A+Boyle+Emma+Diary+Entries


 * Name: Louise ** **Léglise**

**Daily routine:**
===**Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits: kind, sociable, quiet, hardworking**===
 * Wake up at dawn**
 * Weave, mend, sew or make clothes until noon**
 * Eat lunch (most likely scraps or anything found)**
 * Work until the late afternoon**
 * Go home**
 * Makes dinner with what was earned**

**Family: Orphan 3 brothers and 1 sister (all deceased)**
===**Social relations with your own and other classes: Weaves fabric for nobles. Gets along well with people of all classes and kinds.**===

**Languages you speak:French**
===**Main privileges and/or hardships:Poor, low social class, orphan**===

**Portrait:**


Entry One: April 21, 1789

It's happening; the people are stirring. Resentment grows as the people starve. It has been years since I have had a full stomach. so long that I can't remember what it feels like not to be hungry. The people of France are tired of living off scraps and having as much money as the rats that scurry through our streets. I'm barely holding on. Mama and Isabelle passed on last week, just like Papa and my three brothers. Mama was so hungry that not a day went by that she didn't collapse with hunger. She gave all of her food to me and Isabelle just to keep us going but it wasn't enough for Isabelle. I miss her so very much. Working as a weaver does not pay much, even when Madame Bovary covets by finely woven fabric. But sadly, I can not produce as much as I used to. I have no money to purchase supplies and what I have goes to putting food on the table and I am barely scraping by.

There is talk in the streets of a meeting to change the way we, the people of the third estate, live. My friend Claudia tells me snippets of conversations she overhears while cleaning the noble's houses and caring for their children. She tells me the nobles grow uneasy as we get restless, waiting for something to change. The nobles detest Marie Antoinette; Madame Deficit, they call her. She spends the King's money so he must borrow from the poor and when the poor have not a penny left, he turns to the nobles. I wait for the day when the Estates-General gather to discuss what shall be done about this crisis. Claudia doubts that anything will be done. She says that no choice they can agree to make will save us and that the only thing that can is removing King Louis XVI from power. I can't decide if she is right or not. I want things to get better; I don't want to die like my family.

---Two Weeks Later---

From what Claudia tells me, the meeting of the Estates-General did not go well. In fact, the 3rd party was sent away! Now we have a new voice: the National Assembly. Claudia's own brother is part and tells me that they have sworn an oath to create a constitution that will benefit us, the people. But fear roams the streets and soldiers patrol the streets. I am scared, very scared. I worry when leave to go outside and hope that nothing will happen. There is talk of a new change. The people no longer want to be poor and hungry. Claudia's brother tells me that he hopes this new plan will help them obtain the necessary force needed to push France in the right direction. I can only hope that he is right.

Entry Two:

July 27, 1794

I had a new customer today, someone by the name of Andreé Evelyn-Fluerette.She was a young apprentice for Monsieur Delitante, a loyal customer. I was just finishing weaving the last of his order so Andreé came and sat down and we began talking. I asked her about the normal things: the weather, her family (the majority of which are deceased), what she thoug ht of the recent events in France and so on and so forth. I asked her what she thought of King Louis's attempt to escape and she scoffed and told me that it was a cowardly thing to do and I agreed. Escaping France to go to the Austrian Netherlands? Austria is our greatest enemy! Further discussion revealed that she was, in fact, a supporter of the Legislative Party just like I am. With the beginnings of a brutal war not too long ago, I asked Andreé her opinion on it and what we should have done. Her ideas were not too different from mine. She may be 2 years my junior but she is smart and intelligent. She told me that the Parisians were right to imprison King Louis XVI and his wife and children, especially after what they did to our country. She and I both were angered when the National Convention stated that only men could could. I may have only known Andreé for a short while and I do not know if I will see her again but I do like her. Her wit, charm and intelligence reminds me of my dear mother and sister.

