Together and forever: the story of the Two-Headed Nightingale (6 photos)

A cheerful black boy raced down the street, looking for a midwife for your mother. Actually, the woman did not really need it: after all, the eighth childbirth, and Monemia would have calmly handled it herself. But it happened that the midwife herself needed help.





“Monster…”, the old lady whispered, overshadowing herself with her godfather. a sign. The husband of the woman in labor ran into the hut and also recoiled. In a family of slaves James and Monemia had two children. But connected at the pelvis and lower part of the spine.



When the first emotions subsided, the couple realized that they needed to hide children from the owner. After all, in fused babies, even if they were in otherwise completely ordinary, he can see the terrible an omen and, without hesitation, will deal with the children. Almost a year Kristin and Millie managed to hide. But then the truth came out out. But Mr. Jabez McKay, the owner of the plantation, did nothing of the sort. thought. On the contrary, he saw in children an easy way to replenish the wallet. He gave the children to the first owner of the freak circus for a percentage of the proceeds. However, that baby did not stay long and were resold. Such terrible realities, when the life of a breeding bull or thoroughbred horse valued above a slave.



Constant moving and lack of proper care could end the lives of girls at a tender age. If they weren't lucky in the form of wealthy businessman Joseph Pearson Smith.

Yes, he, like everyone else, made money on the twins. But at the same time took care of the children. At the fair in 1853, girls became the highlight of the program and attracted the attention of those who want a quick profit. Millie and Christine are kidnapped and removed, then sold again. And only three years later, Smith found them. There was also a reunion with the mother, whom the merchant bought back before.



After a touching reunion, a trial took place at which the kidnappers tried to prove that the twins were legally theirs grounds. And they even presented a bribed black woman who claimed that she is Millie and Christine's real mother. But the court accepted a fair decision, and the girls returned to North Carolina with Monemia and Smith.



The man invested a lot of money in the development of the sisters. Gave them education. The twins not only knew how to read and write, but also played music, danced, spoke several foreign languages. When it turned out that they had a naturally wonderful voice, the girls taught the art of vocals, and they began to perform. After release slaves in 1863, the McCoy sisters remained at the Smith home, although they were considered free women, and continued to work for him.

The people called them the Two-Headed Nightingale. Performances by Milli and Christine invariably collected full houses. Once they performed in front of even before Queen Victoria herself, who remained completely fascinated by the sisters and their talent.



According to the McCoy sisters, they felt like one person, even though they were separate individuals. And they didn't want to be divided, even if the possibilities of science and medicine would allow it. The women got rich, bought the farm where they were born, and built a huge house there for their family.

In the 1880s they ended their stage career and returned to the farm, where they did charity work. McCoy died in 1912 at age 61. The case of Millie and Christine proves that happy, you can be useful and full-fledged, even if by the will of fate you have certain restrictions.