Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-10-30

notes Wnen L guessed what would follow, l.
and how sublime he would be that evening;
and was not deceived. Never, never du-
ring the many years | knew him, did |
hear him play rs on this day for the young
blind girl and her brother. Never did |
hear such energy, such passionate tender
ness, such gradatons of melody and modu- |
lation. From the moment his fingers com |
menced to move over tho piano, the tones
Of the instrument seemed to soften and be-
come more equal.
awe remained sitting, listening to him
breathlcssly. The brother and sister were
dumb with astonishment, as if parayzed.
The former had laid aside his work; the
latter, her head slightly inclined, had APP
preached the instrument, her two hands
clasped on her breast as if she feared tho
beating of her heart might interrupt those
accents of magic sweetness. 1t seemed as
if we were the subjects of n strange dream,
and our only fear was to wake too soon.
"Suddenly tho flame of the solitary can
, die Aickered, the wick, consumed to the
end, fell, and was extinguished. Beetho-
ven stopped; l opened the shutters to let
in the rays Of the moon. 1t became al
most as light as before in the room, and
the radiance fell more strongly on the mu-
7 sician and the instrument.
:, "But this incident seemed to have bro
: ken the chain of Beothovcn's ideas. His
head dropped on his breast, his hands res
ted on his knees, he appeared plunged into
a profound meditation.
"He remained so for some time. At
i lnet tho Choop,ol,o, L 1
HIM, aud said, in low, respectful voice,
q Wonderful man, who arc you thcnT
t. "Beethoven raised his head, and looked
= at him abstractcdly, as if he had not com
pretended the meaning of his words.
s 'The young man repeated the question
: "The composer smiled as only he coulC
&c smile, such sweetness and kngly benevo
: lence.
a " "Listen said he. And he played thu
D. first movement in the F SYMPHONY.
"a cry of joy escaped from the lips o
the brother and sister. They recognized
Of him, and cried with emotion, you are then
a Beethoven
y "t1o rose to 90, but our entreaties sue
v ceeded in OBTAINING him.
'e "'Play to us once moro, Just once more
a. ale allowed himself to be led to the in
g s'rument The brilliant light of the mool
IN entered the curtainless window, and lghte,
W up his expansive, earnest forehead.
"I am going to improvise sonata t
a the moonlight said he playfully. He con
ne templated for some minutes tho SIX
ne sprinklpd with stars; then his fingers reste
n on the piano, and he commenced to play i
IN low, sad, but wondrously sweet strain.-
The harmony issued from the instrumen
- sweet and even as the rays of the moo
r. spread over the shadows on the ground.-
This delicious overture was followed by
in triple time, lively, light, capricious, a sol
Sc of intermediate burlesque, like dance {
el fairies at midnight on the grass. The
SO came rapid agitato ,fnale-a breathles
We movement, trembling hurrying, describin
no flight and uncertainty, inspiring vague an
instructive terror, which bore us onwards O
a. its shuddering wings, and left us at la
u quite agitated with surprise and moved {
ng tears.
an "'Adieu, said Beethoven, abruptly pusl
gs ing back his chair and advancing to IL
door--'Adieur
20 "" VIII Npillc a5ulH9 ttSkcu DOlu
tie at the same time.
1t "He stopped and regarded tho your
blind girl with an air of compassion.
N "'Yes, Yes said he hurricdly, 4 W
'st como again and givo some lessons to Ma
emoisellc. FAREWELL l will soon con
IN again
=. "rhey followed us to the door in silen
~ more expressive than words, and remain
y, VI standing on the threshold till we were out
HI sight.
ap- "'Let us hasten home,' said Beethoven
ent me in tho street. Let us hasten, that M
vas note down this sonata while it is in II
memory
rds ale entered his room, and wrote /
led nearly daybreak."
'tl- still sat in a listening attitude after Il
nd old musician had finished speaking.
ng Sand did Beethoven give lessons aft,
t a wards to the blind girl" asked l at lengt
oily He smiled and shook his head sadly.
ing Beethoven never entered that huml
'rly house again. With the excitement of t
as moment his interest in the blind girl a
passed away; and though the brother a
hat sister long and patiently awaited bis co
nu- ing, he thought no more of them"
nu- And is it not too often so IN life