The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-06-30

there are nfteen appncauons III ahead OF
yours"
But don't think that any of them
need it as bad as do, said Emma.
"No, and you are the smartestlookin'
one in the whole lot, and as plucky as
julius Caesar. Have you got your GER
tifcate 2"
"No, sir" faltered Emma.
"Well, my girl, if you've walked nine
miles through this mud and slush you'll
do to teach school for me. Sit up and
have some dinner ~
Emma began the school the next week,
won the respect of the parents and the
took $40 back to her mother in Peoria.
After school closed, Emma, assisted
by her father, gave her first large concert
in Peoria. Quite number of amateurs
assisted her, Rouse hall was filed, the
people cheered, and her poor father and
mother received 500. This was all used
by her father and mother, except SO.
With this amount in her hand, she left
her father sick at home and started for
Rock Island, to visit young lady friend
who thought she might get up concert
in Rock Island. She found her young
lady friend absent and her money dwin-
died to twenty cents.
"What shall 1 do9' she said 10 her.
self, almost disheartened. Then a new
thought seized her. She remembered
her father had once taught music in a
family of the name of Deer, who lived
over the Mississippi river in Moline.
"Mr. Deer will surely help me-" she
said, "and will getup concert there. I"
Ten cents took Emma to Moline, but
Mr.. Deer was absent. Mrs. Deer, o
crotchety-faced old woman, was very
cross. She looked insinuatingly at
Emma, and said:
81 don't know what q pretty young
woman like you wants of my husband.
1 guess he hain't got no time to fool
away getting up concerts"
Just then Miss Abbott spied the piano,
and asked if she mightplay something. In
moment she was warbling asweet song.
The old woman listened, then dropped
her dishes, wiped her hands on her
apron, and came and looked over her
glasses in astonishment. Just then Mr..
Deer entered.
"ByJove, Matilda, that's nice singin',"
he exclaimed. "Who's doin' it 2"
"My name is Emma-Emma Abbott,
sir. Father used to teach"
"Thunder, yes 1 remember Mr..
Abbott; but what are you doin' here :
What"
"Well, pa and ma are very poor now,
and I've come here to see if you'd help
me get up concert"
"Help you2 Why, of course will.
You shall have our church. You're a
brave girl, and we'll get you up big
house."
And she did have it. She got her
bills printed, went around personally
and announced the concert in the
schools, and the house was crowded.
The next night Miss Abbott sang
again, and at the end of week she re-
turned to Peoria with $50 in cash.
When she showed her money, her
astonished mother held up her hands,
and, with JOY and sadness in strange
combination, exclaimed
"Oh, Emma, 1 hope you haven't been
robbing somebody"
Little Emma was now past sixteen
years old. She saw her father and
mother getting 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 a concert tour through Illinois
all alone, accompanied by her faithful
guitar. Arriving in town she would
announce her concert in the schools,
sometimes with poor success, sometimes
successfully; but she was always hope
full. She always sent home all the
money she did not need to use. At
Joliet a Chicago opera troupe came up
behind her, saw her bills and heard such
praises from the people that they en-
gagged her to sing with them for seventy
five nights through Illinois, Indiana and
Michigan, where the troupe broke up
and left her out of money.
The next town was Grand Haven. Out
of money and 200 miles from home, she
determined to give one more concert
alone and raise money enough to take
her home. Poor, friendless and dis
couraged, it was to be her last effort.
The audience came late, and among
them was kind-hearted railroad man,
who listened with enthusiasm.
"My child, you have the voice of an
angell' he said. "You must go to New
York"
"But / have no money"
"Well, will give you pass to De
troit. From there you can sing through
Canada to the Falls, and some way get
to New York. Trust in Providence, and
go and see Parepa. She is in New York
She'll help you."
With thanks for the advice, and san
grline with hope, little Emma landed the
next day in Detroit, and then crossed
over to Canada. Contrary to her san
guine expectations, she found Canada {
poor place for her. She stopped at sew
eral towns, but hard luck stared at he
everywhere. Many times she walked
hungry, from place to place, and once
to raise money, she cut off her hair anC
sold it. Music was her love. and sh,
forgot every discomfort in the midst o
of her beautiful songs.
Once she froze her feet and sang Will,
they ached with the intense pain whicl
follows. The applause Of the audience
overcame hunger, sorrow and even tn,
pains of frozen feet. Her one intens'
desire was to get to New York and SCI
Parepa. On she was waited toward tin
big city. At Lyons, in Wayne county
her money gave out. and she stopped I,