pelletier) 14. François Hébert dit Lecompte. de sa bouche murmurant des bêtises. “Bonjour papa” je braillais, selon A= Manor of Giffard; B= The homes of Guyon et Cloutier; C= A house belonging les instructions de ma mère. Elle nous to Jean Juchereau (son) married to Marie Langlois, sister of Langlois. The other two avait dit que s’était toujours le devoir homes, East of the letter G which was added, belonged to Martin Provost (Bourguignon) du cadet d’être le premier à saluer papa and to Pelletier. D= An area of 10 acres conceded by Giffard once the land between the chaque matin. Il n’y avait pas de danger rivers Du Buisson and Montmorency was fully settled. They contain farms above the que papa sorte de ses gonds, si je lui Bourg de Fargy represented by the letter E. The commune is represented by the letter F. donnais un petit sourire timide. “Bon- jour Robert Léon” il répondait.”maman, amène moi un café, s’il vous plaît” (See next issue for more on François “Qu’est-ce qui se passe Bélanger) (Suite page 29) 28 Vol. 33 # 2 & 3 • AUTOMNE/HIVER (La Roue-Enfer suite de page 28) arette se présentait. Alors, il dit avec un quelque chose avec ton Meccano? dans la cave papa. Tu parlais à sourire, à ta santé. Je pensais une longue “ B i e n s û r , p a p a , j e quelqu’un?” je lui ai demandé. minute, et je lui ai demandé si la Roue meurs d’envie depuis midi” Vous devrez savoir qu’une cave en Fer venait s’établir pour le carnaval Ce soir là mon père m’a bâtis une n’est pas le domaine d’un enfant de cette fin de semaine.” Roue en Fer. La Roue avait des chaises six ans. Seulement deux ou trois fois, “Qu’est ce qui a dit papa” tout autour de l’axe et un moteur pour le mon père m’avait permis de descendre j’écoutais de toutes mes oreilles. faire rouler. Je comprenais maintenant avec lui pour l’observer à son devoir “Vaval m’a dit, certainement, qu’on parlait de deux roues différentes, dans la cave. Une cave est très ef- c’est obligatoire!” papa me racontait. une était en fer comme la Tour Eiffel et frayante pour un jeune enfant, et le “J’étais sur maintenant que c’était c’était la Roue qu’on voyait au carnaval. feu quoi qui réchauffe, nous montre la Vaval lui même, et sans qu’il m’aperçoive Un jouet pour faire une virée dans une face du diable dans les langues de feu. j’ai pris le chanvre en même temps que voiture à vent. L’autre était la Roue “Vaval m’est apparut” il je lui ai présenté mon tisonnier rouge du diable, La Roue-Enfer, fabriqué en me dit, “j’avais besoin de le poig- au ventre. Dans un instant il disparut faute par la folie de l’homme. La ma- narder avec le tisonnier brûlant.” en fumée et la boucane ma noircit.” chine de tourment des siècles en siècle. “Ta gueule Albert”, ma- “Mais comment savais tu C’était celui qu’on voyait au fourneau. man criait. “Tu va l’effrayer.” que c’était Vaval” Je voulais savoir. L’énergie du feu venait comme une vague “Est-ce que la roue-enfer fait “Parce que je connais les gens qui à l’âme, complètement désespérée. sauter les âmes papa?” Je lui ai vont bâtir la Roue, je leurs ai parlé hier et Le lendemain je m’occupais demandé. ils m’ont dit que la Roue était en panne.” d’enlever tous les rondelles, les riv- “Bien sur” il me répondait, “la “As tu fumé le chan - ets, la courroie, le moteur, les chais- chaleur commence déjà, pose toi sur la vre, papa?” j’ai demandé. es. J’ai déconstruit la Roue et tri- grille.” “Absolument pas” il me dit, “je er les parties avec mon frère. Papa L’histoire qu’on enseignait chez- l’ai caché dans la cave, c’est à toi de le m’avait dis que le soir quand il sera nous, était tout simplement fantasme. trouver.” Il me dit avec un clin d’oeil. de retour on bâtirait un bateau à voile. Des gens qui mouraientt avec des pé- Deux jours après c’était ma fête et Quand il rentra ce soir là il était chés mortels devenaient un morceau de quand mon père se trouvait à la maison, tard et il était épuisé. Maman avait charbon dur et noir comme leur âmes et maman me présentait mes cadeaux. l’air inquiète et me chassait au lit. quelquefois, quand on les brûlaient dans On avait des petites boîtes de bon- Mon père est mort le même soir. le fourneau le diable venait nous voir en bons, des mitaines, des joujoux qu’on Ma soeur m’a réveillé le matin apparence de Vaval pour remplacer leur tire, un pyjama jaune, et une grande avant le levé du soleil et me donna âmes avec la nôtre. Il était toujours sympa boîte pesante, serrer avec un jolie ruban les nouvelles. J’étais abattu. et amicale, nous offrait du chanvre à rouge. J’avais aucune idée du contenu. “ P a p a m ’ a p r o m i s u n fumer qu’il passait avec un clin d’oeil en Le grand prix du jou - voilier!” je fesais la moue. disant que c’était une nouvelle marque. et de mon septième anniversaire “Écoute, Robert Léon,” maman m’a Il y avait seulement une manière s’ouvrait et j’était presque sans con- dis avec douceur, “ tu es jeune et c’est dif- de savoir si c’était vraiment Vaval naissance. C’était incroyable! ficile à comprendre. La vie est courte, si tu ou notre voisin de l’autre côté de la MECCANO! Les modules préfab- veux faire de la voile, largues les amarres.” rue. Tu vois le diable peut se faire riqués avec des lames métalliques per- n’importe qui, et c’est vraiment dif- forées au pas de demi pouce, et comporta- ficile de savoir s’il nous trompe. it des cornières, des plaques, des axes, des Il fallait lui poser une question pour roues et des engrenages en laiton car le le tricher de son chanvre sans lui donner but initial était l’initiation à la mécanique. moins que rien. C’est le cas, le diable Je voulais bien que mon père n’aime jamais nous dire la vérité. Il ment m’assiste avec la grande boîte mais ma- souvent mais ce n’est pas à cent pour cent. man voulait que je m’occupe de mes “Mais dis-moi papa, comment soeurs et mon frère ce jour là. Toute la savais-tu que c’était Vaval?” “Je lui ai journée on dessinait avec des crayons de demandé, s’il voulait tenir mon tison- couleurs. Papa avait fort à faire pendant nier avec sa main gauche, pour allumer les jours doux d’Octobre, et l’on ne la la cigarette qu’il m’offrait. Mon bon- pas vu avant six heures la nuit. Nous homme a dit oui sans hésiter”. Mon père avions tous manger un peu plus tôt et voyait qu’il m’avait, mes yeux étaient je portais mon nouveau pyjama jaune. ouvert grand comme des pièces d’or. “Bonsoir papa”, j’étais à la porte. Papa a commencé ses explications. “Bonsoir Robert Leon” il “Vaval secouait sa main et une cig- m’a répondu, es-tu prêt à faire

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