My Acadian NeighboursBy Ruth WoofIntroductionJust as a litte bubbling brookWinding its way to the seaChanges its path in the course of yearsIt's the same with you and me.On the road of life Sometimes by hurry, sometimes by worryAnd often times by strifePerhaps as we study the causes for changeOne reason we'll find in the end.That the greatest cause for change in a manIs found in the life of his friend.This is a brief count of the life style of an Acadian family who lived next door to me when I was growing up and of the changes that took place over the years in their attitudes and values due to the influences of the environment in which they lived.One daughter in the family was just my ago. She became my first playmate and friend. Through my association with her I gained Incites into their attitudes and values; also into the changes which in their lives over the years.Mr. & Mrs. Melanson were at home to their family and friends on Oct.22, 1961, the occasion being their forth-ninth wedding anniversary. Settling in a mixed CommunityAfter being married for about two years Mr.& Mrs. Marius Melanson with their little son Leo came to settle in Marshalltown. Were they purchased a farm from grandfather. The environment into which they settled was new and strange to them. This community did not provide a close association with Acadian people as they had been accustomed to having. Half of the population of the village as English, representing different religious faiths such as Baptists, United Church of Canada and Anglicans. Some of the population had no religious affiliation, while the remaining part was made up of such names is Robicheau, Comeau, Doucette, Dugas and Deveau. These were Roman Catholics who Carried Acadian names but had lived outside of an Acadian environment until they had lost most of their Acadian values.It was in this setting that an Acadian family came to start their life bringing with them the life style and values of Acadians. Needless to say, adjusting to such an environment was not easy for the Melon because such a community presented many for them.Problems Presented by the CommunityWhen the Melansons moved to Marshalltown perhaps they not for-seen the problems that would face them as Acadians. The three outstanding ones were the English element, language and religion.English ElementUpon their arrival their first association was with an English family. Having purchased their farm from my grandfather, circumstances necessitated then to move in before my grandparents located elsewhere. For several months the two family lived together. As a result the Melansons got acquainted with English families who had a close connection to my grandparents. My family, who lived on the adjoining farm, brought a further association with this Acadian family. These were new experiences for the Melansons. R . Melanson had grown up in an Acadian community just two miles away from where my mother was growing up-yet they had never met until they because neighbours living side by side. Due to the barrier of language and culture there was little association between their respective villages.English influences were not really desirable for Acadians. In such a community there was always a danger of assimilation through marriage. This in turn could be a factor in bringing about a change in religious fait of the children as they grew up. LanguageClosely associated with the English element was the question of language. Mr. & Mrs. Melanson spoke French fluently. Naturally they wanted their children to learn their native tongue. This community, however provided no opportunity for them to continue speaking French nor for helping their children to learn it. Loss of a LanguageThe English element in the community offered no assistance for teaching the French language to their children. Upon arrival in the community French had been the means of communication for Mr. & Mrs. Melanson. They had started teaching their language to their young son Leo. Now every association with neighbours brought only the English languages to them. As time passed there was more association with English speaking families. More children were taught by English teachers and from English text books. The children had English speaking friends and found little need for learning the French language. In spite of environment Mr. & Mrs. Melanson put forth ever effort to teach the French language in their home. However, they met with little success as only Leo, the oldest son, got any knowledge of their long age. Consequently, Mr. & Mrs. Melanson used less French and more English language as time passed by.ReligionsFurthermore there was no Roman Catholic Church in the community although there were several families of that religious faith. The Melansons has been accustomed to regular church attendance. What would they do in case of emergency? The nearest priest was several miles away and there was no quick means of transportation or communication at that time.St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church, Marshalltown. This Church was built on the property of Mr. Marius Melanson. The land was donated by him. Some of the materials used in the building of the church was donated by Mrs. Melanson and other interested citizens. A great deal of the labour was volunteer help.Church Problem SolvedThe Church problem was less difficult to solve. Since the Melansons owned a specious house, there was ample room for them to provide space for holding church services in their home. The priest came quite frequently and this practice continued for over ten years. It was not entirely a satisfactory arrangement and entailed extra work for Mrs. Melanson. Finally Mr. Melanson offered a donation of land as a church site and proposed the construction of a place of worship. This met with the approval of other Roman Catholics. As a result St. Theresa's Church was built in 1930 just a short distance from Mr. Melanson's house.Devotion to Family LifeMr. & Mrs. Melanson were very much devoted to family life. Their family consisted of eight children and their hospitality extended to Mr. Melanson's bachelor brother. Both were industrious and resourceful. They worked long hours each day to provide a comfortable clean home and good home cooked food for their children. They both spent extra hours providing religious education and entertaining friends that the children brought home.Role of FatherMr. Melanson was the figure of authority for the family. In his quiet way he taught the children to respect and obey him. He seldom raised hi voice around the house except when called upon to discipline the noisy children who had gotten out of hand. One shout of his voice calmed the noise and sent all the children present scurrying to a chair.He