Jeanne Dugas of Acadia Read Online Free PDF Page B

well, I don’t know. If she saw an enemy army advancing, she’d probably try to flirt with the officers. But then, maybe this would be smart. I’m not being serious, Jeanne, I didn’t mean that.”
    He smiled. “Come on, you’d best be getting back to the house. I don’t want to have to explain to Maman why I let you freeze on a haystack.”
    Jeanne jumped up and went to him for a hug. “Will you let me know what is happening, Joseph?”
    â€œYes, I promise. Run along now.”
    â€”
    Early in the new year, Joseph surprised everyone with the news that he had asked Anne’s cousin, Marguerite Leblanc, to marry him. They had decided they should marry in Grand-Pré while the whole family was there.
    â€œWe are grateful to have all of you here for a visit,” smiled Marguerite, blushing. “Otherwise he might never have had the nerve to ask!”
    Marguerite was the daughter of Joseph Leblanc dit Le Maigre (the skinny one), so-called because he was very fat. Like Joseph Dugas, he was a caboteur, and a very successful one. It was said that at one time he was the wealthiest man in Acadia.
    The wedding was celebrated just before Lent. There was much merrymaking and music to accompany the happy event, and the de la Tour family met more members of the Dugas extended family and other Acadians from the surrounding farms. Jeanne saw only happy faces when she looked around at her family and relatives gathered together. Grand-Pré was obviously a wonderful place. She wondered why everyone was so worried about the fate of the people who were living here.
    When they returned to Louisbourg in the spring, Joseph brought his bride home to set up housekeeping with him on rue Royalle. The following year, their first child, Marguerite Dugas, was born.

Chapter 6
    L ouisbourg was bustling with activity when the de la Tour family and Joseph and Marguerite returned, although fewer ships than usual had arrived. An eagerly awaited commodity carried by the first ships of the season was always the news, especially political news, but in the spring of 1740 there was nothing decisive to report. France and Britain had avoided going to war with each other in 1739, but what did the future hold?
    â€”
    Although the uncertain fate of Louisbourg cast a shadow, life in the de la Tour home continued at a busy pace. The family had enjoyed their stay in Grand-Pré, but they all slipped back happily into their life in the big town – especially Maman and Angélique. Jeanne, now more aware of the situation thanks to her brother Joseph, continued to watch those around her for signs and omens.
    Almost immediately, Joseph sailed away on one of his schooners, and the family helped Marguerite to settle into the house on rue Royalle. After having watched her carefully for some time, Jeanne decided she approved of Joseph’s wife, a kind, gentle woman, and she began to spend time with her at the house on rue Royalle.
    Marie, Louise and Jeanne returned to their lessons at the convent (Angélique was now too old) and Jeanne continued to work on her embroidered shawl. She tackled it with the same grim determination she applied to all unpleasant tasks. Mère Saint-Joseph, suppressing a smile, told her that her work was much improved and gave her one of the coveted ginger biscuits that were kept in a big tin box at the convent.
    In 1742 and 1743, Marie and Louise, one after the other, finished their schooling at the convent and joined Angélique among the ranks of proper young ladies in Louisbourg’s social scene. Of course this created a flurry of excited preparations, with new gowns, parties, agonizing over invitations, and participation as young adults in the yearly celebrations held for the Feast of Sainte-Anne in July and the Feast of Saint-Louis in August.
    The family members looked very handsome in their fine French clothes when they walked into the Chapelle Saint-Louis at the garrison on