Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-02-25

Tur following account of n musical prodigy
is from the correspondence of the New York
Tribune. 1.-THE account is true-and the source
is n reliable one-we may expect before very
long to see all former musical wonders cast IN
to the shade.
There is residing in Watertown in this State,
a little musical prodigy. Miss Abigail Emehne
Atwood. She is only ten years OF age, and Is
obIe to perform the most difficult music upon
great variety of Instruments. She learns reaul-
liz nv ear. and is able to play almost any piece
she hears, upon any instrument she has yet
tried; and still she has never had the least au
vantage having never received any musical III
struction whateyer-not being able to tell one
notc from another. She is the daughter OF
! hardy old farmer, who prides himself upon the
ext aordnary natural capacities of his child, ana
will not suffer her to receive instructions IN mu
sic. So secluded has been the life OF the little
wonder, that she has never seen locomouVe'
nor n train of cars. She never saw any water
craft, not even row boat A small party oil
us were stopping here, and, having heard OF the
little girl, must needs visit her, as hundreds oil
Others are doing. tell you that never heard
her music cxceed.- Her powers of execution
upon some instruments exceeds belief ne
melodeon she plays in every key, using nothing,
however, except common chords ana win sur
prisng rapidly, precision and skill. HornpiPes,
Schottisches polkas, waltzes, marches, songs,
&c, she is perfectly familiar with, and at home
on the instrument while executing them. L
have listened to many good players, but never
heard such Skillful and rapid playing IN my lie.
Her most surprising performances, however, are
upon the dulcimcr. This instrument is quite
novelty in this country, but is common IN some
foreign parts of the world. suppose 1t to have
been in common use in the time OF the Prophets.
This scondertul little girl is able to perform the
most difficult pieces upon this noble instrument
with incredible rapidity, and still her execution
NAV be said to be not very far removed from
absolute perfection. Her father blindlolded her
and led her TO her station, and still she per
formed with the same precision and skill. She
plays the ACCORDION beautifully, bringing out all
the music the instrument is capable OF producing
in the hands of the most accomplished perform
ers; but she is obliged to use small instru.
,nent as she has not sufficient strength TO hold
q large one and the small one she is unable u
use for any length OF time. Tho guitar she
PLAYS with skill, using a little Spanish lnstru
nent of about half the ordinary size, and per
forms credtably upon her little violin She nc
communicative different Instruments at times wltt
her voice, which possesses wonderful tnIiness
compass, and development, owing, probably, tc
the amount of practice she has already had
She is entirely sclf.taught, and has SO reten
tive memory as never to fail to play the prop
er tune when the name is given. But the mos
extraordinary aud wonderful thing of all IS, tina
when she is playing any tune she is acquainted
with. she will Immediately strike into any othe
tune she knows, 9citAOut breaking the time. II
this she may safely challenge the most accom-
plished, scientific musicians in the world.
Taking into account her lack of instruction,
this is not wonderful, what Is?
Advantageous offers have been made her faith
err TO give her musical education and brin
her before the world; but he is wealthy, and ha
a mind of his own, and she remains here. Coul
she be brought out, she would, no doubt, pre-
duce sensation hitherto unparalleled for a
amateur of her years.