Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-07-16
JENNY LIND.
BY FREDRIKA BREMER.

There was once poor and plain little girl
dwelling in a little room in Stockholm, the cap
ia of Sweden. She was. a poor little girl in
deed, then; she was lonely and neglected. and
would have been very unhappy, deprived of the
kindness and care so necessary to child, if it
had not been for peculiar gift. The little girl
had fine voice, and in her loneliness in troub-
le or in sorrow, she consoed herself by sing
ing. In fact she sang to all she did; at her
work, at her play, running or resting, she always
sang.
The woman who had her in care went out to
work during the day, and used to lock in the lit
tie GIRL who had nothing to enliven her solitude
but the company of a cat. The little girl play
ed with her cat and sang Once she sat by the
open window and stroked her cat and sang,
when lady passed by. She heard the voice
and looked up and saw the little singer. She
asked the 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 musical ear and voice,
and was astonished. He took her to the direct
or of the Royal Opera of Stockholm, then a
Count Puhe, whose truly generous and kind
heart was concealed by rough speech and a NOR
bid temper. Crelius introduced his little pupil
to the count, and asked him to engage her as
eleue for the opera" "You ask foolish
thing" said the count, grutily, looking disdain-
fully down on the poor little girl. "What shall
we do with that ugly thing! see what feet she
has? And then her face! she will never be
presentable. No, we can not take her. Away
with her !"
The music master insisted, almost indignant
ly. "Well," exclaimed he at last, 4" if you will
not take her, poor as am, will take her my
self, and have her educated for the scene; such
another ear rs she has for music is not to be
found in the worldw
The count relented. The little girl was at
last admitted into the school for elercs, at the
Opera, and with some difficulty simple gown
of black bombazine was procured for her. The
care of her musical education was left to an able
master, Mr.. Albert Breg, director of the song
school of the Opera.
Some years later, at a comedy given by the
eIeues of the theatre, several persons were struck
by the spirit and life with which very young
eleue acted the part of beggar-girl in the play.
Lovers of genial nature We're charmed, pedants
almost frightened. 1T was our poor little girl,
who had made her first appearance, now about
fourteen years OF age, frolicksome and full offun
as child.
Al lcW lcaio otlil idlcT IL young ueDutaUIe was
to sing for the first time before the public in
Weber's Freischutz. At the rehearsal preceding
the representation of the evening, she sang in a
manner which made the members of the orches-
ira at once lay down their instruments to clap
their hands in rapturons applause. 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 evening
representation. She was then in the prime of
YOUTH fresh, bright, and serene as a morning in
May--perfect in form-her hands and her arms
peculiarly gracefu-and lovely in her whole ap-
pearance, through the expression of her counte-
nance, and the noble simplicity and calmness of
her manners. In fact she was charming. We
saw not an actress, but young girl full of nat
ural geniaity and grace. She seemed to move,
speak and sing without effort or art. All was
nature and harmony Her song was distinguish
ed especially by its purity, and the power of soul
which seemed to swell in her tones. Her +" mez-
20 voice" was delightful. In the night scene
where Agatha, seeing her lover come, breathes
out her joy in rapturous song, our young sing
er on turning from the window. at the back of
the theatre, to the spectators again, was pale
for joy. And in that pale joyousness she sang
with burst of outhowing love and life that
called forth, not the mirth, but the tears of the
auditors,