Cherestienne knew her life as Marcelet's wife wouldn't be an easy one, but she never expected to live in a shanty house and survive with only what they plant and grow.
She got pregnant in her first year and gave birth without any complications to a healthy baby girl whom they named Jois Gaudet.
Chrestienne, pregnant with her first baby.
Jois was a quiet and tranquil baby, never demanding attention from anyone else and rarely crying, even when her busy parents left her alone in the house, tied into the cradle and went to work for their neighbors.
Even so, Crestienne had no moment of peace, always cleaning the house, cooking or feeding the little baby girl.And, as if that wasn't enough, soon after she gave birth to Jois, she was pregnant again.Both she and her husband hoped that this time will be a boy who will carry on the family's name (well, the family's name would be the only thing that he would inherit, considering that both his parents are poor as a church mouse).
Chrestienne with baby Jois, also pregnant with her second child.
Marcelet leaving for work.
Seemed like life wasn't complicated enough for them ... because soon, Marcelet and Crestienne had to go to fields for the harvest.
The next year, Chrestienne gave birth to their second daughter, Anne, without any complications.Unfortunately, the saints' fire* stroke down little Jois, only 2 years old.Anne was a lot stronger than her older sister and survived.
Jois, before her tragic death.
Now, with another baby on the way, that means more children to feed and a lot more work for the two serfs.
*saints' fire (devil's fire, evil fire, St. Anthony's fire, correct = Ergotism) - Poisoning from a fungal infection of grain, especially rye.
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