Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-09-09
From the New York Observer.
a Visit to Jenny Lind.
BY GRANT TuoRNBURn.

Hitherto, the time talents and conversation
of Miss Lind has been so much monopoIized by
the good, the great and the noble of the land,
that a small mortal like myself, could not so
much as see the hem of her garment Hearing
that 70 escape from the heart noise land fashion
ape crowd OF New York, she was to remove to
the pleasant Hai ghts Er R.aoLl,,, r eh4a;.od
from Mr., Barnum letter, as follows
New York 2lst May, 1852.
The bearer, Mr.. Thornburn, is of the highest
respectabty, a funny old Scotchmon, and an Author
&C. Miss, Lind will be pleased to talk with him, he is
a very celebrated man, well known to all the LiteTat
he is wealthy and don't come begging.
[signed] P. T. BARNuM.
Armed with this missive, stood by the door
of her mansion next morning at9 AM. rang;
the servant appeared.
Says I, this is for Miss. Lind, from Mr.. Bar
mum.
Says he, she amt up.
"No matter says 1. g the suns up, she can
read that note in bed, tell her, if she is willing
to see me- will wait in the parlor till Christ
mas, if she says 50, g knew she would not
say SO, it was only figure of speech, to denote
the sincerity Of my wish, the man looked in
my face without moving, dare say he thought
was crazy. g Go ahead" says |, " and deliv-
er your message" In two minutes he returned
smiling " Miss Lind says she wont make you
wait till Christmas, please sit in the parlor, she
will be with you in ten minutes"
Ihad never seen Miss Lind. The door softly
opened, advanced, she met me with quick
step, both hands extended, | held her right hand
in my left, her left hand in my right. Ap-
proximating as near as common sense would
permit, and looking in her face, " and this is
Jenny Lind" said |, returning the look and ad-
vancing foot 'And this is Laurie Todd, :"
said she. She placed chair in front of the So
ia, she sat on the sofa, sat on the chair, thus,
we looked on one another; face to face, and thus
the language of her speaking eyes confirmed the
words which dropped from her lips.
She remarked she read my history, Laurie
Todd, j about three years ago in Europe, that
she thought the description there given of the
baptism of Rcbecca, was the most interesting
scene she had ever read in the English books
She continued, e Can you repeat that from
memory" Says |, " death only can blot it
out" evil you oblige me" she continued
Says I, "you have seen the painting of the
Goddess of Liberty this is the costume which
|
adorned the person of the ladies at that period.
Her father had been already dead better than
three hundred days, the dress therefore was half
in mourning. Her hat was small black bea-
yer, all the fashion at that time, the rim turned
up on each side, 30 as to have the ears visible,
the hair was in broad fold, resting between the
shoulders, having the extreme ends fastened
with pin on the crown. Hers was very long
and very faxen she was clothed in white
garment, fine neat and clean, her neck encircled
with black bracelet, and around her waist was
black ribbon. The train of her garment was
hanging on her left arm. The thought that be-
fore another hour the eyes of the whole congrc-
CATION would be fastened on her alone, brought
faint blush on the check When she walked
up the middle aisle and sat down, third pew
from the pulpit, thought had never beheld
anything half so lovely.
Lecture being ended the preacher proclaimed,
& Let the person present herself for baptism. y
She walked to the altar, a tall, slim figure,
straight as an Indian arrow, with measured
step, like sentry on duty before the tent of his
general. While the minister was yet binding
the VOW of God upon her heart, before the whole
congregation, she made the responses with the
same thoughtful composeure, as if none but the
eye of Omnipotence was there. While the min
lister was slowly descending the fifteen steps