Biographical sketch of Millie Christine, the Carolina Twin : $b Surnamed the Two-headed Nightingale and the Eighth Wonder of the World — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Biographical sketch of Millie Christine, the Carolina Twin : $b Surnamed the Two-headed Nightingale and the Eighth Wonder of the World
John Stuart Mill · en
Millie Christine grew and flourished, when Mr. Smith, yielding to the
earnest solicitation of friends who knew him to be possessed of the
world’s greatest marvel, allowed her to be taken upon a tour through
the States of South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana. At the
close of that tour, in the City of New Orleans, an incident occurred
which, for a short time, made shipwreck of the happiness of Millie
Christine, and which, but for the affection of Mr. and Mrs. Smith,
and the persistence which that affection inspired, would probably
have altered the whole life of the child for the worse. She was again
kidnapped and for months was hurried over the country, from place to
place, and deprived of the fostering care of her natural guardians.
Ultimately, however, Mr. Smith’s anxiety and determination were
rewarded, and the child was restored to the arms and heart of Mrs.
Smith, whom it soon came to regard and denominate its “white mamma.”
Under her care the girl was reared to regard with reverence and
love the Supreme Father of all mankind, and speedily grew up into
an intelligent Christian child. She not only became proficient in
elementary education, but, showing a high appreciation and taste for
music, soon became an object of great interest to all visitors at Mr.
Smith’s home by the rapid progress she made in that accomplishment.
The year 1860, the dreadful year which brought so much pain and
suffering to the United States of America, brought its own individual
sorrow to the home of Millie Christine. Mr. Smith, after a few weeks of
suffering, passed quietly away to a better world, mourned by all who
knew him, and by none more than those who called him master. Indeed, it
is only due to Mr. Smith and his wife to state, and Christine Millie
desires particularly that it be inserted in this sketch of her life,
that she experienced at his death rather the affliction of one who had
lost a beloved father rather than a master. Not only this, but other
families on estate of the Smiths, while calling the owner and his wife
master and mistress, always regarded them in the light of protecting
parents.
But the war came on, and with it came those heavy losses which
prostrated the fortunes of the Smith family, making of the once
prosperous plantation an untilled waste, over which the restless hand
of the armed spoiler worked its will. It was then that the kindness of
the past found its fruit in the devotion displayed by Millie Christine
towards her only living protector, Mrs. Smith, whom she regards with
filial affection, and from whom she was fully determined never to
separate herself. To retrieve the fallen fortunes of the family she,
now free, consented to place herself on exhibition, and afford the
world the opportunity of seeing the most marvelous physical development
which has ever existed in the human family.