Year: 1872

inatiOn as district school-teacher, and OBJ
tained the position in spite of having
nine competitors. She was very small
and her diminutive appearance made
her singing appear quite phenomenal,
Her spirit, however, was gigantic, and
she was always indignant at being called
young. Once car conductor insisted
on returning half her fare because she
was so small, at which she felt quite in
suited.


1t would be impossible to tell the
many vicissitudes Miss Abbott then ex-
perienced. She kept scncol for some
months, but boarding round was more
than she could endure, and she returned
to singing as means of support, taking
| long concert tours with the usual un-
certain results. Often she would arrive
at town with only money enough to
pay a hackman to carry her to hotel,
and more than once she had to leave ar
ticles in pledge for her board. Yet she
never faltered, but with indomitable
courage carried on ber plans to the end.
Repeatedly she had to raise money on
her guitar, and at another time leave
her concert dress in pawn. Again she
was reduced to FIVE cents, which coin she
still keeps as memento of her trials.
On the other hand, she would often meet
with warm welcome and sympathy; be
boarded free in private houses, have large
and profitable audiences, ami 60 on her
way encouraged. Once she was asked
to repeat performance, and cleared
500 in two nights Again, the music
publishers of Chicago raised S23 AND
sent it privately as a Christmas gift, and
like circumstances occurred on other
| occasions Part of her receipts were
, daily sent to her parents, who have always
shared literally in her bounty. Some
times :here was ludicrous side to her
good luck, as when a party of her ad-
mirers, among whom were two young
butchers, escorted her to the cars, and
formally presented her with string of
sausages as a token of their regard.


Three years or more ago Miss Abbott
was given free pass to New York by a
railroad official, and came eastward to
visit the metropolis, at the same time
giving several concerts in New York
state. She was eager to see the city and
also to meet two persons, Parepa- Rosa
and Barnum, the former as the greatest
singer then on this continent, and the
latter as the agent of Jenny Lind, and
one whe might bring the aspiring west
ern girl before the world. She heard
Parepa and Minnie Hauck with delight,
but failed to see the great Snowman,
though she haunted the museum for days
together, and then, her funds being all
gone, reluctantly went back to Illinois
Again she started out on a concert tour,
and worked hard to get on at this pre-.
carious work. She went and sang tc
Parepa one winter and received praise
and good advice from the large-hearted
singer which greatly raised her hopes
Finally in 1869 she made up her mind
to go to New York again, and by some
means obtain thorough musical pstruc-
tinn. Shestarted on this trip with the vast
sum of four dollars and half to pay
her way. Taking railway map which
she had carried for years, she paid hel
way as far as her means allowed, and
then undertook to meet future expense:
by giving concert. The landlord o.
the only hotel in the place allowed hel
the use of his pallors, and Miss Abbolt
went about the town and announced
that she would sing that evening. Whef
the appointed time came she walked
down stairs, very confidently expecting
to fud large audience, but not sou


was iD the parlors. Instead of beins
daunted by this failure this girlish sing
er returned to her room, laughing at he


own disappointment The next day sh,


had to leave her concert dress in pledg,
tor her board. aud she went on to Toledo


Here she had, perhaps, the seyerest tria


Of her career, but it was the dark hou
that precedes the dawn. She engaged
room at the principal hotel in the town


and, as usual, arranged to give concer


in the hotel parlors, by the permission o
the owner. A small audienee attended


who listened with chilling silence to tn
earnest performances Of the young singer
and dampened even her sanguine enthu
siasm by their lack of feeling. Sh
went back to her room feeling forlorl
and disheartened Her ardent spirit hat
not failed to produce some effect on he
audience, however, and after she left tn
room they raised the sum of SO by sub
scription for her benefit but Miss Ad
bott knew nothing of this kind act. Sh
passed a wretched night-tbe mos
wretched she had ever experienced, feel
ing as if she had lost all hope, and mus