The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-04-18
beethoven and the Blind Girl.

Some months ago was at Bonn, the birth
rlace Of Beethoven. met there an old
musician, who had known this illustrions
composer intimately; and from MN 1 u
eeived the following ancedote;
" You know" sid he, " that bec'n0'en
was born in house in the Klein uasse'
(Rhine street , but at the time l became
acquainted with him, nc ioosea o'er III
humble little shop In the hocmer-piau' nc
was then very poor-so poor tnat no only
went out towalk at night because oil u d.
laPidatod state oil ms eio'hins' Ne,e''ne
less, he haa u piano. P'"s' P,pe'' I'M, N
books; ana Notwithstanding ms p'''aN0p,'
he passed some haPpy moments '"s,''
was not Je' deai' anu e0uia u .e' ''!
the harmony OF ms own o0nP''iuO",'
later years even TINS cOnSO'a'i0h was u'N''
him. :,
"ono winter evening caliea upon n'".
hoping to persuade him to take walk ana
return with me TO supper 'Ouhu MN S'-
ting at the window, oy the moonlight WIN.
out hrc OF cihaie' n's 'a'' '0"e''u ~
hands, and his whole frame shiver'ns WIN
cold, for 1t was freezing hard 10y desre's
drew him from his ie'hargy' persuaded
him to accompany me- and eAhOr'eu MIN 70
shake OF his sadness. lie came out with
me, but was dark and despairinS on that
evening, and refused oil consolation.
al hate the world" said hcwith passion
al hate myself. No one understands me or
carcsa6out me; Ihavegenius, and am treat
cd like q pariah; have heart, and no ono
to love. am completely miserable"
al made no reply. II was useless to dis
pate with Beethoven, and let him contin-
~ in .he same strain. lie did not cease
till we rc-entered the city, and then he re-
laps.d into silence. We crossed dark
narrow street near the gate OF Coblentz.-
all at once he stopped.
"lush!" aidhe; "whai is that noise =
~ listened, and heard the faint TONES OF
an old piano issuing from some house at a
little distance. 1t was plaintiye melody
in triple time, and notwithstanding the
poverty of the instrument, the performer
gave to this piece great tenderness of ex-
preston.
Beethoven looked at me with sparkling
eyes. "lt was taken from my symphony
in T." said he "herc is the house. List
en-; how well it is played'
The house was small and humble, and a
ligh, glimnercd through the chinks of the
shutters. lie stopped to listen. In the
middle of the finale there was sudden in
terruption, silence for a moment. then a
stiaed voice was heard.
al cannot so On'' said female voice
al can go no farther this evening, Frcder-
lex"
Why. sister,"
al scarcely know, unless 1t is because the
composition is so beautiful that ieel inca
pablc Of doing justice to it. | am 50 fond
ormusic. Oh! what would not give to
hear that piece played by somc one who
could do il JUSTICE
"Ah? dear sister," said Frederick sigh
ing, some must be rich to procure that en-
joyment. What il the use oil regrettins
when there Is no help for 1t? We can
scarcely pay our rent I; why think oil things
beyond our reach :!
You are r'snt' fredef'cN' anu y''' 'Or
moment, wnen | am paying long o",0
IN my LIE TO near good music wen eAVcu'eu'
But 1t Is useless II Is useless
There was something sihSulariy 'oucH'hS
IN the tone ana repetition Oh inc iaS' Worus ;,
beethoven LOOKUP ~ me- ''' ~ '"''''
'''u ~ 'O,uP"9' ,
hn'cr 'a'u why '"'u'U w y"
"r .,
VIII play 70 n'r, f'pnvu ~ VIZ, ~,
N'aci'y' on' Has ''e'''S' ''"u'' n,''''
genee' iwlli play 10 her ana sac Will "p-
Pr'e'a'' ii'' anu O''''v ! GUN. P''''"
num- h's hana was On 'n' uOor' a. w's h''
'OeNe"' anu op'''u ,H''''ua'0iy. 'O',o"
:" M" ae'"S' 1afA eC'r'1Or, 'O"1'u'
nan open aoor 10 the fisn'' lie puSheu IT,
anu VIC iouhu ourselves IN d poor u'S'''"'s
room' with little stove az one end' ana
some coarse furniture. "A pale young man
was seated ut the table working AZ shoo'
-,'"' MN, -, oNH1'S - : '"o'' 49,, pam
o'S' IN 0'u piano. ""S 'o""s gun "
w''' eiciniy' "u''ery poorly u'''SN i"
rOso anu 'ufn'" 'o"a,ES W. rs W. '"''ie"
f"ruoh me- slid Dce'ho'ch' somewhat
embarrassed l"ruon me out ne'iu
music, and was tempted to enter am
,nnatatun "