Page:Women of distinction.djvu/369

Rh 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.

The subject of this narrative has been fortunate as to heredity and opportunities. Her father and five uncles were graduated from Oberlin College in the '40's and '50's, when colored graduates were few. In those early days they were designated by Henry Highland Garnet as "the most educated colored family in America." She was born in Canada, and at an early day was sent to Oberlin. She graduated from the Oberlin High School, and later graduated also from Oberlin College in 1875. She was