Sleepless Jean

At the edge of one of the deep forests of medieval France lived a struggling family of six: one daughter, three sons and their parents.

Father farmed and mother did everything else, including making clothing for her children and others in the nearby village.

Jean was the youngest son. One morning, his mother shook him awake in his place on the floor, telling him to watch his little sister, the youngest of his siblings. The rest of the family was heading off to market. The ten-year-old nodded assent. But as soon as he heard the front door creak shut, he immediately fell back…