Ernestine Cobern Beyer facts for kids

Ernestine Cobern Beyer (born August 4, 1893 – died December 13, 1972) was an American writer. She was known for her beautiful poems and stories for children.

Early Life and Musical Talent

Ernestine Cobern Beyer was born on August 4, 1893, in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Ernestine Craft Cobern and Camden McCormack Cobern. Her father was a Methodist minister and an archaeologist. He wrote many books about his travels in Palestine.

Ernestine had an amazing singing voice, called a coloratura soprano. This means she could sing very high notes. Her mother taught her to sing, starting with simple songs. As a teenager, she took lessons from top singing teachers. When she was 21, she signed a contract with the famous Metropolitan Opera Company.

Becoming a Writer

In 1912, at age 18, Ernestine married David Stewart Beyer. He was a safety engineer in Boston, Massachusetts. They had three children: Richard (born 1915), Barbara (born 1921), and Janeth (born 1924).

Opera Career and Change

Ernestine's first big performance was on January 15, 1918. At this time, America was at war with Germany. Because her last name, Beyer, sounded German, she was told to use a different name. She chose "Maria Conde."

As Maria Conde, she sang the role of Gilda in the opera Rigoletto. She performed alongside the famous Italian singer Enrico Caruso. Reviewers loved her performance. One newspaper said she sang "beyond the normal range" for her voice type. Another thought she could become "the voice of a generation."

However, Ernestine found it hard to balance her family life with the demands of an opera career. She also often caught colds, which affected her voice. So, she decided to stop singing professionally and started writing poetry instead.

Writing for Children

For 25 years, Ernestine sent her poems and stories to children's magazines. She often saw her work published. In 1937, her husband passed away. This happened during the Great Depression, a time when many people struggled financially. Ernestine worked hard to support her children. Her poems did not pay much, only about two dollars per line.

A big moment in her writing career happened one sunny day. She was watching three toddlers playing on a beach. This inspired her to write a poem called "Sunbonnet Babies":

One wears a bonnet of organdy rose
That hides her adorable bangs,
And one wears a bonnet that shadows her nose,
And one wears a bonnet that hangs.

The first wears a pinafore (not very white!)
The second, a dress that is tidy.
But the belle of the beach is the third little mite
With the slightly inadequate didy!

—Ernestine Cobern Beyer, Sunbonnet Babies

This poem was published in the Ladies' Home Journal in April 1949. This helped change Ernestine's financial situation.

Later Years and Recognition

The 1950s and 1960s were very busy years for Ernestine. She wrote several books for children. Her poems and stories continued to appear in popular children's magazines like Child Life, Jack and Jill, Wee Wisdom, and Highlights for Children. She also gave talks in schools and libraries.

Ernestine received several awards from The National League of American Pen Women. In April 1972, she was invited to Washington, D.C. to be honored for writing the best religious poem. Ernestine Cobern Beyer passed away eight months later, on December 13, 1972.

Published Books

• Beyer, E. (1952). Happy Animal Families. Grosset & Dunlap.
• Beyer, E. (1960). Aesop with a Smile. The Reilly & Lee Co. Illustrated by Vee Guthrie.
• Beyer, E. (1962). The Story of Little Big. The Reilly & Lee Co.
• Beyer, E. (1967). The Story of Lengthwise. Follett Publishing Co.