The North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1834-1850, 1850-09-25
JENNY LIND.


was lonely and neglected, and would have been very
unhappy, deprived of the kindness and neces
sary to child, if it had not been for peculiar gift
The little girl had fine voice, and in her loneli.
ness, in trouble or in sorrow she consoled herself by
singing. In fact. she sung to all she did; at hel
work, at play. running or resting, she always sung
The woman who had her in care went out to work
during the day, and used to lock in the little girl
who had nothing to enven her solitude but the
pany Of cat. The little girl played with her cal
and sung. Once she sat by the open window and
stroked her cat, and sang. when a lady passed by.
She heard the looked up and saw the little
singer. She asked the child several questions, wen,
away, and came back several days later, followed by
an old music-master, whose name was Crelius. He
tried the little girls and voice and astonish
ed. He took her to the director of the Royal Opera
of Stockholm, then Count Puher whose truly gen.
erous and kind heart was concealed by rough
speech and morbid temper. Creius introduced his
her as 'eleve for the opera You ask foolish
thing!' said the Count grufy. looking disdainfnlly
down on the poor little girl. What shall do with
that ugly thing see what feet she has! And then
her face! She will never be presentable. No, we
cannot take her. Away with her!'
The music-master insisted, almost Indignantly.
We,' exclaimed he at last, if you will not take
her, poor am, l will take her myself, and have
her educated for the scene and then such another
she has for music is to be found in the world
The Count reented. The little girl was at last
admitted into the school for eleves at the opera, and
with some difficulty simple gown of black bomba-
zine was procured for her. The care of her musical
education left able master. Mr.. Albert Breg,
director of the song school of the opera.
Some years later, at a comedy given by the eleves
Of the theatre, several persons struck by the
spirit and life with which very young eleve acted
part of begar girl in the play. Lovers of gener-
al nature delighted pedants almost frightened.
1t was poor little girl. who had made her first aP-
Peaance now about fourteen years of age,
and full of fun as child.
few years still later, young debutante was to
sing for the first time before the public in Weber s
Freischutz. At the rehearsal preceding the repre-
sentaton Of the evening, she sang in manner which
made the members of the orchestra at lay down
their instruments clap their hands in rapurous ap.
pause. 1t was our poor. plain little girl here again.
who now had grown up and was to appear before the
public in the role of Agatha. saw her at the eve
ming representation. She then in the prime Of
youth, fresh, bright and serene morning in May
perfect in form-her hands and arms peculiarly
graceu-and lovely in her whole appearance, through
the expression of her countenance, and the noble
simplicity and calmness of her manners. In truth
she was charming. We saw not an actress, but a
young girl full of natural geniaity and grace. She
seemed to move, speak and sing without effort or art
All was nature and harmony. From this time she
was the declared favorite of the Swedish public,
whose musical taste and knowledge are said to be
surpassed nowhere. And year after year she contln-
ued so, though, after time, her voice, being over
strained lost somewa of its freshness, and the pub
lie being satiated. more crowded the house when
she was singing.
Then she went to take lessons of Garcia in Paris,
to get the finishing touch to her musical education.
There she acquired that warbe in which she is said
to have been equaled by other singer. and which
could be compared only to the soaring and warbling
lark, If the lark had a soul.
And then the young girl went abroad and sang on
foreign shores to foreign people. She charmed Dem
mark. she charmed Germany, she charmed England.
She was caressed and courted everywhere, even to
aduaton. At the courts of the kings, at the houses
of the great and noble, she feasted one OF the
laurels and jewels. But friends wrote of her, in
the midst Of these spendors she only thinks Of her
friends and her people.
One dusky October night, crowds Of people throng-
ed the shore of the Baltic at Stocholm. All looked
toward the sea. There was rumor Of expectance
and pleasure. Hours passed away and the crowds
still gathered and waited and looked out eagerly to-
ward the At length rocket rose joyfuy far out
at the entrance of the harbor, and was greeted by
general buzz on the shore.
There she comes there she is!' Alarge steam
now came laundering on, whelming on in its tri'
umphant way through the focks of ships and boats
lying in the harbor towards the shore of the Skeps-
boro. The flashing rockets marked its way in
the dark as it advanced. The crowds on the shore
pressed forward as if TO meet it. Now the eviathan
of the waters was heard laundering and near
er; now it rested now again i: pushed on, foaming
and splashing now it lay still. And, there on the
front of the deck, was seen by the light of lamps
and rockets, pale graceful young woman, her eyes
brilliant with tears, and lips radiant with smiles,
waving her handkerchief to her friends and country
men shore.
1t was she again-our poor, plain, neglected little
girl of former days-who came back in triumph to
her fatherIand. But no more poor, TO more plain,
more neglected. She had become rich; she had
in her slender person the power to charm and inspire
mutitudes.
Some days later, we read in the papers of Stock.
hom and address to the public written by the beloved
singer, stating with noble simplicity that as she
had the happiness to be in her native land
she would be glad to sing again to her countrymen'
and that the income from the operas in which she
this season to appear, would be devoted to raise
fund for school where eleves for the theatre would
be educated to virtue and knowledge. The intelll'
gence was received as it deserved and of course the
opera was crowded every night the beloved singer
sang there. The first time she again appeared In
sSomnambula Zone Of her favorte roles, the public
after the curtain was dropped, called her back with
great enthusiasm and received her, when she appear
ed, with roar of hurras. In the midst of the burs
Of applause clear and melodious warbling wa'
heard. The hurrahs were hushed instantly. Ane
we saw the lovely singer standing with her arms
slightly extended, somewhat bowling forward. grace
fnl as bird on it's branch warbng; warbling as nj
bird ever did, from note to note-and on every one
clear strong, soaring warbe-until she fell into tn
reournelle Of her last song, and again sang thatjoy
ful and touching strain,
"No thought conceive how l feel at my heart.
She has now accomplished the good work to which
her latest songs in Sweden have been devoted, ant
she is again to leave her native land to sing to ia
remote people, All have heard Of her whose histor!
we have now slightly shadowed out the expected
guest, the poor little girl Of former days, the cee