“Dearest Grandmother! She spent her entire life at home, God knows, certainly not in idleness! She raised ten children, seven of whom were not her own, and through her labor she was able to ensure honorable rest for her years of old age. When I knew her, her active life seemed already finished. She had withdrawn into the country with a beloved tomb close-by. Every year we went to visit her during vacation, and I still remember our cries of joy when our heavily-laden stage-coach arrived in front of her house. She was waiting for us in the midst of the flowering plants on the front steps, with tears in her eyes and open arms. As soon as we had kissed her, we ran to rediscover our rooms decorated with flowers and white curtains, and the yard, and the meadow. Then we returned to kiss our dear grandmother a thousand times over, and then it was nothing other than celebrations and hikes, childish uproars and play, for two whole months.”

Julie LAVERGNE (1823-1886)
Author

“We were the good cheer of the abode, but Grandmother was the soul. She never left except to go to Mass. From early morning, she went everywhere in the house and garden, distributing tasks, scoldings and praises, each having been merited. Nothing escaped her vigilant eye. Animals and people alike seemed quite happy with these morning inspections. The pigeons flew to greet her, the hounds jumped with joy at seeing her, the good old horse pulled on his tether to get closer to his mistress and, if any chicken wandering about spotted her in the distance, it hurried back to its coop, feeling guilty. During the routine walk, Grandmother always picked up a stray feather left behind by some chicken or bird, and she carried it carefully to the bakehouse where a large barrel held the remains of the poultry slaughtered in the kitchen. Each year, we drew feathers out of that barrel to make lovely little pillows for poor children, and these gifts were added to the abundant clothing that grandmother would make for the poor. She distributed many such gifts, but always on the express condition that she not be thanked in return.”

Julie LAVERGNE (1823-1886)
Author