Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-10-25
MIS- sCELLAN NY.
Fun Ballou's Weekly.
THE 0PER A-SING ER.

ST. Norm. in tho city OF Marseilles. "Son :"
he continued. +" We publish none but the
very beet. Dare cay il is excellent, but We
do not wish It,"
The young composer staggered into the
stree, and pressed his hand against bis head
as though IL were ready to burst.
This is misery, despair The fourth
day that have hardly tasted food! No,
one to whom have applied will give tie
scaniiest pltianco for wha, have racked
nv brain to produce. Go. then. yc vile
whlt,ling., ye offspring OF my heart, aud as
tear thee thus in pieces, know FOR your
consolation that | shall quickly res. a, lie.
les as yourselves"
Thu. saying the frenricd youth tore piece
meal the manuscript, he held in his hand,
and spread the fragments ell along the path.
The passer, by smiled, and made joke, upon
his shabby garments bu, the poor son OF
geniu. was past caring for their ridiculc,
for in the ruin Of his brightest hopes. bis
.oul wa. fast settling into the wre,ched
quioiude OF despair.
lie wen, forward blindly. a,mos, ins,int.
lively threading his way among the crowd,
without seeing a single form distinctly, IN
80 deep trance were his SENSES held. lie
passed a, las, into q narrow court, and a-.
cended TO bis wretchei hAhiIa,ion--a miscr-
able attic in the fourth story Of a dilapi.
dated and almost deserted lOdginc-house.
But be had no, entered unob,er,eI. a
young aud 'ayori,c actress had just arrived
10 commence an engagement at the Opcra
House in the Rue d'lfalie, aud held apart
msn,s in hotel adjoining the old lodging
hou.c. AZ the window Of one Of these
apartments. and overlooking the court, stood
a, this moment the pretty Cccilo'd' Amiens.
watering some lo~ers which stood upon the
sill. Her glance fell upon the yoa,h as be
entered the court
"Qu,He YIiis :" she exclaimed, looking
with sympathy on the -habbIly dressed
stranger. "QusHs piiis' How poor he
looks and how pale hls countensnco' II 10
really fine one, too. And yet the people
say he is almos, mad with making verses
and poetry 80 worthless that no ono will
buy. Poor fellow and such noble fore.
head. too Rs'dsT'' And tho volatile girl
actually wcpt over the fa,e which impendei
over the young enthusiast.
Meantime Bc.sierc had opened the door
o, his garrett. il's eyes wore an unear,hly
glare. and ilIncing hi' arms wildly above
hi bead, bis pcniup feeling, found utter.
ancc.
Welcome. ,hon destroyer. Death 80 was
hi. cry. "Y.t give me leave TO sing my
las, .ong-,ho las, which comes from ,he.c
lip, that shall soon rcs, in everlasting si.
lencc! And the world. which has spurned
me from iis bosom shall listen while sing "
llc opened the narrow window casemen,
Of bis chamber, and bur-, forth with full,
passionate voice, singing those verses which
haze since become part Of the histories OF
France.
I" Aus srp.s, .ui,us de IA pa,Iie'
L. jour q. gloirr ,.i suiNs;
CcuIrr nou. d. IA i,pnni~
L'riendard 'suglint ct 1--we"
Mademoiselle damien. was standing a,
her window. and started at the sound. as il
u trumps, Of war had blown its summons
at her ears. And we'll she migh,--iOr the
enthusiasm. the frenzy. the despair, Of a
soul was poured into the tones which the
approach OF death rendered supcrnatually
impressive. The song still rolled its martial
volume on. while the young actress hardly
dared to trcatbc least she should loss some
portion OF the precious theme. She might
have passed tor tho incarnation OF some
Creek statute, 30 Fixed and in,en, on the
su hject was every faculty. The voice erased
An Il as II without an idea Of sell.,olition
Oh seized a scrap Of paper and set about
tr an.eribing the music aud the words. She
70 llowed her original with accuracy OF mem
ory which was marvellous, with tie spell
bound delight Of one whose soul was en-
gagged in the work at hand. The copy wa
flished: aud not till then dId the thourh,'
oi the actress revert to the author.
Z" "A ael" she exclaimed, clasping hci
h h,nds with emotion. "And this 10 h'
whom these poor creatures esteem mad
mani All, Guillaume Bassiere, thy name
shall ring from one end Of France TO .h'
other Thou shalt find. one day, that mer
it like thine must find ITS true reward ~
Thus. while the generous hearted cir
D estowed her enthusiastic praise, and pic
tured the scenes OF future triumph. Gull
laume Ba..iere was starving to death with
/ n bis lonely garre,. Alas, Cecile, you l,s
I 10 thought that the brow which your fancy
f.ecked with laurels was even then chill with
be sweat Of death
- shall sing it this very eye!" shc ex
c laimed. her bosom swelling with innocent
pleasure. What sensation will il no
make! What subliml,y-what IRE Al
,,oiia une tnunYhsr'
Tho hour of her Performance was ia'
approachlng but Cecile addressed al bel
energies TO the commitial Of the piece. anC
/ ouickly masterei its detail. The hour ar