worked his farm in a small way. His grated concern was to produce enough food for the family. In such case as there was a surplus, it would be sold at the market. He kept cows to provide them with milk, cram, butter and beef. A small flock of hen provided them with eggs and poultry. Since his farm contained quite a large acreage of timberland, in winter he worked in the woods cutting timber or pulpwood for sale firewood for fuel. Whenever possible he hired out as a carpenter and in his later years this became his full time occupation.His working day usually started about six o'clock in the morning with chores at the bar. At the end of the day work there were barn chores again. After work was finished in the early evening he sat in his favourite rocking chair by a kitchen window reading the daily paper or rocking the baby. After the younger children were tucked in bed often joined some remaining family members or neighbours in a game of auction forty-fives. Playing cards was his winter pastime. If a party was being given he would set on the flour with a group of teenagers to play hat stocking. It seemed that he was never too tired to join in the social activities of the family. He liked fun and parties. He kept the activities running orderly but did not deter the teenagers of our day from having wholesome fun.He did no put a lot of emphasis on the boys getting an education beyond public schools. At the age of fifteen they left school to start working with him in the woods; this pattern continued for them until World War 11 when the three oldest boys joined in the armed Services.Role of the MotherMrs. Melanson was a hard worker. Each day brought different duties for her. It took good organization to clean, cook and wash for large family. On wash day the water had to be carried form the well, heated in large wash boilers on wood burning stove and the washing done by hand over a wash board. Ironing the clothes was time consuming and tiresome job, especially in the summer because the irons had to be heated. In order to boost the family income she also did the washing and ironing for their family doctor. For several summers she took a job working in a hotel although it was quite uncommon for housewives to be working outside the home. She relied on the girls for help with the homework. Needless to say they were taught to help shoulder some responsibilities for household duties at an early age. As a result they grew up to be competent housewives like their mother. Many of her evenings were spent in knitting mittens and socks for the family. Another popular evening pastime was piecing together patchwork to make quilts. This was big interest of the community. Often a quilting party would follow. All the woman could make it attended. They would share experiences as they quilted and have supper together. In the evening the husbands would be invited to join the gathering where all would enjoy a game of cards. On such a special occasion Mrs.Melanson would probably have a favourite dish to serve at end of the evening- a rappie pie, which she would have prepared for the event. Role of the ChildrenAt an early age the children were taught by their parents to participate in easy jobs around the house. The girls were reminded often by Mr. Melanson that their mother could do with some help. They were taught to wash the dished, make their beds, help with the cleaning, to iron clothes and prepare vegetables for the meals. This was good training and the girls grow up to be competent housekeepers like their mother.The boys had chores to do that would help their father. They would gather the eggs, feed the cattle, help with the gardening and carry in wood and water, in case their parents were absent form the home.New Baby in the HomeThe arrival of new baby in the home was a very important event. The new baby immediately became the center of attraction. All members of the family invited their friends in to see the new arrival. The baby received much love and attention. Much concern was shown for its health and development. Mr. Melanson would use French words when speaking when it was big enough to being smiling. However, this seemed to continue only until the next child arrived. At such time the previous youngster seemed to take its place with the other children who were considered to have outgrown the baby stage. The Children Grow UpFollowing the Acadian life style the boys left school at a fairly young age and stared working with their father about the farm and in woods. Later they found jobs close by. The girls got married soon after leaving school.Leo, who was the eldest, was the first to get married. He lived most if his married life at home. When Hugh got married he bought a house just a short distance from his parents. Both Howard and Charlie built a house side by side on the land that belonged to Mr. Melanson. Lucy's family located also on her father's property but later moved in with Mr. Melanson when he became ill. Only three of the girl moved out of the community. Consequently many of the grandchildren are still settled around the homestead. Devotion to Religious LifeThe Melanson family were fully devoted to religious life. They exercised their duties faithfully as Roman Catholics. Religious pictures and crucifixes took prominent places on the walls of the living room and bedrooms. The whole family was out on Sunday morning for Mass. They carried a rosary and prayer book. Observance of the Lenten season and special holidays were strictly kept. Rarely did any member of the family attend a Protestant church. Occasionally did go beyond church rules to attend a wedding or funeral of a Protestant friend.On one occasion Mr. & Mrs. Melanson consented to be attendants at a wedding of a Protestant couple who friends of theirs. For such involvement they were severely reprimanded by the parish priest. Mrs.Melanson took offense and made threats to leave the church. This incident was forgotten by both parties and in the short time everything was straightened out again.InterviewOn January 30,1975 I spent the evening with Estelle. It brought back memories of many happy experiences we had shared together during the past. We discussed the changes that had occurred in her life and that of the family due to environmental influences. She also expressed her feelings regarding such changes. Our conversation fell into three main topics, namely the reason for her parents settling in a community which contained so many English influences, their language and religious problems.My first concern was to find out the reason for Mr. & Mrs. Melanson leave an Acadian environment to settle in a community which was greatly influenced by English people. She could give me no certain answer because they