Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-01-15

W VI luC WV PS''O''">' E5"'~
this piece great tenderness Of expression.
"Beethoven looked at me with sparkling
eyes. 1T is taken from my symphony in
F. said he; here is the house. Listen ;
how well it isp!ayed."
"The house was poor and humble, and a
light glimmercd through the chinks of the
shutter. He stopped to listen. In the mid,
die of the finale there was sudden Interrupt
ton, silence for moment, then E. stifed
voice was heard
"I cannot go on, said IA female voice.
ri can go no farther this evening, Frede-
rick" .......
"Why, sistcr?'
81 scarcely know, unless it is because the
composition is so beautiful that | feel incapa-
BILE of doing justice to it. l am so fond of
music. Oh what would I not give to hear
that piece played by some one who could do
it justice"
"Ah, dearsister," said Frederick, sighing,
"one must be rich to procure that enjoyment.
What is the use of rcgretting when there is
no help for it? We can scarcely pay our
rent; why think Of thugs far beyond our
reach?"
"You are right, Frederick and yet when
l am playing I long once in my life to hear
good music well executed. But it is use
less it is useless"
"Therc was something singularly touch
ing in the tone and repetition of the last
words
"Beethoven looked at me-" ':Let US en-
ter said he, abruptly.
"Entcr!'' said |; why should We euter?"
81 will play to her." replied he, with vi
vacity. "She has feeling, genius, inteiii-
gence; will play to her, and she will ap-
preciate me-" And before I could prevent
him, his hand was on the door, 1t was not
locked, and opened Immediately. / follow
ed him across dark corridor, towards half
opened door to the right. He pushed it,
and We found ourselves in poor, destitute
room, with little stove at one end, and
some coarse furniture. A pale young man
was seated at the table, working at shoe
Near him, bending in melancholy manner
over an old piano, WAS young girl. Both
we're clearly, bat very poorly dressed; they
rose and turned towards US as We entered.
"Pardon me- said Beethoven, somewhat
embarrassed, "pardnn me, but | heard mu-
sic, and was tempted to enter am mu-
sician"
"The girl blushed, ard the young man
assumed grave, almost severe manner"
81 heard also some Of your words, con-
tinued my friend. "You wish to hear
that is, you would Iike-in short, would you
like me to play to you"
There was something so abrupt, SO conf
cal, in the whole affair, aud something so
agreeable and eccentric in the manners of
him who hal spoken, that the ice was broken
in an instant, and all involuntarily smiled.
"Thank you" said the young shoemaker,
"but our piano is bad, and then we have
no music!'
"No music repeated my friend how
then did Mademoisc.e -. He stopped
and colored; for the young girl had just
turned towards him, aud by her sad, veiled
eyes he saw that she wa blind.
d. cntrcat you to pardon ME" stam-
mered be; 'but did not remark at first
You play then from memory?'
"Entirely."
"Aud where have you heard this music
before p
81 heard Il lady who was rcighbor at
Bruthl, two years ago. During the sum-
mer evenings her window was always open,
and | walked before the house to hear her"
"And you have never heard any other
music!''
"Nevcr, excepting the music in the
streets.
"She seemed fri ightcnei; so Beethoven
did not add another word, but quietly seat
ed himself at the instrument, and common
ced to play. He had not touched many
notes when l guessed what would follow,
and how sublime he would be that evening;
and was not deceived. Never, never, dur
ing the many years I knew him, did [ hear
him play as on ibis day for the young blind
girl and her brother. Never did hear such
energy, such passionate tenderness, such
gradations of melody and modulation. From
the moment his fingers commenced to move
over the piano, the tones of the instrument
seemed to soften ard become more equal.
ave remained sitting, listening to him
breathessly. The brother and sister were
dumb with astcpishment, as if paral yzed.-
The former had laid aside his work the lat
ter, her head slightly inclined, had approach
ed the instrument. hertwo hands we're clasp
ed on her breast as is she feared the beating
Of her heart might Interrupt those accents Of
magic sweetness 1t seemed as if we were
the subjects OF strange dream, and our on
" fear was to wake too soou.
"Suddenly the flame of the solitary can
die fickered, the wick, consumed to the end,
fell, and was extingushed. Beethoven stop
ped opened The shutters to let in the rays
of the moon. 1t became almost as light as
before in the room, and the radiance fell
more strongly on the musician and instru-
ment.
"But this incident seemed to have broken
the chain of Becthuveu's ideas. His head
dropped on his breast, his hands rested On
his knees, he appeared plunged into pro-
fou,J nodit,tiuD