Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-12-02


la looking very sentimental. 1
H q will thank you, young ladies, toplay
u song for ne on the piano. said Fanny
now ] have sung for you
Il Il will with pleasure, said Julistte !;
'but a piano sounds SO mechanical, after
such unsophis,icated singing as we have
heard
Juliette oblginely set herself down to
the instrument, and played several bril-
liant pieces with considerable effect. IL
these carefully taug ht musicians had been
delighted with The strawberry g'rPs art
less melody, she was enraptured at the
purches, walizes and songs that rolled
in a thousand varied notes, from the
mag ical chords Her whole soul was
fountain of natural song and her ears
were now entranced She had never
heard piano before A new w"rld Of
music, undreamed Of by her, had been
suddenly opened to her extaiic senses
Fears came into her eyes; her heart
swelied, her whole frame was instinct
with the spirit and power Of music.
AT length Fanny was dismissed, hav.
| ing sold four quarts Of strawberries 10 her
new friends, who made her promise
/ when she came to the city again with
berries always 10 come there and they
H promised in return TO teach her to play
upon the piano, for they we're resolved
she should teach them her own simple
songs.
II Fanny now went on with lighter
step and with new field Of enjoyment
lor her thoughts to dwell in 7 Music !?
of melody She had before known
nothing OF their power' Her own songs
were sweet, and sweetly she sang them,
and she had never dreamed Of other
music than vocal, save that Of birds,
whoa she would listen to I'LL her heart
ached for envy aud sorrow that she could
not initiate them. She now went lightly
along, and sang with II richer and clear
cr tone than before, her strawberry song
Though many stopped TO admire her in
nocenl, girlish beauty, none bought her
srawberros-two qua'ts Of which now
remained in her basket. She passed
down quite to the extremity, and turn
ing the corner, entered Bond street. Here
/ she made the shade walks Of this beau
II lllNi StlCCt lluS WIN 'SI
Il Stop, strawberries :! called after her
a fooinan, opening door of handsome
residence she had Just gone by. She
returned and went up the steps.
Are they fresh, Miss ? asked the
ioo,man, very civilIy for n looman.
Yes, sir, - aud Fanny uncovered the
basket
They look very nice, my pretty Miss.
Come in and let my master sec them
NO, sir, can measure them here
she said, hestatng!y, remembering her
a,her's parting injunction.
'Oh, very we'll; you do rig ht not to < o
into house with your pretty fnce I'LL
you know who lives IN it. i can take
them in for him to look al; Inc is very
particular, he added, speaking in a sort
OF confidential tone to b
And taking the bas from her, he
disappeared, leaving her at the door
in "a few minutes he reappeared, without
the basket, and told her his master wish
cd to see her. ....
Indeed | can't 60 in, sir, she said
firmly, aud blushing, she knew not why
But he says you must! He is an ell
derly gentleman, and won't harm you
Come-he says the strawberries arc so
nice, he wants TO know where they come
from, that he may be every day supplied
with the same. Come in, Miss
Fanny was persuaded, and, following
the servant into the hall, entered the
\ front room. 1t was furnished in style
Of elegance and taste, inRularly cOntras-
\ ting with the luxurious confusion Of the
house she had before gone into in Blee-
ker street. 1t seemed the abode OF q
gentleman Of taste as well as wealth.
One side OF 1t was appropriated to a
magnificent book case, filled with gor-
geous volumes. Near u table, covered
with green cloth. und strcwed with
books, newspapers, SC. sat u gentleman
about forty seven years of age, with n
mild, benign expression to his fine face,
Il the features OF which were strongly
marked. On beholding him, Fanny was
instantly impressed in his favor, and all
doubts and mis,rus, vanished. The foot
man bowed low to him, inter admitting
| her, stood a moment with his hand on
the knob, and then retired to wait in the
| hall Fanny saw her basket OF straw
berries was standing on a chair beside
the gentleman, who held large one in
his fingers.
| So he said, looking up and seeing
her but indisInctly, as she stood still on
The opposite side OF the room, 'youT
strawberries, see, are as sweet AS your
voice Come hiIher | would see q
strawberry girl who knows how to sing
her fruit in such melodious notes.
Come, come, child, don't be irig ightened.
Fanny approached him with n conf
dence she could not account to herself
for She thought there was something
IN his voice familiar, and pleasantly as
sociaied with the past-but how, when,
or where, she had no time to ask Of her
memory. As she came near him, where
the light fell full upon her face, he started
with strange surprise, and gazcd upon
her with Il look SO steady, thai it made
her blush and hide her cheek. Certain
w. thought she to herself, Hhe old gen
'emen in New York city do stare poor
strawberry girls out OF countenance.
Pray, Miss, tell me- he sad, eager