Jeanne Dugas of Acadia by Cassie Deveaux Cohoon

even Pierre’s mother suggested that he should refuse the trip for Jeanne’s sake. So she told him to go. He assured her he would be back in five days.
    Two days after he left, there were rumours that privateers from the New England colonies were prowling close to the shore near Port Toulouse. No doubt they too were trying to profit from the last sailing days of the year, and knew that many of the men of Port Toulouse would still be away. Soon Grandfather Coste arrived at the Dugas farm to report that a privateer ship had landed and ransacked a farm not far from where the Dugas were settled. He persuaded Le Maigre’s family and Marie Braud and Joseph’s children to flee to the Coste farm, which was farther inland and less likely to be attacked.
    Jeanne knew that in her condition she could not walk that far, and certainly not quickly. They would have to try to reach the farm before dark. The baby had fallen in her womb and she realized that her time to give birth was near. She told Grandfather Coste she would go with Marie Braud and told Marie that she would go with the Leblancs. She hoped that in the confusion no one would notice right away that she was missing.
    â€”
    That same evening, the pains came. She was afraid. She had carefully prepared the baby’s layette and Grandfather Coste had made a cradle for the child, but she was not well prepared to give birth alone. She had heard that sometimes the pains would start and then stop, perhaps for even as long as a day. But as the evening wore on, the pains got stronger.
    It was already dark. The small cod oil lamp seemed to cast sinister shadows in her cosy home. She told herself she must be brave and she lay down on the paillasse. She began to pray, but her prayers were interrupted by a moan when a sharp pain seized her. Suddenly, she heard someone at the door. Ah, mon Dieu , she thought, not the privateers .
    The door slowly opened, and in walked Martin.
    â€œMartin?” Of course, he would be the only one walking about after dark.
    â€œJeanne ... Jeanne ... I saw there was a light.” He took in the situation at a glance. “Is the baby coming?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhere is everyone?”
    â€œPierre and Joseph are at sea, and the others have gone to the Coste farm because of the privateers. I knew I couldn’t make it with them.”
    â€œAh, Jeanne. How close are the pains?”
    â€œMaybe every quarter hour.”
    â€œI’m going to get someone to help you, Jeanne. I won’t be long.” He put a gentle hand on her cheek. “Everything will be all right.”
    He returned with a Mi’kmaw woman who took one look at her and shook her head.
    â€œGrandmother has brought many babies into the world,” Martin said. “She will take good care of you.”
    Jeanne felt tears coming.
    â€œI am here, Jeanne.”
    The midwife did not speak French. She spoke to Martin, who knelt at Jeanne’s head and translated her instructions.
    â€œYou must be brave, Jeanne.” He spoke softly and rubbed her shoulders and soothed her. She felt herself relax, and now as the pains came she was less frightened and the pain did not seem so bad. At last, deep in the night hours, she gave a last push and felt the baby leave her body.
    The midwife cut the cord, wiped the baby and rubbed it with oil. Jeanne heard the baby cry. Then the midwife wrapped the baby in a blanket and placed it on Jeanne’s stomach. She said something to Martin.
    â€œGrandmother says you have a beautiful and healthy baby girl,” he said. “I have to take Grandmother home now, but I will come back.”
    They left quietly. Jeanne unwrapped the baby to see for herself that she had ten fingers and ten toes. She looked perfect. Now she thought of Pierre.
    She felt exhausted and drained after the birth. And hurt at being abandoned. She held the baby and tried not to think. She wasn’t sure how long it was before Martin