The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-05-26
The Childhood Grief of Paganini.

her 10 ms SIDE, ana IL was not until the
last one had died away, that she awoke
from the sweet lethargy, the wondrous in
toxicating dreams into which they had
lulled her.
Often, when Nicolo sat imagining the
fulfllment of his ambitious hopes he would
touch the strings of.his violin; then little
Silver Cross "a pet spider) would softly
approach, and the boy would feel her touch
like hasty kiss. He would close his
eyes and forget his solitude-forget that
no one loved him. His father was stern
master; his gentle mother was dead the
boys OF bis own age avoided him; only
the little Gianetta played with him and
kissed him and Nicolo's heart was divi-
ded between the beloved girl and his
strange window.fricud.
Gianetta, however, could not endure spi.
ders she would say, timorously:
"They are witches!'
The spider seemed to feel Gianetta's
dislike, and never came in when the child
was there; but if Nicolo drew near to the
the window with his violin, and gave q
stolen look without, be would always per-
ceive the mute listener hanging motion
less upon vneleaf
Gianetta would sit in corner of his
room breathessly listening to his won-
drous playing; but when his arm sank
exhausted, and the tones died away, then
she would entrcat Nicolo to talk to her.
Not only did he relate to the listening
girl wild fairy-tales, which made her shud-
der, but all the dreams of his own burn.
ing heart, all the plans of his high aspir-
ing soul, We're oonfded to the silent, faith
full bosom of the charming girl; and she
would press his feverishly-hot hand, and
gaze at him with eyes filled with sympa-
thy.
When he told her of the famous Ger
man master, Mozart-how he had written
grand concertos when only six years DID,
and how he shone as star in the heaven
of music-his cheeks would burn, he
would tromble with excitement, and scald-
ing tears of indignation would stream from
his eyes.
"See, Gianetta," he would say, with a
bitter smile, "what a wrctched bungler [
am beside him |"
And the girl had not the power to con-
sole him.
One day, Nicolo was obliged to play the
most monotonous exercises under his faith
er's supervision, whilst suffering the Bit
terest torments. His hands were weak,
his body glowed-all the strength, all the
life Of his body seemed ITO have passed
into his eyes they shone wonderfully.
All at once he heard the voice of Clan
etta's mother--she called him by name,
anxiously and hastily. Nicolo fastened to
her. Gianetta had been suddenly taken
ill burning fever had seized her. He
entered. She looked long and earnestly
at her dearest playmate, her friend; he
understood her glance, and brought his
violin. Grief stormed and ragged within
his heart
"Gianetta, a sleoping.song for you p
he exclaimed wildly.
She smiled. Then the charmed violin
sang the most enrapturing, the strangcst
and sweetest of all sleeping-songs. As
he ended, GIanetta raised herself from her
couch, and called Nicolo; he threw HIM
self into her arms.
'Thanks, my dearest" she whispered
softly; "Nicolo, L shall slumber sweetly |!
You, however, will not rest; you will
beam upon earth, a clear star, surprising
everything else in brightness travel far,
far away from here Think of me and my
words p
The beautiful child inclined her head
and died.
Nicolo remained by the corpse the night
through the following day, he ran about
half frenzied. When he returned to his
home, his dark, quiet room filled him with
terror from his window he could look di.
rectly into Gianetta's little chamber.
The child lay upon the bier, adorned
with fowers-almost buried in them-sur-
rounded by lighted torches, and looking
lovely as an angel. A monk knelt by the
side of the coffin, and prayed for the pure
young soul that had forsaken his beautiful
tenement so soon.
"Farewcll, thou lovely one" softly said
the mourning boy, as the hot tears rolled
over his pale checks 81 am going far
away, as far-ah, as far as / can For
what is there to detain meme, the lone
ly, unloved one ?"
And he fell upon his knees and sobbed
convulsively.
At that moment he felt gentle singu-
lar touch upon his hand. He started
little Silver Cross crept toward him.
"lt is you, mute, alas, now solitary
companion of my life p cried Nicolo.
A ray of Joy glided over his counte-
nance, as he thoughtfully contemplated the
faithful creature. At last he started up
and exclaimed, pressing his violin passion
ately to his breast:
"One more parting greeting to Gianet-
ia, then out into the world with you,
mighty heavenly beloved of my hearth
Then the cords sang more wondrously,
more mysteriousy than ever; tones that