Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-02-10
From the New York Musical Review and Choral Advocate
THE cLo1sfEE OF THE HOLY LUCY.
Translated from the German by Henry Mason

Translated from he German 0y HeHy .HdS0h
1t was on the anniversary day Of Christ's as
cension, in 1884, as the bells of the beauti-
ful closter of the Holy Lucy, not far from Rome,
called to evening prayers. Crowds of pious
persons of all descriptions pressed into the wide
gates. A very pleasant sight it was to look at
the picturesque dresses Of the foot travellers,
the white wells, the beautiful women adorned
with flowers, and the proud men bearing little
twigs of orange blossoms on their breasts. Ev-
cry eye beamed forth joy and happiness. The
glowing sun bestowed one more parting, fer
vent kiss on all those brown and rosy cheeks,
encirced once more in its arms Of light those
powerful figures, and then gently drew the man
tie Of evening Ger its lustrous face.
The windows of the little church were light
ed up. Within the edifce the dim light of the
consccrated candles was hardly powerful enough
to penetrate the thick clouds of incense which
arose from all around. A sweet twilight pre-
vailed,-the statue of the Holy Lucy was near
ly covered with flowers and wreaths, and looked
like to queen of May;-the priest stretched
out his arms in blessings the devout multitude
fell on their knees from the high, concealed
choir resounded the "Kyrie Eleison" of the pi-
Gus nuns. How softly and soOthingly they gill
ded down, those gentle voices,-how splendid,
and majestic, and elevating was the earnest, So
lemn melody of the Maestro Palestrna Clear
and sublime wandered the significant powerful
air through the pleasing labyrinth of sweet sub
dued voices, which often appeared striving to
conceal, TO drown it, but which, always van
pushed by the conquerer, humbly receded, till
at last il Joined itself TO the soft accompaniment
and the glorious chorus. The trembling souls of
the hearers now arose, in powerful vibrations,
rejoicingly 10 Heaven, now sank, as though re-
Il l., .art fatt Of
weeping in blessedness to beloved earth. 1t
was as though the parting light in the being Of
tone escaped, i'm all hearts fell wild rays, and
all eyes imagined the little church illuminated in
"A Wonderful manner.
Suddenly there sounded in the "Gloria" So
praLo voice whose surprising and unexpected
tones tore the deyoui multitude Tu.h!css!y from
their sweet lethargy. The voice was of ring
ing clearness, nearly cutting in It's purity, over
powering in its rulness The tone had nothing
in common with the other sopranos, 1t blended
not with the others-alone, without that melting
softpess, but full and high, it resoupded in the
arches of the little sanctuary.
In the "Credo" the magic voice was hushed;
in its place came another and softer one-at
the end, however, in the great and mighty
"Agnus Dei' and "dona nobis pacem,' it sound
ed once more, cutting through, like triumph
ant, sharp, glittering spear, the thick floating
clouds of incense No excitement, no agitation
trembled in it-no youthful fear, no aged conf
dence pervaded those tones; it was like voice
without age, without sex-a voice which made
the impression that it always had been the same,
and would remain the same for ever.
The people were greatly affected.
''Hoy Maria - murmured an old dame; "that
was no mortal tone!"
And crossing herself quickly, she silently
r.. Il Il hoir rnl mai Ifln1,
next her nodded assent, and whispered the eX-
clamation to kneeling man near, whose anx-
ious eyes sought in vain 70 penetrate the ratings
of the choir.
The mass was ended. The women left the
church in great agitation, the men shook their
heads; every one spoke of those magic tones; nc
one could tell the name Of the hidden singer
The candles were extinguished, and the charm
ing twilight-darkness of an Italian night closed
over all the thousand queries, doubts, shudders
and cxclamations.
When, the next day, morning the laughing
beaming morning of Italy, glanced with It's low
ing eye into the little church, it marvelled to
find already another multitude gathered together.
Every eye wandered with an expression OF in
tense expectation to the choir from which SCUM
ded the horary prayers. Again arose that mys.
terious voice, and again it trembled through
every heart in mixture of Joy and fear indies
cribable, and agaia the listeners wondered
Suddenly young and blooming maid exclaimed
aloud, tremblingly and ardently: "Holy Queer
of Heaven, see the wonder! Help, Maria
1t is a singing child /" And in truth, one coulC
distinguish behind the railing the gentle figure
OF girl Of some ten summers, out OF whose opel
lips gushed forth the marvellous tones. Ih
'countenance the child appeared to be OF marked
regularity, but the beautiful figure seemed al
most lifeess, and deep paleness peryaded IN
youthful cheeks. From the moment OF TIL
discovery the agitation of the multitude becam
greater and greater. Day after day, the peopl
crowded in long professions TO the closter t
hear the strange little singer, whose voice conl
be plainly distinguished even in the fullest oho
rus; and the news of the powerful tones OF tha
little breast spread over the whole country, eve
A. far as Rome, and the attendance atthe masse
in the clOister of the Holy Lucy bssane large
and larger Fl, {
But the number Of devotees who, In silene
acknowledged with thanks the supposed mlracle
was small in comparison to the number Of thos
who-heads and hearts filled with endless sup
positions ard doubts about the person oil IN
singer--pressed ia restless uneasiness from sla
to side. "She is a boarder in the oloster,' sal
some. "But at all events she is an adur; Gel
tainly eighteen or nineteen years ot age, ana lla
perhaps, the figure of child on account Of h'
sins. No child sings so!"-"No, nc" excslmC
others, ''you have been deceived; IL is one OF Il
Young nuns, Barbara sister, we are quite su'
Of it;ihe child only listened in silence !'-"Th
il falsew interrupted some Of the 'womeny
niFaoIa has been SHOWN US; the Holy Lucy b