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was born at Etables (Côtes-du-Nord), France, October 2, 1798.

At the end of the eighteenth century Etables counted its inhabitants by hundreds rather than thousands; yet the little town had a record of prosperity not to be despised. In close proximity to Portrieux, a seaport to the north, distant only a half hour's walk, and Saint-Brieuc, the capital city of Brittany, not more than five leagues to the south, it possessed advantages that contributed to its thrift without depriving it of the exceptional enjoyment of secluded and simple felicity.

The traffic of the seas engaged a large portion of the wage-earners; the majority, however, found employment in the cultivation and care of their property; for, unlike in our crowded cities, every home had its garden and meadows, the produce of which