The Catastrophic Coat of Arms

A Short Story of Life In New France

Julien

French Coat of Arms

This French Coat of Arms was made in the year 1727 but was only commissioned years later from 1754 to 1763, where it was on the gates of Quebec City. The purpose of this French Coat of Arms was to show the great power of the Québécois empire and to look good at the gates of the city. The artifact was 118 cm tall, 86 cm wide and 2 cm in depth, so it was fairly large. It was made from white pine which was commonly found in Quebec. It looks a lot like a family crest as it serves basically the same purpose put on a municipal level. The story is inspired by this artifact. The story also dives deeper into people, settlement and life in New France

It was a crisp winter morning, the walls of Quebec City had finally just finished construction after more than half a century of gruelling labor. Quebec city is currently under the British hand. The gates were just hung on there hooks when the leader of Quebec City and British army, James Wolfe walked by. He was a very outgoing man. He was originally born in England but moved to the new world to claim land and explore. He always spoke his thought and was hard on his soldiers. This granted him respect, as he was decorated in the way of battle, as he just fought his way into the heart of this very own city and claimed it as his own. He was also one for design and everything looking neat and tidy. This is why when he walked past the gates he thought it needed a decoration.

The Catastrophic Coat of Arms

It was a crisp winter morning, the walls of Quebec City had finally just finished construction after more than half a century of gruelling labor. Quebec city is currently under the British hand. The gates were just hung on there hooks when the leader of Quebec City and British army, James Wolfe walked by. He was a very outgoing man. He was originally born in England but moved to the new world to claim land and explore. He always spoke his thought and was hard on his soldiers. This granted him respect, as he was decorated in the way of battle, as he just fought his way into the heart of this very own city and claimed it as his own. He was also one for design and everything looking neat and tidy. This is why when he walked past the gates he thought it needed a decoration.

Loading...

The year is 1727, James Wolfe ordered a hard working blacksmith to forge a coat of arms to grace the gates of Quebec City. The hardworking blacksmith was a French man in disguise as British named Levasseur Noël. His job was now to forge this coat of arms as the very leader had instructed him to do so. Levasseur is one of the most well-renound blacksmiths in the new world. He forged weapons, decorations and even toys for the children to play with. Levasseur tended to keep to himself but although he wasn’t the most sociable person, he has a kind heart and always something for the little kids. He left his wife and kids back in France when he travelled to the new world. He is very hard working and puts his heart and soul into every project of his. Since the blacksmith put everything he had into his projects, all his products seemed lively and theres been rumours that some of his toys and decorations have come to life and moved around. Between the time he was ordered to make the

Loading...

coat of arms and when he finished, the French reclaimed Quebec City and it became a part of New France. He had to restart as now he would be making a French Coat of Arms, but he was finally finished. This French Coat of Arms was by far his biggest project so far in his blacksmithing career, so he worked extra hard on it. The Coat of Arms resembled a family crest quite a bit. He was so tired by the time he finished he had to go grab a glass of water. He went to the kitchen and ran the pump. He heard a thud coming from the smithing room so he went to check it out. The ornament had moved from it’s original position! Levasseur was astonished! He had heard the rumours but never seen one of his works actually come to life.

Years passed before his creation finally came into commission. It’s now 1757, he sets the ornament up on the gate feeling proud. He hadn’t told anyone of it’s powers to see all and even come alive. Woah! Whats going on, am I alive?

Loading...

coat of arms and when he finished, the French reclaimed Quebec City and it became a part of New France. He had to restart as now he would be making a French Coat of Arms, but he was finally finished. This French Coat of Arms was by far his biggest project so far in his blacksmithing career, so he worked extra hard on it. The Coat of Arms resembled a family crest quite a bit. He was so tired by the time he finished he had to go grab a glass of water. He went to the kitchen and ran the pump. He heard a thud coming from the smithing room so he went to check it out. The ornament had moved from it’s original position! Levasseur was astonished! He had heard the rumours but never seen one of his works actually come to life.