had never discussed this issue with her at any time. Her own idea was that her parents were anxious to locate on a main road and quite near to a town. She was sure they had no regrets about making this move and recalled her mother saying on many occasions that no amount of money could entice her to return to her home community. Mrs. Melanson had brought fears and superstitions which took some years of adjustment to overcome. In later years Estella remember her mother laughing about the times she spent hiding in the pantry, with the door braced, when she was alone in the early morning or evening. She was afraid it might thunder or that a stranger might knock at the door. She felt safer where it was dark.The problem of language was an important one for the Melanson. They both spoke French fluently and Mrs.Melanson could also read and write it. Estelle recalled that her mother always had trouble pronouncing some English words correctly whereas her father had a more correct English speaking vocabulary. She told me that Leo was the only one of the children who had a knowledge of French. He could not speak it but could understand it quite well. She felt this was because her parents used their French more in the home when he was learning to talk. The rest of the family did not learn French because of outside influences. There was nobody in the community for her parents to converse with. They used their language only when relatives came to visit or in speaking to each other. As the children got bigger they began to feel that Mr. & Mrs. Melanson spoke French when the conversation was something they did not want them to hear. Consequently there was more English and less French language used as the children got older. Estella feels now that she would like to be bilingual as it's an asset to anyone. She did not have this interest until recent years; however, she doesn't think that she will learn in now even though other adults are doing so. Due to the language barrier she say she has lost contact with most of her cousins. As a child she accompanied her parents on several visits to see relatives. It seems her cousins could understand why there was no means of communication during their visits. As she got older she preferred not to visit Acadian relatives. It seemed useless, they had no common interests.We talked about her interests as an Acadian girl who had to mix with the English people of the village. She told me that she never gave it a thought at the time. She felt accepted at school and by the English families. Of course there were the usual quarrels when an English child would call her a Frenchman and she would retaliate with some the name. She pointed out that she had few playmates of her own age except among the English children. When there was a wedding or party naturally she invited these friends and vice versa. She knows now that these associations with the English did take something away from her culture but she was not aware this was happening at the time. In fact, until I pointed it out to her she did not realize that she no longer carried an Acadian name. Then we discovered that all of her sisters except one had lost their Acadian names through marriage. When discussing the subject of religion Estella told me that during the first fifteen years in Marshalltown her parents provided a room in their house for church services. The priest came periodically form the Plympton parish. It was during these years that she made her first communion in her own home. As the children got older, Mr. & Mrs. Melanson felt there was need for a church building so they offered a piece of land for a church site. Other Roman Catholics in the community loaned in the project. They raised money by holding card parties and suppers, until finally the church was constructed. Mr. Melanson always kept the key and helped with repairs on the church as needed. She recalled him taking wood across the field in a wheelbarrow to make the fire for Sunday Mass. He continued this practice until later life when he became quite ill. I wondered if he ever received special thanks from the other church members for the time and effort he put into church work. Estella thought his effort were appreciated by the other members, in their own way, although no outward expression of thanks given him. I asked her if she still retained a strict devotion to religious life. She told me that she had lost interest in her religion and did not attend church any more. She feels that that Roman Catholic religion has changed so much since the time she was growing up that it's hard to know what to believe now. She commented on the strict rules of the church which had to be observed especially the Lenten observances. Many of these rule have since been relaxes so that now she's on her own she just keeps away from it. As for the other members of the family she is sure her oldest sister attends church regularly while other members attend part of the time. Her youngest sister sends her children to a Protestant Sunday School but Estella is not sure whether or not she attemds any church. She suggested that maybe getting away from attending church was just a trend of the times.Our Acadian NeighboursI'll say it again as I've said it beforeWe had wonderful neighbours living next door.They were cordial and kind and great people to meet The Acadian family who lived down the street.There lived Mr.& Mrs. with children eightGetting there an occasion was really greatWe'd have rappie pie or boil corn to eatWith the Acadian family who lived down the street.From all over the neighbourhood, teenagers came In the evening to play a favourite game Or to dance French eights; and new faces to greet At the Acadian neighbours who lived down the street.Those days have passed and no more.For Mr. & Mrs. who lived next doorHave left this real- but a daughter you'll meetIf you call at their house- just down the street.An Acadian PlaymateThe earliest playmate I recall Was dark, curly headed and rather small.She lived just one house down the streetAnd every day we JUST HAD to meet.To romp the fields and play with dollsTo tease older kids and run off with their ballsTo ride our bikes and go for hikesOnly the DARK and could keep us APART.At seven school called us come each dayTogether we walked two miles of the wayGreat fun we had in those care-free years.Though some misunderstandings often brought tearsPut all usually ended with a smileAnd our friendship continued all the while'till teenage years passed beyond our gripAnd into adult life we took our trip.This tore us apart- we went separate waysBut fond memories remain of those childhood days.Our backgrounds were different, that's plain from the startBut it took more than Two Cultures to keep us APART.