Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-09-17
COLUMBUS, O., THURSDAY MORNING,

the Vice -Capellmeister, and as soon as
they reached Salzburgh, the two has
tened toward his humble dwelling. r...
While they had been on the road from
Heilbrunn, curious scene had been pre-
pairing for them at the Mozart house.
The afternoon sun laid its level beams of
gold into the clean and tidy room, where
the little Wolfgang had seated himself
at his fathers writing table, His moth
er and sister were busy in the next
room, and all was quiet and peaceful
about him; only the trill of the canary
was now and then to be heard as he sang
goodnight to the setting sun. Was it
only the, glow. of, the. sunbeams or was
it an inward exaltation which made the
boys face so radiant? Kneeling on a
high stool, with one elbow propped on
his fathers desk and his little chin upon
his hand, he gazes straight before him as
if in deep thought. 1t must be start
ling idea which is engaging the small
creatures brain, for his deep blue eyes,
now flashing out, and theu drawing back
into themselves, give evidence of an in.
tense inner activity. At the same time
the lips softly move, and from time to
time the murmuring childish voice seems
to express search after vanishing mel
odies, that tempt and elude the longing
Imagination of the boy. ~. .t-.-.-.o
All at once his whole countenance
lights up like an electric fash. Swiftly
he seizes sheet of paper that lies near
him, grasps pen, plunges it into the ink,
and commences to write. But, luckless
elf ! in his sacred fury he had thrust his
pen-point down against the. bottom of
the inkstand, and at, the third note a
mighty blot suddenly descends upon the
paper, and browns the surrounding tract
in dismal food. ID ~ ~ ~ .,
Little did the boy mind this. With
out letting himself be delayed, he wipes
the blot off with the palm of his hand,
streaking the ink away from it in a
curve, like dingy comet. Still his
ideas are not at all disturbed. Note
after note soon covers the paper; and
as the boys zeal increases, blot after
blot accompanies them, all of which,
like their first born brother, are wiped
out with the already ink-soaked palm,
till one can imagine what looking
sheet was there. 1t could very well
represent, fguratively, the Black Sea,
with all its bays. and promontories.-
And still the little composer dashes down
the notes, weeping bitterly now with
anger at the blots, but in nowise letting
himself be disturbed. The salty drops
mingle with the inky ones, and both to-
gether are wiped out with the
little dingy palm; and still the notes
|. follow each other thicker and faster, half
of them next to illegible, but yet writ
ten, and-the door opens, and in walks
the Vice-Capellmeister, and with him
Count Herberstein. The small crea
ture hears them not he huns half aloud
a melody; he goes on writing-crossing
out-writing again-making new blots
wipes them out-writes again and
nova cry of exultation, as he filings
the pen out of his inky fingers. Then
he hears a wondering voice:
"What in the name of Heaven are
you doing Wolferl e. Wolfgang look
ed around, and seeing his father stand
ing there with pleasant-faced stranger,
he spreads his fingers wide apart, and
cries gleefully-' .''i',[ 'I, 's- - '
40 papa! a piano sonata the first
part is already done n -.gt- 81 E.a
Father Mozart and the count look at
each other with smile, and Mozart
called out, jestingly-5 -.fs...- ~. .a..a
"Let us see it; it must be something
fine !" .1r ta si niF-.4 o- n
But the youngster held back the
sheet, and cried warmly ,. 1ai-
"No, no, 'tisn't ready yet % But at
his fathers bidding he delivered it up
reluctantly, and then the two old musi-
clans laughed until their sides ached /;
for the sonata, with its variegated en-
bellishment of splashes and blots, and
spider-tracks, was wonderful sight to
see. But what is this : Why looks the
father with sudden surprise at the notes,
, and why do his eyes fill slowly with
tears of wondering pleasure : .'-.. ...l
a" Look you here Only look, dear
Count !" he cries, holding the paper
trembling in his hand " do you see
, how it is all written correctly and ac-
cording to rule {? Only one could never
play it, it is so intricate and difficult"
"But lisa sonata, papachenp cried
), Wolfgang; one must practice it first, of
course but this is the way it should
l CO." And he sprang to the piano and
; commenced to play. The harder parts
he could not bring out, but the small
and stumbling fingers gave enough to
show to his audience, which now was
increased by his mother and sister, what
was his idea.
The piece was written correctly, and
f arranged with all the parts. .a75
They all stood speechless with aston
ishment, till Father Mozart, catching the
child to his breast, and kissing him, cried
"Wolfgang, you will become great
man!''
And the Count added. eyes, and all
Germany shall one day be proud of you.
dear childy' Then turning to the father
he said, with smile, "Who is now the
1 richer, you or the king?" . cts
And Father Mozart answered, with
!. beaming eyes, 81 would not give this
hour for all the kingdoms of the earth!'