Un p'tit homme

Jacquot, a nine‑year‑old from a modest Swiss valley, sets off for Paris with a head full of promises to his family—new clothes, a golden cross, a silver watch, even a fine doll for his sister. Fueled by stories of a prosperous cobbler who turned his fortunes into generous dowries, the boy imagines the city as a place where gold flows like water. His mother, Gertrude, watches him leave with a mixture of hope and dread, fearing the same fate that befell other village youths.

The journey itself becomes Jacquot’s first lesson in the adult world, as he rides crowded third‑class trains and shares a seat with strangers from Lyon, Beaune and beyond. His endless questions and bright curiosity turn each encounter into a tiny adventure, even as he learns that Paris is not the glittering promise he imagined. Yet his determination to bring back riches for his family keeps his spirit lively, hinting at the challenges and small triumphs that await him in the bustling capital.