CHAPTER LXXVIII.
MISS MARY JONES.
This young lady was born in Halifax county, North Carolina, May 1, 1869.
When she was only seven years old her mother died, leaving her and five other children. Mary and the three younger ones were taken to Raleigh and divided among her mother's relatives. From this time Miss Jones has had to struggle for her own support. Her aunt, who had the oversight of her, very soon hired her out to make her self-supporting.
When she was fourteen or more years old she had been given only six months' schooling, her father having deserted her since the death of her mother; and desiring to go to school, she made her intentions known to her Church, of which Rev. W. A. Green was pastor. This kind and very benevolent minister at once advised the Church to help her, stating her circumstances; but despite his advice the majority of the members declined to help her. Still determined to be "somebody" she made her way to the residence of the president of Shaw University. Having no money with which to pay expenses, she was there refused admission. Again she thought to try her Church and, if possible, get the Church to help her just one year. She went before the body and pleaded with them, and they did agree so to do. She again went to Shaw University and was allowed to enter the school with the understanding that her Church would help her one year. Here she remained two months, and the promised aid failing to come, she was notified to leave for non-payment of bills, as the school had no beneficiary fund. She asked for work to pay back the board of two months but at the time there was no place open to her. She found employment as a domestic and was earning some money to refund to the institution. But before she had been at her new home two weeks the president found employment for her in the nursing of sick in Leonard Medical Hospital, where she could also attend a few classes in the literary branches at the same time. He thus went for her and she accepted this new work and at once entered upon duty. During the following three years she found work enough at the school to keep her going in some way, attending only a few classes daily and studying hard at night. She was in the meantime developing some talent as a songstress, and began to attract much attention at the commencement exercises each year, at the same time standing first in two of her daily classes. At commencement of her third year she carried off the first prize in a recitation contest among the young ladies of the seminary.
When she left Shaw University, having worked and supported herself for three years, she began public life in reality. She taught one winter in the Greensboro Normal and Collegiate Institute, and then went North and took lessons in elocution and music under a very popular and noted Italian professor of New York City. Since returning from the North she has traveled extensively, singing and reading before the public in the large cities and towns. She speaks with freedom and ease. She sings with melody, pathos and a charm of voice that makes one who hears her once most sure to want to hear her again. Indeed, she is in some respects a remarkable young woman. Her mother died early and her father deserted her soon afterwards.
From that time she has been her own bread-winner, and has made her way into prominence over many and great obstacles. Her voice is indeed a delightful chord of fine, mellow sweetness of song. She is temperate, and is a consistent Christian. She has a bright future before her, and if she fails to make herself felt it will certainly be the fault of some one. Her steady onward progress from humble conditions to better in the past bespeak great things for her in the future.