The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-15
The MoonlighL Sonata.

at happened at Bonn. Ofcourse you know
that Bonn was his native place. He was porn
in house on the Rheingasse; but whenI first
knew him, he was lodging in the upper part OF
a little mean shop near the RomerplatZ. lie
was wretcnedly poor just then /; SO poor That he
never went out for walk except at night, on
account of the poverty of his appearance
However, he had piano, pens, paper, ink and
q few books, and from these he contnved to ex-
tract some little happiness, despite his priva-
tons. AT this time, you know, he had not the
misfortune to be deaf. He could at least enioy
the harmony Of his own compositions Later
In life he hal not even that consolation. One
winters evening1 called upon him, for want
ed him to take walk, and afterward to sup
with me. found him sitting by the window
in the moonlight without fire or CANDLE his
head buried in his hands. and his whole frame
trembling with cold; for it was freezing bitter
ly. Iroused him, persuaded him to accompa-
ny me, urged him to shake off his desponden-
cy. He went; but hei was very gloomy and
hopeless that night, and refused to be comfort
ed. Il hate life and the world he said pas
sionately. Il hate myself No one understands
OF cares 1or me. have genius, and am
treated as an outcast. have heart, and none
to love. wish it were all over, and forever!
wish that l were lying peacefully at the bot
tom If the river yonder. 1 sometimes find it
difficult to resist the temptation And he
pointed to the Rhine, looking cold and bright
in the moonlight. made no reply; for it was
useless to argue with Beethoven, so I allowed
him to go on in the same strain, which he did,
nor paused till we were returning through the
town, when he subsided into a sullen silence.
did not care TO interrupt him. n 9ldgWlg
Passing through some dark, narrow streets
within the Coblentz gate, he paused suddenly.
'HushP he said. 'Wnat sound is that?' 1 lis
tened, and heard the feeble tones of what was,
evidently very old piano, proceeding from
some pace close at hand. The performer was
playing plalntive movement in triple time,
anu, despite the worthlessness of the instru-
ment, contfived to impart to it considerable
tenderness OF expression. Beethoven looked
at me with sparkling eyes. 1T is from my
symphony in Fg he said, eagerly. This is the
house. Hark how wei it IS piayedp It was
little, mean dwelling, with a light shining
through the chinks OF the shutters. We paus-
ed outside and listened. The player went on,
aud the two following movements were execut-
ed with the same iidehty-the same expression.
In the middle OF The finale there was sudden.
break, momentary siience-then the low
sound OF sobbing. 4 cannot go en- said a fe-
maze voice. Il cannot play any more tonight.
FriedricnP why not, my siSterp asked her
companion, gently. L scarcely know why, un-
less that IL is SO beautiful, and that it seems 50
utterly beyond my power to do justice to its
perfection. Oh what would not give to 90
Tonight to Colognel There is concert CIV
en- at the Kaufhas, and all kinds of beautiful
music to be performed. 1t must be SO nice to
go to concerto An! my sister, said the man,
signing, none but the rich can afford such
happiness. 1t is useless to create regrets for
ourselves where tuere can be no remedy. We
can scarcely pay our rent now, so why dare
even to think OF what's unatta'nablep You
are right, Friedrich was her reply. And vet
sometimes when am playing, wish that lor
once In my lie might hear some really good
m1sic and fine performance. But it is of no
use-of no useI There was something very
touching in the tone OF these last words, and
III the manner OF their repetition. beethoven
looked at me. Let Us go in, he said, hurried
~. 90 imp [ exclaimed. How can we 20
in ? what can we go in tor?' L will play to
herr he said, in tue same excited tone. Here
Is teeing-1enius-und will play
to her, ana sne will appreciate iGp Ana be-
tore could prevent Nun, MS hand was upon
The door. 1t was only latched, and instantly
gave way; so Followed nj ii through the DARK
passage to hat-opened dooi at the right OF
the entrance, which he pushed open and en-
tered. ME# ~ ca
ut was bare, comfortless apartment, with
q small stove at one emil, and scanty furniture
A pale young man was sitting by the table
maSlng shoes; and near him, leaning sorrow
1uily upon an oidIashioned harpsicnord, sat a
young girl with profusion OF ight Aair iail-
ING over ner bent race. Botn were cieaniy but
very poorly dressed, and both started and
turned towards us as we entered Pardon
me- said Beethoven, looking somewhat en-
barrassed. Pardon me-but-I heard music,
and l was tempted to enGer. 4 also over
heard something OF what you said,' continued
my friend. You wish to hear-that is YOU
would hke--that Is shall I play for you p
Tne.e was something so odd, SO whimsical SO
brusque in the Whole affair, and something SO
pleasant and eccentric In the very manner of
the speaker, that the ice seemed broken in a
moment, and all smiled invoiuntariiy. erhank
you,' said the shoemaker, but our harpsichord
is wretched, and we have no music NO
musicl ecnoed my friend. How does the
frauiein-. He paused and colored UP, for the
girl looked round Iull at him, and in the dim.
