Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-11-24

minoled with il there came at times upon
the ear faint tones OfwOnderous melody |
One solitary and far distant GUNNER
Showed that the reign of sleep was moi
30, universal: and Gortlingen cowectur-
- r.on, ,be direction OF the sound, that
su',o onyious musician was still at his
II Dyepsration Cor the morrow
J Sos,t,5gen CO. went Onwards, and as he drew
0es,sr 10 the light, such glorious bursts
"s 1, ,rmony swelled upon the air, that,
IN .pnskilled as he was in music, the |
tones had spell in them which more |
and more awakened his curiosity as TO
who might be their author. Quickly and
noiselessly he went forward until he
reached the open window, whence the
sound PROCEEDED. Within, an old man
sat at harpsichord, with manuscript be-
fore him: his back was turned towards
the widow, but an antique and tarnished
mirror showed to GOrllingen the face
and gestures Of the musician.
1t was face Of infinite mildness and
benevolence; not such a countenance as
GorlIingen remembered TO have ever seen
the likeness of before, but such as one
might desire to see often again. The
old man PLAYED with the most twondeTous
power; now and then he stopped, and
made alterations in his manuscript, and
as he tried the effect Of them he showed
his satisfaction by audible expressions,
as if thanksgiving, in some unknown
tongue.
Gorilingen could al first scarcely con-
tain his indignation at the supposition
that this little old man should dare 10 en-
Ter the lists as one Of Esther's suitoFs;
for he could not doubt that he, like the
others he had seen, was preparing for the
competition; but as he looked and listen
ed, gradually his anger was quelled in
contemplating the strangely mild counte-
nance Of the musician, and his attention
fixed by tho beauty and uncommon char
, acter of the music; and at length, at the
, conclusion of brilliant passage, the per
former perceived that he had asharer in
! his demonstrations Of pleasure, for Gort-
lpgen, in his unrestrai2ed applause, quite
, drowned the gentler exclatnations Ut thC
mild old man. Immediately the musi
, clan rose, and throwing open the door
[. ''Good evening master Franz" said he
''sit down, and tell me how you like m
!. sonata, and if you think it likely TO wi
J., Neser's daughter" There was some
i thing so benignant in the old mans es
s preston, and so pleasing in his address
II that Gortlingen felt no enmity, and h
J. sat down and listened TO the player. "Yo
e like the sonata then9' said the old maj
" when he had concluded it.
"Alas!" replied Gortlingen, "woul
,f that were able to compose such one !!
2, "EIearken to me-" said the old man
= "Nieser swore a sinful oath, that h
ir would bestow bis daughter upon whom
d soever might compose the best sonata
lf seven although it were composed by "a
$ demon, and played by the fiend's own fin
Il gers.' These words were not spoke
IS unheard: they were borne on the nigh
- winds. and whispered throughout tho fol
n ests, and struck on the ear Of them VIII
o sat in the dim valley; and the demo
" laugh and shout broke loud upon th
d calm Of midnight, anG were answere
l. from the lone depths of a hundred hills
" but the good heard also and though the
of ptied not Nieser, they pitied Esther an
b. Gortlingen., Take this roll; go 10 I'll
IN hall of Nieser a stranger will compel
b. for tho prize, and two others will see
Ill to accompany him; the sonata which
I'd have given to you is the same that
ry will play; but mine has q virtue Of j
he own; watch an opportunity, aud subs
10 tute mine for his!' When the old m,
ng had concluded this extraordinary addres
Is; he took Gortlingen by the hand, aud Il
up him by some unknown ways TO one Of Il
nd gates ofthe city and there left him.
en- As Gorilingen walked homeward
ct grasping the roll Of paper, his mind WI
lat alternately occupied in reflection upC
IRE the strange manner in which he had B.
sh- come possessed Of it, and in anticipate
Of the morrow's event. There was som
sre thing in the expression Of the old IN,
raj that he could not mistrusb though
en-, was unable 10 comprehend in what WI
ian he could be benefited by the substit
rte ion of one sonata for another, since
- was not himsefto be q competitor.
IN; With these petplexing thoughts he reaC
ny ed home, and lay down and fell aslee
ith while all night long Esther's blue ey
it, were discoursing with him, and the ton
he Of the old mans sonata weJe floating
Pc the air,
re At sunset next evening Nieser's h
10 was TO be thrown open to the compel
ors. As the hour approached. all the II
on sicians Of Augsburg were seen hlrrYi
nd towards the house, with rolls Of paper
lC- their hands, and accompanied by othe
Dw carrying different musical instrumep
", while crowds we're collected At NiesS
10 gate to see the competitors pass in. CD
* lingen, when the hour arrived, taking
e ~ ..oD c.rrl h,,nk,,tc "a M,a...J. -.