Middletown transcript., 1870-12-03
CHRISTINA NILSSON.

We take the following, short biography
of this renowned singer who at present is
creating such sensation in this country,
from the Folio, musical monthly, pub
lished in Boston:
1t was the season of the great fair at
Ljunby.
People had come together from all parts
to display, examine and purchase the va
ried products of agriculture and art
Rich noblemen and humble peasants
mingled freely in the scene, and conversed
in terms of familiarity
Beside the usual display of wares, there
were numerous sde-shows and entertain
ments of festive character, for the graft
ication of the populace.
Song and dance, however, were in the
ascendent, and one couple. in particular,
seemed to attract special attention.
The singcr,-a young girl of not more
than dozen years of age, with fair COM
plexion, flowing hair and blue eyes,-sung
those soft, inspiring melodies of the Morse
land with peculiar sweetness. while her
companion-au elder brother-accomp
led her with the violin with skill equally
praiseworthy.
Among the listeners was another couple,
local magistrate, Thornerhjelm, and his
friend, also an official gentlcman-botho of
musical tastes-who had been drawn hither
by the harmony.
Who is that girl 2" inquired the mag
strate of his companion.
i" Probably some street-singer," replied
the latter with sneer.
" A very good one, then, and such as
we don't meet with every day. I'll talk
with them"
Brother and sister were Immediately
summoned Their story was told plain
and simple, without romance and it be-
came evident that her voice was more than
ordinary.
On the following day there arrived
letter, directed to the father of the girl,
in which the magistrate, with the warmest
cordiality, offered to oversee the education
of the fair singer. 1t was at once accept
ed, and the way for which the sire had
long prayed now lay open to success
1t scenes to have been the lot of great
humble circumstances. Statesmen. gen.
erals, Hterateurs, singers. and artists of
every description-with but few excep-
tions-point to cottage as their birth
place-to hardship and toll as their means
of education. And indeed, some one has
gone SO far as to remark that to reach the
throne, one must have risen from the hut.
The father Of the young singer. living
in the hamlet of Hussaby, near Wexio,-
was farmer, or, as they say in Sweden,
peasant, who earned his livelihood by
cultivating small piece of ground be-
longing to Count Hamilton
The labor expended, however, was but
poorly recompensed by the produce, for
the soil was ill-suited for fertile harvests
and the cold, bleak winds often struck the
death-blow before the grain was ripened
On the Sd of August, 1843, was born
to Nilsson an eighth child,-a daughter
and at the altar the name of Christina
was given her.
AS she grew up, she showed but little
signs of superior capability, but was sent
to school to learn the commonest branches
while at home her father taught her tn e
| III 1sltIlcS III tHc RbtHub.
She soon gained liking for music, nay,
more, passion, and as its echoing strains
swept over her ear
Like the sweet South
| That breathes upon bank of yiolets
Stealing and giving odor''
that passion increased to madness, as it
were. and she was more ready to seize
upon her brother Carl's violin than to ac-
company her father to the fields.
Gradually her voice became known and
the praises of neighbors naturally inflated
the vanity of the parents. When the good
magistrate deigned to notice her, then,
nothing could exceed their pride.
But the good wife was strongly opposed
to sending their youngest away from home,
for with that usual tenderness of mother
were mingled fears of her being cast among
strangers.
The father, however, prevailed. II
seems that he had dream, in which he
thought he saw his little daughter Chris.
tina risen high among the greatest and
most renowned geniuses of the world
She stood before him, in a vast assemblage
clothed in pure white, and adorned witt
jewels, and sang the sweetest strains o
} harmony, while her name and praise rest
ed lovingly upon the lips of every one.
have neither the time nor space to re
count the full story of her education anc
| can only mention that she became an in
mate of the house of Thornerhjelm ano
won the love of every one that she stud
led hard and earnestly, making rapid pro
gress until she was received with favor b,
the Baroness de Leuhassen-at that tim
| favoritc singer, Mademoiselle Valerius
and was then sent to Gottenburg re
naming there nearly two years then un
der the escort of her former patron, re
paired to Stockholm to further pursue he
7 course of study that she delighted al