melancholy gaze OF those couded eyes he saw
that she was bind. IL entreat your rar-
don,' lie stammered; but 4 had not perceived
belore. linen you play rom carp sEntireiy.'
AND where do you hear the music, since YOU
frequent no concerts? p Il used to hear a lady
practising near Us when we lived at Brun two
years ago. During the summer evening her
window WIS generally open, and [ walked to
and FRO on the outside to listen to her. tAnd
have you never heard any music None, ex-
cepting street music She seemed slly, so
BeeLnoVen said no more, but seated himself
quietly before the piano, and began to play.
"He had no sooner st uck the first chord
than knew what would fonow--hoW grand
he would be that night. And was not mis-
taken. Never, never during all the years /
had known him, did I hear him play as he
played to that blind girl and her brotherl-
never heard L sucn fire, such passionate ten
1prnoa. cInh
moduiatlon! he was inspired and from the
instant his fingers began to wander along the
keys, the very tones OF the instrument seemed
to grow sweetePsand more equal. DreathIess.
anu entranced, we sat listening The brother
and sister were silent with wonder and ran
ture. The former laid, aside his work. the 10
ter, with her head bent slightly forward. and
her hands pressed tightly over her breast.
crouched down near the end of the harpsichor1
as ii fearful lest even the beating of her heart
should break the flow of those magical sweet
sounds. 1t Was as ii We were all bound in a
strange dream, and only feared to wake. Sud-
denly the flame of the single candle wayered
SUNK, hickered, and went out Beethoven
paused, and threw open the shutters, admit.
ting Hood of briliiai-t moonlight. The room
was almost as light as before, and the illumi-
nation fed strongest on the piano and PLAYER
But the chain OF the ideas seemed broken b,
the accident. Ills bead dropped upon hi
breast; his hands rested upon the knees hc
seemed absorbed in mobilization. 1t wa,
some time. AT length the young shoemaker
rose, and approaching him eagerly, yet rever
entiy-'Wondrful man ? he said in a low tone
VINO and what are you? Beethoven lifted
his head and looked at him vacantly, as if m
conscious OF the meaning of his words. He Ie-
peated the question. The composer smiled
as he only can smile, benevolentIy. induIeent-
ly, knsly. 'Listenp he said as he nIaved the
opening bars of the symphony in +. a CIV Of
delight and recognition burst from the Iips 81
both, and exclaiming Then you are Baetb,
ovenP they covered his hands with tears a w,
kisses. He rose to 60 but they held him bach
with entreaties. Play to US once more-onI1
once morep
HE suffered himself to be led back,to the
instrument. The moon shone brightly in
through the curtainless window, and Int ur
his glorious rugged head, and massive figure
1 VIII improvise a sonata to the moonlight,
said ne, half playfully. He looked up thought
fuiy Tor ie ' moments to the sky and the