The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1868-04-15
BethoYcn's Moonlight Sonata.
FROM TIE GERMAN, by a. FORESTER.

! OrgahlSt at vienna, Beethoven was
living in his native city Bonn, in the
most straight tened circumstances. All
day hc sat by the old worn piano,
from which he never parted, and
wrote his great tone creations, and
only under cover Of the night would
venture without doors for his Long
walks. A musician, Ills faithfSF Fad-
mircr and only friend, was in the
habit of accompanying him upon
these nightly ramblcs
Once upon winters evening Thcn
/ the full moon shed its silvcry light
over the ancient houses and upon the
CLASSY surface of a s'ro-Gn river, they
heard i'll passing Il lowly cot. II tho
vicinity Of The K6blcnz gate music
that caused Beethoven to stand still il
amazcmcnt. 1t was his f. Major
/ symphony, played with the most as.
tonishing fire and expression upon All
old wiry harpsichord.
Suddenly, while Beethoven and his
friend stood listening, the music ccas~
| ed, and through the window out into
the street, where they stood, they
heard Il suppressed sigh, and thc voice
Of young girl broke the stiffness Of
the night. | was thus she spoke
Il can play no more, brother.
Some other time, not this evening
Oh, this music is so beautiful, it steals
to my very heart, and implants there
a feeling of deep sadness"
Beethoven pressed the hand of his
f.iond. 81 mvst see this genius he
said, and without delay he entered
the house, walking ut once to the
room whence tho music had proceeded.
1t vas u little shabbily furnished
room upon the ground floor, only
family lighted by broken piece of
candle. a young man sat at work
table. lie was u shoemaker. Not
far from him stood Il maiden, her
arm resting upon the old harpsichord,
her head bent downward.
"Eorgivc me-" said Beethoven to
Che shoemaker, who had sprung to his
feet in surprise; 81 heard music here
aud as | myself am musician
This called Il iialf nistrustful, half
ironical expression to the face of the
young shoemaker, who thus replied
"Vou would like to play something
for me F.! All, our instrument is very
poor, and besides, we have no notcs.''
GLOW you have no notcs," cried
Bcthovcn in an ccstacy of delight,
'and yet Fraillicn you plays
He stopped abruptly, for now for
the FIRST time he discovered that tho
maiden was blind.
II could not bclicve,' said he,
somewhat embarrassed, "that you
were playing tho symphony from
memory"
81 once lived with a lady in Bin
gen, who played this symphony very
ottcn," the maiden replied, cit i'm
pressed itSclfupon my memory for
love muSlc.'
"ict me play for you, said Bcti.o
ven, ana without another word he
seated himself before the harpsichord.
lie struck first few simple chords,
which gradually rose and swelled to
symphonic form, and beneath the mas
ter touch, the worn discordant instru
mont seemed TO gain its original har-
"'ohy' Nith ever increasing bold
ness and power did his fantasy find
expression, now wailing, now dying
away, melting into the tcnderest
tones
lnvoimlarlly all were spell bound
nny the happy nights of imagination.
l'hc shoemaker. sat with his eyes fixed
IN wonder at the stranger, his sister
was lost N DEVOTIONAL feeling. sr
suddenly the lamp 1iicEcred out.
bu' Beethoven did not cease doubt
less he had forgotten the realities
about him. Softly the shoemaker
stole to the window and pushed open
the shutters, so that the full moonlight
strGamcd into the room.
Ihe glorious light as it beamcd up
on thc Keys must suddenly have bro
ken the chain of Bcthovcn's ideas
nc ceased playing, bowed down his
ms head, and seemed lost in thought.
FINALLY the blind girls brother