The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-08-23

| ssAeo>D>Osses~
The following sketch we find in the
Springfield (Vermon,) Gazette, withou. o
credit to the source whence it has been ex-
tractcd. There 10 that about il which
makes il probable that il is q translation
from the German. Il will be read, we think,
with pleasure.
THE DEAF MUSICIAN.
Il was The Goth Of March, 1927. In the
poorly furnished apartment ola small house
in Baden, in Austria, an old man was ma
king preparations for journey. lie hastily
folded within knapsack few changes Of
linen. The weather wss cold, the win.
dows were covered with hosr frost, and vet
only lew dying embers burned upon the
hearth. Either the old mans mind was too
deeply engrossed to think Of feeding the
flame. Or perhaps his scan.y resources
needed careful outstanding to meet the ex-
penses Of his approaching journey.
In truth, the aspect d the rom bespoke
a state Of want rather than Of sfiluence. A
he'd with curtains Of faded green serge, n
few antique arinchairs Of vanished wood,
covered with well.worn tapestry, . walnut
table, and harpsichord, composed its entire
furniture. The hsrpsichord was slrewsd
with music, partly in manuscript; nnd u
flying sheet, covered with nearly illegible
notes, and dsfgured by numerous erasurcs,
showed what was the old mans recen. en-.
ployment. The occupicr OF this desolatc
abode was between fifty and sixty years oil
age. Ills lofty torshead, encirclcd by locks
of silver gray, beamed with intelligence,
although he appeared bowed down beneath
tho weight Of some grca. affection. A
dark FIRE kinded in his hozel eyes; and bis
cheeks. glowing with Quo brigh. leverish
spot Of hectic color, contrasted strangely
with tho deadly paleness which oversprcad
the rest Of his countenancc. When the
knapsnck was made up, the old man up
preached the table, on which lay On open
letter, stamped with the Vienna postmark.
lie took il up, and stood awhile with his
eyes fixed on its contents, though il only
contained these few words:
any DEAR UNCLE: Pardon mo the grief
which am occasioning you; but, implicated
in an unhappy transaction, ! have just re-
ceived an order TO quit Vienna, whence
am commanded for the future 10 absent
myself. bcseech you to come TO my aid
You alone can save me. Adieu.
"JoHN."
This letter came from nephew he had
brought up, and whose disordery conduc,
had rendered necessary tho rigorous man.
date which now banishcd him from the cnpi'
tai.
When tho old man had persued il once
more, no appeared confirmed in his resolu.
ton; and, with his knapsack in one hand
and his walking-s,ick in the other, he pre-.
pared to Get out. But, ON reaching tho
threshold, he turned back; and, casting a
look Of deep regret on this modest asy lum,
where he had long end happily dweit, he
sighed. Then, as if attracted by magic
charm, he returned to his harpsichord, and
quickly laying down what no held in his
hands, he ran his fingers over The disco;ored
mites Of tho instrument. His gloomy and
detected countenancs was gradually light.
ed up with an expression Of intense happi-
ness, and sublime strain sscended TO-
wards heaven, fitting hymn Of praise Ia
tho Almighty.
Az he plunged into these regions Of har-
mony. il seemed a. ifhis spirit had bid adieu
70 earth, and SHARED 10 the realms above in
search Of consolation. But soon oil was
again silent; the old man wcpt; he heaved
. deep sigh, and northumberland to think
TINT can hear nothing!" Alas! he was
deaf
The poor pilgrim again took ur his staff.
and oct forth on his journey. At the turn
ing Of tho street, 10 once more looked
round on the humble dwelling where he
had passed the last ten years Of his life,
shut out by his in6rmi.y from the sounds
ofihe external world. Music for him only
existed Uithis tho soul. he walked on into
tho couotry; for, BY way Of husba nding his
small store, hs was going on foot from Ba-
den to Vienna. The evening closed in;
The old man stopped before Peasasts cot.
ssee. He had prssumsd too much on his
taApan0fh kavsnm Avcn~An1 haEn.A oswhe