For years Elisabeth, the daughter, went to market every morning with her mother, and the two did all the work of the house.

The mother cooked well, especially a duck with turnips; but, according to Saillard, no one could equal Elisabeth in hashing the remains of a leg of mutton with onions.

"You might eat your boots with those onions and not know it," he remarked.

As soon as Elisabeth knew how to hold a needle, her mother had her mend the household linen and her father's coats.

Always at work, like a servant, she never went out alone.