The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-04-08
M igtel laMRnms.
BEETHovEN's MOONLIGHT SONATA,

1t happened at Bonn. One moonlight
winters evening called upon Beethoven,
for wanted him to take walk and after
ward sup with me. In passing through
some dark, narrow street he paused sud-
denly.
Hush, !" he said, ''what sound is that
90 it is from my symphony in F. he said
eagerly. clark how well it is played "
1t was little mean dwelling and we
paused outside and listened The player
went on; but in the midst Of the finale
there was Il sudden break, then the voice
OF sobbing. 81 cannot play any more-it
is 50 beautiful, it is so utterly beyond my
power to do it justice. o. what would /
not give to go to the concert at Cologne"
"Ah, my sister," said her companion,
"why create regrets when there is no rem
cdy? We can scarcely pay our rent
IN are right; an& ~ Sa,; 80: ",s i,,usi.
Bat it is of no use"
Beethoven looked at me.
Let us go in" he said.
$50 in [ exclaimed. "What can we
g in for ?"
II will play to herr he exclaimed in an
excited tone. "Here is feeling-genius-
understanding. | will play to her and she
will appreciate it." And before could
prevent him, his hand was upon the door.
\ pale young man was sitting by the ia
bic making shoes; and near him, leaning
sorrowfully upon an old fashioned harpsi-
chord, sat young girl, with a profusion of
( light hair falling over her bent face. Both
were clearly but very poorly dressed, and
both started and turned towards us as we
entered.
Pardon me-" said Beethoven, "but
heard music and was tempted to enter. l
AIN a musician"
The girl blushed, and the young man
/ looked grave--so somewhat annoyed.
IL also overheard something of what
you said" continued my friend. "You
wish to hear-that is, you would like
that is-shall play for you?"
There was something so odd in the whole
affair and something so eccentric and pleas
ant in the manner of the speaker, that the
ice seemed broken in a moment and all
smiled Involuntary.
"Thank you," said the shoemaker; "but
oar harpsicord is SO wretched, and we
have no music"
mo music" echoed my friend, GLOW
then does the Fraulein-"
lie paused and colored up, for the girl
looked full at him, and he saw that she was
blind.
IL entreat your pardon" he stammer-
ed; "but had not perceived before. Then
you play from carp
entirely"
and where do you hear the music, since
you frequent no concerts?"
IL used to hear lady practicing near us
when we lived at Bruhl, two years ago.
During the summer evening her windows
We're generally open, and walked to and
fro outside to listen to her."
And have you never heard any music 2
None except street music"
She seemed shy, so Beethoven said nc
more, but seated himself quietly at the in
stlument, and began to play. He had ne
sooner struck the first chord than | knew
what would follow-how grand he woule
be that night. And Twas not mistaken.-
Never, during all the years knew him
did | hear him play as he then played tt
that blind girl and her brother He wal
, inspired and from the instant that his fin
gers began to wander along the keys, thu
very tone of the instrument began to grow
i swceter and more equal
wonder and rapture. The formerl laid aside
: his work the latter, with her head ben
slightly forward, and her hands passet
tightly over her breast crouched dowl
near the end of the harpsichord as if fear
, full lest the beating other heart should breal
the flow of those magical sweet sounds
1t was as if we were all bound in strang
dream, and only feared to wake.
Suddenly, the flame of the single candl
wavered, sunk, fickered and went out
Beethoven paused, and threw open tia
shutters, admitting flood of brillian
moonlight. The room was almost as ligh
y as before and illumination fell stronges
upon the piano and player. But the chail
of his ideas seemed to have been broken b.
: the accident. His head dropped on hi
il breast-his hands rested upon his 'knees-
o he seemed absorbed in meditation. It
thus for some time.
At length the young shoemaker arose