"A band of mountain children are collected to spend the summer day in singing, gathering flowers, and feasting around their table spread beneath the shadowy branches of the trees. They are interrupted by the approach of a beggar-woman and her children. A part of the children at first repulse her, offended at having their joyous festival thus interrupted: but one of them, Laila, steps forth with a mild rebuke to her playmates for their unkindness: she welcomes the poor mother and children, and bids them make known their wants. The other children soon join with Laila in speaking kindly to the poor wanderers; and, after they have told them their tale of sorrow, they are invited to the feast which the children have prepared, and all together go out with a merry song to where the table is spread. But Laila, the favorite of all, wandering off alone to cull some wild flowers, in the ardor of her search loses her way, and wanders about until night approaches; and then, as weary and frightened she finds herself in a dark forest, she kneels to ask aid from her good angel, when suddenly a little band of fairies with their queen glide into her presence, glittering in their robes of beauty; and, after her surprise is over, at her entreaty they conduct her to her playmates.
"The mountain children soon miss Laila, and all the afternoon they spend in fruitless search for her; and, as night approaches, they collect in the grove where they first assembled, and are expressing their grief and terror at the loss of Laila, when she is led in by the fairies and their queen, who steps forth, and announces to the children that they are the same ones, who, disguised as wretched beggars, came in the morning to prove the generosity of their hearts; and tells them never in future to hesitate to give the needy, for virtue is sure to be rewarded. All unite in a joyous song, and Laila is crowned their queen."
The many persons who were so fortunate as to witness the performance of those charming misses will not soon forget the delights that were thus afforded them, nor will they fail to remember most gratefully the lady to whose painstaking and noble efforts they are so much indebted for what was a rare treat.
I would fain attempt a description of the scene of dazzling beauty upon which our eyes feasted, and the music of the fresh young voices that fell delightfully upon our ears, and touched with gladdening effect each heart; but I forbear, and give place to the musical critic of "The Boston Journal," who, on May 17, said,—
... "The occasion was the presentation of the cantata of 'Laila' by fifty young ladies, under the direction of Miss Nellie E. Brown. The misses, ranging from five to fifteen years, possess very sweet voices; and the music was given with much taste, and a degree of artistic excellence reflecting great credit on Miss Brown's efforts.... The audience were greatly pleased with the rendering of the music.... While the singing was good, there was exhibited considerable dramatic art by some of the young ladies. The dresses worn are neat and pretty, the fairy costumes being very striking and appropriate. The stage, too, was neatly set; and there was quite a good spectacular effort in the representation of the fairy grotto."
At Haverhill, Mass., Dec. 13, 1876, Miss Brown again gave this operetta, when the fifty young ladies appearing were chosen from the high school of that city.
"The Haverhill Bulletin," Dec. 14, 1876, said,—
"The presentation of the operetta of 'Laila' at City Hall, on Wednesday evening, was a very gratifying success.... The whole affair was under the direction of Miss Nellie E. Brown, the popular soprano of Grace Methodist-Episcopal Church. She was assisted by some fifty young ladies of this city; and the promptness and harmony with which all the arrangements of the affair were carried out, as well as the musical and dramatic talent displayed by them, are certainly very creditable both to her superintendence and their co-operation."
In the month of July, 1876, Miss Brown was engaged to sing at the "Great Sunday-school Parliament" held on Wellesley, one of the famous Thousand Islands, in the River St. Lawrence. The now much-lamented Professor P.P. Bliss (who had become so eminent as a composer of popular sacred songs), his talented wife, and Miss Brown, were the leading singers and soloists on the occasion mentioned. The two former failing to arrive in time, the musical exercises, which were of a very fine order, were arranged, and for a while conducted, by Miss Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss, however, arrived some time after the sessions had begun, and then participated in the singing. At this memorable gathering of Christian people from all parts of the United States and Canada, Miss Brown, in the display of fine musical powers, won new laurels; and her charming singing was made the subject of frequent and very complimentary allusion by newspaper correspondents writing from the island. In a handsome volume since published by the director of the "Parliament," and which is a record of its proceedings, she is several times creditably mentioned.
The following is one of many like notices which the musical exercises mentioned elicited:—