Years passed before his creation finally came into commission. It’s now 1757, he sets the ornament up on the gate feeling proud. He hadn’t told anyone of it’s powers to see all and even come alive. Woah! Whats going on, am I alive?

I couldn’t move yet I had a conscience. I think this man just made me. Oh, I am a French Coat of Arms. He screwed me into the front gate right next to another ornament. He didn’t look too lively or as good as myself. I could see all who came in and out of the city as I was at the front passage. I felt like the king until the novelty wore off. It started to become boring, just watching, just the witness. I was screwed in so tight I couldn’t even move to a comfortable position. Days passed as each one seemed to get longer. Then, it came. I heard a loud crack in the distance followed by a boom and rumbling. A cannonball the size of a boulder sailed through the air silent until it crashed to the ground causing chaos. All hell broke loose as an army charged through my gates, breaking me down.

I failed at my one job, keeping the city safe, and they did it so easily too. It was the British. They wanted more land. Hundreds of soldiers rushed through as more and more cannonballs crashed down. The city was getting destroyed. The French army started to fight back, but they were no match for the magnitude of Britains assets and soldiers. I watched as the city fell. Buildings burning and muskets firing. No one was safe. The British won, but at what cost. There was no city left. No people and no animals. Pillaging the last few shops. But they rebuilt, on top of everything and new people moved in and shops were rebuilt. Finally my gates were put back on their hinges when they realized I was the last remnants of the French. They pried my decaying white birch base off the screws and burned me as firewood. That was the last of Quebec City. I showed all who came through and who came and went. I was the gatekeeper to all things French. I saw everything. How the French lived. Their language, and even how they built the buildings with what I was made of, White Pine

I failed at my one job, keeping the city safe, and they did it so easily too. It was the British. They wanted more land. Hundreds of soldiers rushed through as more and more cannonballs crashed down. The city was getting destroyed. The French army started to fight back, but they were no match for the magnitude of Britains assets and soldiers. I watched as the city fell. Buildings burning and muskets firing. No one was safe. The British won, but at what cost. There was no city left. No people and no animals. Pillaging the last few shops. But they rebuilt, on top of everything and new people moved in and shops were rebuilt. Finally my gates were put back on their hinges when they realized I was the last remnants of the French. They pried my decaying white birch base off the screws and burned me as firewood. That was the last of Quebec City. I showed all who came through and who came and went. I was the gatekeeper to all things French. I saw everything. How the French lived. Their language, and even how they built the buildings with what I was made of, White Pine

wood. My life was boring, but I had an important job. Keeping the hope alive and showing off the French empire. But at the end, I realized I was only a show piece, just to look good when you first entered the origins of the French.

About The Author

THE END

Julien Kettmann, the author of this book is a grade 8 student at Seycove Secondary Highschool. He is currently enrolled in a program called the Performance Learning Program. Some of his favourite subjects are Maker and Sciematics. Outside of school he also participates in many activities such as climbing, mountain biking skiing and sailing to name a few. He even started to get into photography, videography and editing as it really interests him now.Julien also enjoys learning about history and historic leaders. Julien learnt many things during the writing of this book. One thing stood out for Julien. A French Coat of Arms, which eventually led to inspire this short story. Julien aspires to become an Allergist or Engineer. Today you can find Julien on YouTube at StirlingProductions posting his sports edits based on skiing and mountain biking.

About The Author

Julien Kettmann, the author of this book is a grade 8 student at Seycove Secondary Highschool. He is currently enrolled in a program called the Performance Learning Program. Some of his favourite subjects are Maker and Sciematics. Outside of school he also participates in many activities such as climbing, mountain biking skiing and sailing to name a few. He even started to get into photography, videography and editing as it really interests him now.Julien also enjoys learning about history and historic leaders. Julien learnt many things during the writing of this book. One thing stood out for Julien. A French Coat of Arms, which eventually led to inspire this short story. Julien aspires to become an Allergist or Engineer. Today you can find Julien on YouTube at StirlingProductions posting his sports edits based on skiing and mountain biking.