my],

12. Boots on Credit

Henri and Mary Anne provided for the children as best they could. From the springtime throughout the fall there was lots of fresh fish and potatoes. The livestock also provided milk, eggs, and meat. However the winters were always the most difficult for the family. During the winter months they ate a lot of salt fish. Sometimes Henri would fish smelts and eels in the river.

To help provide the basic necessities Henri also had a credit account at John Perry’s Store in St. Louis. Whenever necessary, the

family would charge basic supplies such as floor, sugar, tea, etc. The account accumulated over the winter months, but Henri always managed to pay off the bill over the summer when there was more

work.

As for clothing the children -the younger children would wear mostly hand-me-down clothes that their older siblings had outgrown. Each year Edmond would get Alphy’s hand —me -down clothes, including the boots that Alphy had outgrown. If there was enough money after the bills were squared off, Alphy might get a pair of new boots in the fall, but only if he needed them.

When Alphy was fourteen years old, he once again received a new pair of boots. Edmond had not said anything about this, which

was unusual.

It was the middle of November, and already the snow had fallen, leaving a light, white blanket on the ground. After the chores were done one Saturday, Edmond asked his father if he could go to St. Louis with one of the neighbours, Alphonse. Henri asked Edmond if he had finished his chores, and then gave him permission to go. Edmond was gone most of the afternoon, and arrived home with a brand new pair of boots on his feet.

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