"The Keepsake Box"

"The Keepsake Box"
From	A Season for Miracles
French title	"Le coffret à souvenirs"
Author	Sharon Stewart
Setting	Baltimore, Maryland
Timeline	December 1756
Preceded by	"Lo, the Perfect Plan"
Followed by	"Stirring Up a Storm"

And so this Christmas Day, my heart brims with joy. Papa will be able to do his best work now, and will not have to spend his time doing rough labour for lack of proper tools. So I ended up doing good, even though I went about it the wrong way.

—Angélique Richard

"The Keepsake Box" is a story included in the anthology, A Season for Miracles. It was written by Sharon Stewart as a follow-up to her 2004 book, Banished from Our Home. The story was also translated into French under the title "Le coffret à souvenirs."

Preface

"Exiled from Nova Scotia, torn from family and friends, Angélique and the rest of her family struggle to make a new home for themselves at the House of the Acadians in Baltimore...hoping one day to return to their beloved Grand-Pré."

Plot

On December 1, 1756, Angélique Richard writes about eavesdropping on her parents, Madeleine and Michel, speaking about her father's need for woodworking tools. He has lost work over not having his own tools and the family has been "having a hard time making ends meet." A few days later, Angélique meets Claude on the way home from work. He tells her about Abner Flint, a master joiner whom can no longer use his tools due to rheumatism. Their father had tried to buy his tools, but Master Flint's price was too high. Angélique starts to feel that she needs to find a way for her father to have those tools. Two days later, Claude presents Angélique some writing paper after working at the bookbinders' shop.

The next day, the twins, Josèph-Marie and Marie-Josèphe are accidentally dyed blue after getting into the laundry bluing. The two are still blue after being scrubbed by Angélique and Jehanne Melanson. The family is able to laugh over the situation until December 13, the first anniversary of Belle's death. Angélique later makes up her mind to ask Master Flint to lend her father his tools. She walks into his shop after her job two days later. Angélique asks Master Flint her question and shows him the keepsake box her father had made her, which he pronounces "nothing special." She storms out after telling him that "he should be ashamed not to share his tools" since he can no longer use them.

Meanwhile, Zachary, whom has been working at the shipyard, fights another boy after he calls him a "dirty Frenchy." Though his father tells him that "violence proves nothing," the other boys at the shipyard start to like him better. On December 24, Father Wentworth comes to perform mass at the House of the Acadians. Angélique, feeling guilty over telling a lie in order to go and see Master Flint, confesses to the priest. She is then surprised when Master Flint himself makes an appearance. After speaking to Michel, they work out a fair deal for the tools. Before Master Flint leaves, Angélique promises to make an ointment for his rheumatism. She later reflects that she did the right thing though in the "wrong way."

Characters

See also: List of Banished from Our Home characters

Main

• Angélique Richard was the daughter of Madeleine and Michel Richard. She worked as a scullery maid for Master Hardcastle. After eavesdropping on her parents, Angélique learned that her father was in need of tools. Her attempt to persuade Abner Flint to lend him his tools initially backfired when her temper got the better of her. Her words ultimately led to compromise.

Supporting

• Abner Flint was a master joiner in Baltimore. Due to his hands being afflicted with rheumatism, he was unable to due his fine cabinetry work. Angélique asked him to lend his tools to her father, which led to an argument. On Christmas Eve, Master Flint decided to sell his tools to Michel on a payment plan. He came to this decision because Angélique reminded him of his late granddaughter.
• Claude Richard was Angélique's kind older brother whom helped support the family. After doing a job for a bookbinder, he brought home some paper for Angélique to write on.
• Josèph-Marie and Marie-Josèphe Richard, nicknamed "Les Terreurs," were the younger twin siblings of Angélique. The pair caused a huge mess when they attempted to use the laundry bluing.
• Madeleine ("Maman") and Michel Richard ("Papa"), the parents of Angélique and her siblings. Michel was a skilled carpenter and was in need of his own woodworking tools. Thanks to Angélique, Michel obtained tools from Master Flint whom he agreed to pay a penny a week.
• Zachary Richard, the younger brother of Angélique. He worked as a sweeper boy at the shipyard. One day, Zachary fought a boy whom had been calling him derogatory names. After the fight, the other boys had grown to respect him.

Minor

• Belle Richard (died December 13, 1755) was the younger sister of Angélique. On the first anniversary of her death, Angélique and the others remembered her with great sorrow.
• Catherine and Victor Richard were two of Angélique's older siblings whom the family hoped to see again someday.
• "Cook" was the chef at Master Hardcastle's home whom Angélique worked directly under.
• Griffon was Angélique's former dog whom she had to leave behind in Grand-Pré. She still thought of him and hoped that he had a home with Jeremy.
• Master Hardcastle was Angélique's employer whose home she worked in as a scullery maid.
• Jehanne Melanson, the daughter of Madame Melanson whose family lived in the same room as the Richards.
• Jeremy Witherspoon was a friend of Angélique. She hoped that her dog, Griffon, was with him.
• Madame Melanson, the mother of Jehanne whom operated a laundry business with Madeleine.
• "Mémère" was Angélique's grandmother whom passed away.
• Father Wentworth, a priest whom performed mass on Christmas Eve for the Acadians. Angélique confessed to him about the incident with Master Flint and he gave her a penance of prayers to say.

Editions

"Le coffret à souvenirs"
French eSingle
(December 2012)