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The parish priest and his maidservant
20th century, circa 1972
Ste. Marie de Beauce (Quebec), Canada


Credits:
Folklore and ethnology archives at Laval University, Coll. Marc Gagné, recording no. 1324.

25

However, Adeline, the young housekeeper, was far from having the required age to satisfy conventions... A scandal in the making perhaps ? Not at all, since Adeline was born from François Fréchette's second marriage and consequently was the priest's half-sister. Due to this family tie, her young presence was tolerated in the presbytery. In fact, Adeline had just turned 15 when she followed her brother to Batiscan. She eventually married Séraphin Duval at a late age and had five children. She remained in Batiscan until her death.