Year: 1877




mother and sister might enjoy the coming
season. He laughed at her hope of success,
ridiculed the profession she desired to enter,
and promised her his best wishes for COM
plete failure at her debut


The night came, and the hall was crowded
to its utmost capacity, not more to hear the
we'll known musicians of the surrounding
country than to see and hear Nina Crawford.
Her name was on the programme for but TWO
pieces; yet hoping for encores she had prac-
ticed others. In the very front seats were
her family, divided between natural anxiety
for the young girl and fear lest succeeding
they would lose the prize of rich
son and brother. Not a prayer, not
a wish for her success was in
a single heart. She was as much alone
as though stranger TO the three women
who bewailed the stubbornesssof a girl in
throwing away such a chance as her lover
had offered her But many of the audience
had kind feelings for Nina Crawford. They
remembered her father and her noble nature,
and knowing how hard her mother had
made life for the child they were anxious
for a complete triumph.


The first numbers had all been played and
sung. and by the hutter and excitement of
the crowd you would have known there was
an unusual interest felt in the next per-
former and every eye was fastened on
the spot where she must enter. Dressed sim
ply In white, few natural flowers in her
hair and at her throat, holding tightly
the hand of her kind old teacher, she came to
the front OF the stage, and bowling low,
awaited the first chords of the piano accom-
paniment. Pale as the folds of the muslin
robe, trembling like an aspen leaf, she sang
falteringly the few notes of the first strain
Stronger and clearer her voice swelled until
it charmed the throng who listened breath.
lessly Inspired by this she began the last
verse, when she saw before her the cold calm
face of Judge Vance. his thin lips set in q
sarcastic smile that made her forget the ap-
plsuse of the people and humiliated her as
if she had failed. She hesitated, paused,
tried to sing the next note, and with the
triumph of that face before her, turned
and left the stage. A few tender hearted
and kind friends applauded family, az if to
encourage the poor child, but it was useless.
In the dressing room, her head buried in her
hands, weeping bitterly. she sat alone. She
had turned from all who tried to comfort
her. and alone she was fighting the battle
with self. No one but her family knew The
fearful cost of that failure; no one imagined
that this pale, trembling girl was singing
for liberty, for freedom; that this nights
work would decide the life of the singer
She could feel the stinging words of ridicule
would hold her to her promise
that her mother, for her good.
would force her to marry thi,
man whom she did not and never could
love. She started up as if mad. She would
try again, and perhaps it would not be tot
late then to win the favor of the manager
who could secure her position and salary
Drying her tears, brushing back her disor
dere hair, she went out of the room, pray
ing as the doomed must pray when the judg'
is pronouncing sentence. Please, sir, lie
me substitute another song for this Italian
air." she said to the manager of the concer
as he came to lead her on the stage. "a
you like. will notify the accompanist.'
With a tiny spot OF red glowing on eithe
cheek. with a steady voice, she sang th
first line of The Evening Hymn
to the Virgin" She knew it a
she did her prayers. She had sung
night after night for her father. and sh
knew her power. flushed almost to whis
per, then pleading and gentle, she sang
through, and then waited one instant tn
verdict. 1t came storm. of applause sue
as in all her life she never heard again. Me-
and women Wed with each other in the en-
core, and the excitement was intensified q
she began to sing her fathers favorite song
"Auld Robin Gray" and as she sang tn
quaint Scotch ballad, she knew by the fac
of Judge Vance that she had succeeded ths
she could never marry him. Her mothe
and sisters were angry and cold, and whe
she came to them after the concert there wa
no word of praise or congratulatiou. The


were as proud and repelling as possible, an


while every one else in the room was anx
ous TO compliment and talk to her, the


swept on as if ignorant of her presence .Th
next day she had stormy scene with h'


mother and farewell letter from Edwar


Vance, and. with nothing to cheer her bt


the promises Of the future, she left hon
and started east with her employer. HI
Success henceforth was remarkable; her sa
sry was mnnifcent, but every cent she coul
possibly spare she sent home. But not OF
scrap of the hundreds of commentator


notes ever was read by those who ought


have exulted in her triumph.


She had many would-be .suitors, b.
to them all she returned the san
answer: 81 am welded TO my Or