The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-11-14
Beethoven and the Blind Girl.
FROM THE GERMAN.

musician, who had known tho illustrious
composer intimately and from him ro.
cuved Tho following unccdotc.
You know." said he. "that Beethoven
was born in houie in the Rhein Grasso
tRhine streul;) but, at tho timo / became
acquainted with him, he lodged over hum.
bio little shop In Roemerplatz llo was
then very poor, so poor thai no only went
out to walk at night. because OF tho dhapi-
dated state of his clothing. Nevertheless.
no had piano, pens. papcr, ink and books;
aud. notwithstanding his privations, he
passed. some happy moments there He
was not yot deaf. aud could at leust erjny
tho harmony Of his own compositions. la
| later years, even this consolation was denied
| him
One Winter evening called upon him,
hoping to persuade him 10 take a walk, aud
return with the to supper. found him
sitting at tho window, in tho moonlight.
without fire. or candle. his face concealed by
his hands, and his whole frame shiveriug
with cold, for it was :recz ng bard. Bs slow
degrees drew him from his lethargy, per.
susGed him to accompany mo, aud exhuTtcd
! him to shake off his sadness. He cano out
/ with me. but vas dark and despairIug on
/ that evening. aud refused all consolation.
| IL hato tho world. said he with a passion.
Il hato mysolf No one und, rstaBds mo
/ or cares about mo have genius. and am
treated like partial huvo heart. aud
no one 10 love am completely miserable.
! Il made no reply. 1t was useless to dis.
pute Wi b Beethoven. aud let him continue
| in the samc strain Ho did not cease till wo
re.oniered the city, and then he relapsed
| into Il sad silence. We crossed u dark. uar-
row street, near tho gate OF Co6leniz. All
at once he stopped.
| Hush ! said he; what Is that noso :"
Il listened. aud heard the faint tones Of
an old piano from somc house at little
distance 1t was u plaintiye melody in triple
time. and, notwithstanding the poverty of
tho instrument. tho porformer gavo to this
pieco great tenderness of expression.
| Bee, hoven looked at mo With sparkling
ewes. 1t is taken from my symphony in
! f. said he; here is the house. Listen,
how welt it is played
Tho hoase was poor and light gim.
uiered through tho chincks Of the shutter.
lie stopped to Iston. In tho middle of the
finalo there was sudden interruption,
silence for moment, then q stiiied voice
was hoard
81 cannot 60 on" said n female voice
4 can GO 10 farther this evening, Frederick.
| WY, SISTER
81 scarcely know, unless it is because
the composition 10 so beautiful that feol
| incapable of doing Justice to it. am so
iond of music. Oh what would not give
to hear that piece played by some one who
could DO |, JUSTICE
/ "'Ah, dear sister. said Frederick. signing
'one must he rich TO procure that enjoy.
mott. What 10 the use OF regretting when
there is no help tor IL? We can scarcely
pay our ront Why think of things far be-
| yond our reach 2
"'You are right, Frederick; and yet
~hcn am playing, l long once in my Ut"
to hear good music we'll executed. Bot it is
usrlrss it is useless!
There was something sineulurly touching
[ 10 the tone and repetition OF the last words.
.Beethoven looked at mo. Lot US eutcr,
said hr, abruptly
"Enrer? said I; why should we enter ::
81 will plav to her, replied he, with vi.
vacity. she has fceing. genius, Intelligence;
| will play TO her. aud she will appreciate
me- And, before could prevent him, his
hand was on the door. IL was not locked
aud opened Immediately. | followed him
across a dark corridor. towards half opon
door to tho right. He pushed Il, aud We
; found ourselves in poor, destitute room.
with little stove at one end, and some
coarso furniture. A pale young man was
I seated AZ a table. working at shoe. Near
, him. bonding in melancholy manner over
an old piano, was a yOnng girl. Both we're
cloaniy, but very poorly drussod thoy rose
aud turned towards us as We entered.
pardon mo- said Beethoven, somewhat
embarrassed, 'pardon me- but heard music
: aud was tempted to enter. am II musician! !!
The girl bluShed, and the young man
assumed grave, almost severe manner.
/ "'I heard also some ot your words. con
tinued my friend. 'Yon wish TO hear-that
is. you would lke-in short, would you like
me 10 play to you
, There was something so strange. So
comical, in tho whole affair, and something
so agreeable and eccentric in the manners
: of him who had spoken. that the ice was
. broken in an instant, ard all InvOuntnrily
smiled
"'Thank you," said tho young shoemaker
. but our piano 10 bad and then wo baVe NJ
music /" aaa
".No music! I" repeated my friond 'how
, then did Mademoiselle---'r He stopped
4 and colored for the young girl had jIst
d turned to wards him, and 10y her sad, veiled
' eyes he saw that she was blind
4 Ill entraat you TO pardon me, STAN
D mersd he; but ! did not romark al first
r You play then from memory
",Entirely.'
"And where have you board this music
before =
: : 81 heard lady who was ncighbor 81
Il Bruhl. two years ago. During the Sum
n mer evenings her window was always open
;, aud walked before the house TO hear her.
i land you have never heard any othe'
music =. . .. .
A Never, excepting the music in the
y Streets"
"She seemed frightened; so Beethoven
did not add another word. but quietly seaLet
himself at the instrument, and commences
= to plav. He bad not touched mRGy poteI
= whom l guessed what would follow, anC
r. how sublime he would he that evening ant
2 was not deceived. Never, never. durinl
y the many years knew him, did hear hin
, play as on this day for the young blind cir
J and her brother. Never did hear sucl
y energy. such passionate tenderness, sucl
II eradatious of mslody and meditation -
II From :he moment his fingers commenced
B. TO move over the piano, the tonos OF the in
Is strqment seemed to soften and become
n more equal.
nj sXe remained sitting, listening 20 hiu