I was surprised to learn that Andreé had not attended the King's execution, especially after she talked so passionately about how the King had destroyed France. I did attend the beheading with my friend but did not find the entertainment to my liking. It was too brutal and bloody for my taste. With the Reign of Terror over, Andreé and I were free to talk without fear. She and I both agreed that Robespierre was a brutal tyrant and a terrifying man with too much power. My friend's own brother with whom she was very close with was sentenced to the guillotine for cutting down a tree planted for liberty. Andreé and I both agreed that far too many people were slaughtered to 'build a republic or virtue.' Virtue is not death. I was glad to see that Robespierre was 'removed'; his ideas and decisions sent shivers down my spine. Andreé and I both agree that the future will be better with King Louis and Robespierre gone, never to darken someone's mood or make them shed tears again.

Entry Three:

I went to Montreuil today to deliver an set of blue cotton dresses to a young woman and her two young children. The woman of the house, Madame Dubois, was out and I was instructed to wait in the hall. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a servant by the name of Anaïs. She was the most interesting young woman I have ever known. She was abandoned at birth due to France's financial crisis and has been working from such a young age. She is so determined and hardworking and reminds me of a younger version of myself. Though shy and quiet, she has a fiery personality and a good heart. Since she didn't have much time to chat while working, Anaïs begged me to tell her of the news of France, especially about the hero of France (as she called him). Because she was instructed to keep me company, Anaïs and I were free to talk for a long time.

I didn't know where to start but I began with the rise of Napoleon. I began with Napoleon's schooling. I told her how he was teased because he was so short and he had an accent; but, was still very smart, especially in classical history, geography and mathematics. I explained to her that he was excellent in artillery in military school and captured the eye of his instructor and thus began his rise. Anaïs listened intensely as I told her how the hero of France saved the National Convention's delegates from thousands of hostile royalist rebels. I told her how I though that Napoleon was so brave to do so and she replied "D'accord." (I agree) Her brown eyes gleamed with delight as I continued.

"Napoleon is the greatest of our heroes. He lead the army against Austria and Sardinia and crossed the Alps and led France to numerous great victories in Italy." Anaïs told me to go on but how could I refuse?I told her what occurred after Napoleon returned from Egypt. When I saw the puzzled look on her face I stopped and explained.

"Napoleon's friends urged him to rule France since he cared so much for his country. He took his army and surrounded the national legislature and BOOM! The Directory was gone!" Anaïs giggled as I continued, "Instead, a group of three consuls was created; one of whom was Napoleon." I told Anaïs this sudden seizure of power was called a coup d'état. Anaïs gasped as I told her what happened afterwords.

"Mon petit bijou, France was still at war. Our old enemies joined together and tried to remove Napoleon. Austria, Britain and Russia fought to unseat him but, after much fighting, signed peace agreements. This and because he was a constitutionally chosen leader gave Napoleon much power."

I paused for a second and then continued. "Napoleon made many great changes to France. In order to make sure the economy improved, Napoleon made a national banking system so there was an efficient method of tax collecting." Anaïs frowned so I explained. "This may not sound good but it ensured that everyone was paying fair taxes and that the government didn't have to increase the fee. Napoleon also tried to prevent corruption so the government wouldn't abuse their power and take our money. Corrupt officials were replaced with trained ones and set up lycées so boys would have a better education."

Anaïs nodded and I began to finish. "Napoleon signed a concordat with Pope Pius VII which made sure the government saw that the Church had power but could not be included in national decisions. Most importantly, Napoleon made a system of laws called Napoleonic Code. This made sure the law was fair and just."

"Now what do you think mon chéri? Do you think Napoleon saved this country?" I asked Anaïs, my new friend.

"I think so. He did many great things for the French people and our country. But, Louise, what do you think?" Anaïs asked innocently.

"I agree. He did many great things and I support him entirely. Because of him, I can eat and not go to bed so hungry I am weak and cannot stand." I replied. Just then, Madame Dubois returned and I had to leave Anaïs.

-Hours Later-

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Anaïs and look forward to seeing her again. Since this is the last page of the diary my late mother gave me, I will work harder to purchase another. Goodbye diary. Goodbye words. I shall miss you but we shall meet again. 