Edouard Richard quotes the following from two contemporaries of the exiled
Acadians. "The Acadians were the most innocent and virtuous people I have
ever known or read of in any history. They lived in a state of perfect
equality, without distinction of rank in society. The title of 'Mister' was
unknown among them. Knowing nothing of luxury, or even the conveniences of
life, they were content with a simple manner of living, which they easily
compassed by the tillage of their lands. Very little ambition or avarice
was to be seen among them; they anticipated each other's wants by kindly
liberality; they demanded no interest for loans of money or other property.
They were humane and hospitable to strangers, and very liberal toward those
who embraced their religion. They were very remarkable for their inviolable
purity of morals. If any disputes arose in their transactions, they always
submitted to the decision of an arbitrator, and their final appeal was to
their priest."--_Moses de les Derniers_.

"Young men were not encouraged to marry unless the young girl could weave
a piece of cloth, and the young man make a pair of wheels. These
accomplishments were deemed essential for their marriage settlement, and
they hardly needed anything else; for every time there was a wedding the
whole village contributed to set up the newly married couple. They built a
house for them, and cleared enough land for their immediate needs; they gave
them live stock and poultry; and nature, seconded by their own labor, soon
put them in a position to help others."--_Brook Watson_.

[Illustration: Village of Grand Pré. Rivers Gaspereau and Avon in the
distance.]