The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-26
JENNY LIND.
BY FREDRIKA BREMER.

There once was poor and plain little girl,
dwelling in little room in Stockholm the capital
OF Sweden. She was a poor little girl indeed
then-she was neglected, and would have been
very unhappy, deprived Of the kindness and care
30 necessary to child, IL it had not been for
peculiar gift. The little girl had fine voice,
and in her loneliness in trouble or in sorrow, she
consoled herself by singing. In fact, she sung to
all she did at her work, at her play, running or
resting, she always sang.
The woman who had her in charge went out to
work during the day. and used to lock in the little
girl, who had nothing to enliven her solitude but
the company Of a cat The little girl played with
her cat and sang Once she sat by the window,
and stroked her cat and sang, when lady passed
BY She heard a voice, and looked up and saw
the little singer. She asked the child several
questions, went away, and came back several days
after, followed by an old music master, whose
name was Creliusi He took her TO the Director
Of the Royal Opera at Stockholm, then Count
Pinnc, whose truly generous heart was concealed
by q rough speech and morbid temper. Creius
introduced his little pupil to the Count and asked
him TO engage her at eleveo for the opera You
ask foolish thingn said the Count gruily, look
| ing disdanfully down on the poor little girl
What shall we do with that ugly thing? See
what feet she hast And then her face She
will never be presentable No. we cannot take
herl Away with herp
The music master insisted, almost indignantly
"Welln exclaimed he at last, "if you Will not
take her, poor as am, will take her myself, and
have her educated for the scene then, such ar
other ear as she has for music is not TO be found
in the whole world.o
The Count relented The little girl was at last
admitted into the school for eleves at the opera
and with some difficulty simple gown Of bomba-
zine was procured for her. The care OF her
musical education was left to an able master, Mr.
Albert Berge, director Of the song-school OF the
opera.
Some years later, at comedy given by the
eleves of the theatre several persons were struck
by the spirit and life with which very young
eleve acted the part Of beggsr girl In the play
| Lovers Of genial nature were charmed, pedants
almost frightened II was our poor little girl,
| who had made her first appearance now about
fourteen years Of age, froicssome and full OF fun
| as child
A few years still later, young debutante was
to sing for the first time before the public In
| Weber's Frischutz. At the rehearsal preceding
the representation Of the evening, she sang In a
| msnner which made the members Of the orchestra
at once as by common accord, lay down their In
struments to clap their hands in rapturous APP
plsuse. 1t was our poor, plain little girl here
again, who now had grown up, and wa. TO appear
before the public In the role OF Agatha ] saw
her at the evening representation She Was then
| in the prime of youth-fresh, bright, and serene
as morning In May, perfect In form-hsr hsnds
and arms peculiarly gracefal-and lovely In her
whole appearance, through the expression Of her
countensnce, and the noble simplicity and calm
ness Of her manners. In fact, she was charming.