Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-09-27
JENNY LIND
BY FREDER1KA BREMhh.

! . H 2 r =
BY FREDERIKA BREMEk.
There was once poor and plain little
girl dwelling in little room. in Stock
holm, the capitol Of Sweden. She was
poor little girl indeed, then; she was
lonely and neglected, and would have
been very unhappy, deprived Of the
kindness and care so necessary to a.
child, if it had not been for a peculiar
| gii.. The little girl had fine voice,
and in her loneliness in trouble or 10
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 sung. ~,
! The woman who had her in her care
4 went out 10 work during the day, and
used to lock in the little girl, who had
nothing to enliven her solitude but the
company of cat. The little girl played
with her cat and sung. Once she sat
by the open window and stfoked her
cat and sang, when a lady passed BY.
She heard the voice, and looked up and
saw the little singer. She asked tie
child several questions. went away and
came back several days later. followed
! by an old music-master whose name was
Crelius. He tried the little girls mu-
sical ear and voice, and was astonished.
He took her to the director of the Roy
al Opera Of Stockholm, then a Count
: Puhe, whose truly generous and kind
heart was concealed by rough speech
and morbid temper. CreIius intro
duced his little pupil to the Count, and
: asked him to engage her as "eIeve for
I the opera" " You ask foolish thing "a
+ said the Count, grufly, looking disdain-
: fully down on the poor little girl" What
5 shall we do with that ugly things See
y what feet she has And then her face !!
I She viii never be presentabIe. No, we
/ cannot take her. Away with her %
e The music-master insisted, almost in.
q dignantly. WE'LL" exclaimed be at
:. last, If you viii not take her, poor as I
e am, | will take her myself, and have
o her educated for the scene: and then
such another ear as she has for music Is
IS not TO be found in the worldt'
le The Count reIented. The little Girl
or was at last admitted into the school fot
II eleves at the opera, and with some diff
ef Guilty simple gown Of black bonbazine
De was procured for her. The care of hel
- musical education was left to an able
q master, Mr.. Albert Breg, director of the
O. song school Of the opera.
4 Some years later, at a comedy given
~ by the eleves Of the theatre, severa
ne persons were struck with the spirit anc
ou life with which very young eleve &C:
ns ted the part of beggar girl in the play
d Lovers Of genial nature were charmed
va pedants almost frightened. It was OH
es poor little girl, who had made her frs
!; appearance, now about fourteen years o.
u age, frolicsome and full of fun as child
Im A few years still later, young debu
eh iante was to sing for the first time before
e. the public in Weber's Freischutz. A
'e- the rehearsal preceding the representa-
ng tion of the evening, she sang in man
&C ner which made the members of the OF
chestra at once lay down their instru
nd ments 10 clap their hands in rapturou.
ms applause. 1t was our poor, plain .littl,
girl here again, who now had grown VI
ur and was to appear before the public il
,ht the role of Agatha. saw her at th,
1t evenings representation. She was then
- III tHO pIilHC VI JOutus lIcSul DFiRltt dnl
=. serene as morning in Alsy-2erfect Il
he formAher hands and her arms peculiar
ly gracefnl-and lovely in her whole ap
We jpearance, through the expression o
en- her countenance, and the noble sim
ny plicity and calmness fher manners. Ii
vii fact she was charming. We saw not al
actress, but young girl full of natura
Of genialty and grace. She seemed {
'he move, speak, and sing without effort o
y art All was nature and harmony. He
song was distinguished especially by IT
or purity and the power of soul whicl
ray seemed to swell in her tones. He
'lu- +" mezzo voce" was delightful. In III
might scene, where Agatha, seeing he
you lover come, breaihes out her Joy in rap
ays turous song, our young singer, on turI,
aud ing from the window at the back Of tn
ers theatre, 10 the spectators again, was pal
for Joy. And in that pale joyousnes
ood she sang with burst Of outnowing low
you and life that called forth not the mirt
as but the tears Of the auditors.
From this time she was the declare
thy favorite of the Swedish public, who:
sed musical taste and knowledge are said
be unsurpassed nowhere. And year a
that ter wear she continued so, though aft
'usel a time, her voice, being oserstraine
EN- lost somewhat Of its freshness, and Il
Lpnblic being satiated, no more crowds