Fallen from the Nest: the Epic of a Young Orphaned Immigrant

Martin was only 7 years old when he arrived in Canada in 1892, with a contingent of young British orphans. Not only did the young boy just lose his father, but this death had brought about the dismantling of his whole family and, when he emigrated to another country, this enhanced his feeling of being a bird "fallen from the nest". His adoptive parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Vézina of Ste Geneviève de Batiscan were warm-hearted, and they did all they could to recreate for him a happy home, which greatly helped the young immigrant to slip into his new life. But, so many obstacles strew his path! First, he had to learn French and then be accepted by his schoolmates, some of whom considered the arrival of this newcomer as a threat. And this was just the beginning!