The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-06-07

SlSs1pp1 river In moline. MI. DeeI VIII
surely help me, ;" she said, "and VIII get
up q concert there"
Ten cents took Emma to Moline, but
Mr.. Deer was absent. Mrs. Deer, a
crotchety- faced old woman, was very cross.
She looked insinu aiingly al Emma, and
said: H
'I don't know what pretty young
woman like you wants of my husband.
guess he haint go, no time to fool away
ge ting up concerts"
Just then Miss Abbott spied the piano,
and asked II she might play something
In a moment she was warbling sweet
song. The old woman listened, then
dropped her dishes, wiped her hands on
her apron, and came and looked over ber
glasses in sstonishment. Just then Mr..
Deer entered.
he exclaimed. "Who's doin' it?"
"My name is Emms-Emma Abott, sir.
Fatt er used to teach"
Thunder, yes! / remember Mr.. Abb
bott; but what are you doin' hereY
What"
"Well, pa and ma ere very poor now, and
I've come here to see If you'd help me get
up concert"
"Help your Why, of course will.
brave girl, and We'll get you up big
housei"
And she did have it. She got her bills
printed, went around personally, and an
nounced the concert in the schools, and
| the house was crowded.
The next night Miss Abbott sang again,
and ct the end of a week she returned to
Peoria with $50 in cash. When she sho owed
her money, her astonished mother held
up her hands, and, with Joy and sadness
IN strange combination, exclaimed:
"Ob, Emma, 1 hope you havn't been
robbing somebody
Little Emma was now past sixteen
years old. She saw her father and mother
growing poorer every day. She knew she
! had talents, but she had no one to bring
them out. Her father was too feeble to
help her. So she started on concert
tour through Illinois-all alone, accom-
panied by her faithful guitar. Arriving
in a town, she would announce her con-
cert in the schools, sometimes with poor
success, sometimes successfully but she
was always hopeful. She always sent
home all the money she did not need to
use. At Joliet q Chicago opera troups
came up behind her, saw her bills and
heard such praises from the people that
they engaged her to sing with them for
sevensy.fve nights through Illinois, lodi
ana ard Michigan, where the troupe
broke up and left her out OF money.
L
of money and two hundred miles from
home, she determined to give one more
concert alone and raise money or ough to
take her home. Poor, friendless and dis
couraged, it was to be her last effort. The
audience came late, and among them was
a kind-hesrted railroad man, who listened
with enthusiasm.
NV child, you have the voice OF an
sngeI' he said. "YOu must go to New
York" 5su
"But IhaYe no money"
swell, will give you pass to Dstroit
From there you can sing through Osnadt
TO the Falls, and some way to New York
Trust in Providence, and 60 and SCI
Pareps. She's in New York. She'll hslI
you" 3p
| With thanks for the advice, and sar.
guine with hope, little Emma landed the
next day in Detroit and then crossed ovel
TO Canada. Contrary to her sanguine ex
pectstions, she found Canada poor place
for her. She stopped ct several towns
but hard luck stared at her everywhere
Many times she walked hungry from plsci
to place, and once, TO raise money, she
cut off her hair aud sold it. Music was
her love and she forgot every discomfo.{ 4
in the midst of her beautiful songs.
| Once she 1rozs her feet and sang while
they sched with the intense pain which
| follows. The applause of the audience
overcame hunger. sorrow and even the
pain of frozen feet. Her one intense de-
sire was to get to New York and see
Psreps. On ste was waited toward the
big city. At Lyons, in Wayne county, hel
money gave out and she stopped to sing
in school house. ALI day long she went
without food. She actually sang when
faint and hungry. With the proceeds
she bought good supper and continued
on her way to New York.
After two weeks of singing and hoping
and struggling, Miss Abbott finally arrived
in New York alone and in the night,
putting up at the Washington House.
/ The next night she paid her last money for
ticket to the opera; but, to her great dis
appointment, Parepa did not sing. She
| fnally.hesrd Psrepa at Steinwsy Hall, tu'
never succeeded IN meeting her face to face.
Failing to interest any one in her voice in
New York, and solicitous for the welfare
of her father and mother, Miss Abbott
resolved to return to the West. What
could she dor She was out of money, with
no friend, except her sweet, bird like
voice. Many time this voice had been
her salvation before. 1t had opened stony
hearts. So, borrowing SIS from lady in
the hotel, our little wanderer started for
| the West. Her money took her to Monroe,
Michigan, where she b. Zarded every
thing in advertising three concerts. The
| nights were stormy, and she lost ell her
money. She could not pay her hotel bill,
and the upiesliDg landlord held on to her
guitar. With tears in her eyes she left it,
and went on to the next town, where she
sang in an ice cream saloon, making
money enough TO go back and redeem her
guitar. This was one of the most dismal
episodes In Miss Abbolt's life. So dis
couraged was she that when q theatrical
troupe came along she was glad TO join IL
for seventy nj shts, to sing in Iowa, Kan
sas, and even out amo az the Nebraska In
dians, sending the proceeds to her mother.
Ambitious of success she now tried, with
poor luck, three concerts alone in Mil
waukee and Chicago. Tie people had
never heard of her wonderful voice, and
they would not come out to hear one
young lady sing.
Her Ill success In Chicago and Milwau-
kee induced her to try the provincial
towns again, so little Emma started for