Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-04-01


lets over her face and neck, ran her
fingers lightly over the keys, as If to
TRY the force and power Of the instru-
ment, and then began strain SO full
Of melody, so rich and clear, that we
voluntarily held our breath, lest
sound should disturb harmony SO de-
Ilicious. For at least an hour she con-
tinued to arrest the attention Of all pres
ent; not a movement was perceptible:
at length, as she finished the last notes
of that exquisite Romance de Saule,'
she arose, and advancing with a smile
to the front Of the stage, was about to
speak, when she was interrupted by
the hitherto repressed volley of APP
plause, which now burst simultaneous
ly from every mouth. Again her lips
moved, and again and again the shouts
were renewed; at last opening little
green velvet bag which hung suspended
on her arm, she presented it to the as
sembIy, saying in that touching voice
which no heart, however obdurate,
could resist, "Gentlemen, it is Tor the
poor of Carpentras.
At these words, as may be easily
imagined, the applause was redoubled,
handsful of silver were thrown from all
sides; one lady, elegantly dressed, add
ed a splendid bracelet which adorned
her arm; and the young girl, apparent
ly in despair that she had no richer
offering, threw to her bouquet OF vio-
let's. The collection finished, the s.ran-
ger placed it on the piano, withdraw
ing the little bunch of yiolets, while
she presented the green bag, now emp
ty, to the delighted and blushing young
girl. Then, erewe had recovered from
our surprise and delight, the youthful
vistant, had retired as nolselessly as
she had entered; chaise and four a
waited her, and before the good mayor
had succeeded in forcing his way thro'
the crowd. she had disappeared, leav-
ing US half in doubt whether or not the
whole scene had been a vision or re-
atty. We returned to the inn, dis
coursing on this interesting occur
renee, asking each other in vain, 'Who
can she be?' whittier has she gomez
sWhy did we suffer her to depart and
thus eude our pursuit?-Evcn on re-
firing at late hour to rest, the sounds OF
that sweet voice still fingered in our
ears, and mingled with our dreams.
Some years afterwards finding our
selves at Paris, we yielded one night
TO the solicitations of our young friend,
Louis dc -, to accompany him to
the Italian opera. 'Otello is announced
for this evening; Malibran is to take
the part of Desdemona, and think
he added, 'you will acknowledge that
her voice equals that Of the young IN
connue, of whom you have so often
spoken We replied by smile OF in
crcdulity. Judge then OF our surprise
when on the entrance OF Desdamona,
we recognized in the matured beauty
and perfected graces of the prima don
ma, our heroine mo longer linconnue)
of Carpentras. Even had we doubted
at first, we must have been convinced
on hearing the Romance de Saule, that
it was indeed Malibran, who passing
accidentally through the town on that
memorable night, had lent so volunta-
nv an assistance to the cause OF charity.
We were witnesses on this and many
subsequent occasions of the triumph Of
her genius and talents; but never in the
height of her renown did her accents
fall so sweetly on our ears as on that
evening, when she so suddenly appear
ed like an angel of peace amid that
scene of discord and confusion, to plead
with all the sincerity and earnestness
of youthful feeling .'for the poor of
Carpentras." Malibran is now no
more; she persisted in the flower OF her
age, in the zenith other celebrity; true,
her fame still survives, though other
favorites,-the beautiful, talented, and
admired,-occupy the public attention;
but long after her name shall be for
gotten, or her style considered obso-
lete by the voiaries of novelty and
fashion, her acts of charity, and bene-
ficence will be remembered and hand
ed down TO postcrity.
EXTREMES IN NATURE.