been used to such a life. I told him, no,
but would not answer any other questions. When the company broke up in
the spring, he found me a place as nurse-girl in a family that he knew,
and said, that in the fall, a friend of his was going to organize an
opera-troupe, and that he would try and get me in, for by that time, I
had sung for him, and said that opera was what I had rather be in.

"I found my second trial as nurse-girl, a great deal harder than the
first; for there were three children, all sick and cross, and when hot
weather came, I had a little room up under the roof to sleep in, and the
heat was frightful. I had to be up nearly every night with the children,
for two of them were very sick during the hottest weather, and I was
called upon for nearly every thing. Between the heat and working so
hard, I gave out, and fainted one night, while sitting up with the
little girl, and the doctor told my mistress that if I did not have a
rest, I would be sick, and probably die on her hands. So in a few days,
she sent me and her oldest girl out to her mother's, who lived in the
country. I was so glad and grateful for the rest, that I never can
forget her. The grandmother was a plain, good-hearted old lady, who
seemed very sorry for me, and she used to tell me every day, that I
would never live to see another year, especially after she found that my
mother had died of consumption. I didn't care how soon I died, and told
her so, and then she thought I was wicked, and began to preach long
sermons to me, and give me all kinds of queer drinks and medicines,
which did me much more good than the sermons, for after staying there
three weeks, I was much better, as was Nettie; so we went back to the
city, and I stayed with Mrs. Feathers until late in August.

"One day, Mr. Fox, the old manager, came and brought Mr. Hurst, the
friend who was going to organize the troupe, and I sang for him. He
liked my voice, but said he would not engage me until I had rehearsed
once or twice with the company, so that he could see what I amounted to,
and Mrs. Feathers said I might keep my place with her, until he had
decided. After one or two rehearsals, he engaged me, at four dollars a
week, and so I left Mrs. Feathers. She was so kind, gave me a new dress
and two dollars, and said if I broke down in health, that her mother had
taken a fancy to me, and would like to have me come out again and stay
awhile with her. I felt so grateful that I threw