Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-10

viol hung the singers somewhat disconso-
late peruke. The remains of frugal meal had
been thrust under the great chair. gentle
knock was heard on the door, and at his rough
call the delicate form of the handsome page APP
peared on the threshold, but he did not advance
to meet his teacher with his customary amiabe
friendliness; he looked pale and uneasy, and an
unusual excitement glttered in his eyes.
What do you wish here at this hour?' asked
Foster astonished.
Hush, hush! | wish to take private leaveP
"Leave? Is In Barre peradventure going to
carry you off to France as her train bearerP
A bright red now mounted into Franciscuss
cheeks.
'You think very meanly Of me, but only that
you may learn to think better of me, am 60
ing. FAREWELL | am going to make something
OF myself or nothing at ALL Do not ask where
am going-l have thought days and nights be-
fore came to the conclusion; you shall hear
good of me, or nothing at all. You were right;
matters could not continue thus and here moth
ing could be changed! Au revoir! i thank
you for every TeproOf, and will love you eternal
ly! Tell nobody that have taken leave of you,
have said farewell to nobody: Franciscus de
Minde shall disappear for ALL"
And before he could prevent it, the young
man had grasped Caspar Fosters hands, press
ed them TO his breast and lips, and left the
room. The handsome page had fed from Co.
penhagen, and no one knew whittier he had
gone.
Three months perhaps after this little scene
in the evening of day after hotly contested
battle, little band of Swedish soldiers was APP
preaching the tent of their commander, the
valiant General Wrangel. In their midst they
were conducting prisoner, who with bandagcd
forehead advanced as lightly and joyously as
if he were fastening to a jovial feast. They
halted in front of the tent-the wonderful prison.
err had insisted on being led to the general. The
sentinel before the tent made repelling gesture
with his hand-the soldiers stopped as if sud-
denly enchanted. The tones Of violin became
audible-the renowned general, after the fatigues
and dangers of the day, abandoned himself to
his highest passion; playing on the violin. All
were acquainted with this, and knew that none
but the bearer of important dispatches dared
disturb him in a passage or an adagio. 1t was
a strange contrast, these soft, sweet sounds,
swelling over a soldiers camp, and to which
they all so eagerly listened.
To-day the valiant general played with particu-
lar enthusiasm, as it appeared; one vola,a was
added TO another, tril succeeded trill, from a
bold allegro he passed without stopping into
a melting adagio-the violin did not become
weary of singing. And ever greater was the cir
Gle of listeners who came gently stealing up,
they spread out over the ground in uncOnstrained
groups; and the tones passed over their heads
as light-winged angels of peace. But the young
prisoner listened with beaming cOuntenance.
"They have not spoken too highly of my col
league" said he smiling; "but hope my violin
will also please himp
And as the player now passed into that well
known melody whose text celebrated the deeds
of King Gustavus of Sweden, the prisoner sud-
denly struck in with clear silver voice and sang
the song. No one ventured to command silence;
all seemed under the influence of magic spell.
The sound was so sweet and pure, the voice of
an Incompatible freshness and softness, Wran-
gels violin accompanied softly and more softly,
OIL n1
not to observe it, for, after the example of Cas-
par Forster, his instructor, he was holding on
to a pause that appeared endless, and threaten
ed to take away the hearers breath. The cur
tain of the tent was lifted up, and the generals
heroic form was visible. He still held the violin
in his hand, and his fiery eyes were fixed with
an expression of wonder and establishment on
the young singer. Franciscus learlessly met this
glance, and at the conclusion of the pause,
Wrangel laid his right hand softly on the young
mans shoulder, and said;
Thank God for your voice, my son, you will
make the world speak of you. Whence do you
come, and what doyou seek in warp
ga scar for my face and-the good advice of
my celebrated colleague, General Wrangel," was
the answer.
"Well, come into my tent then, and tell me
all r said the general smiling, and the curtains
OF the tent closed behind the forms of the two
colleagues.
What the two now treated of so confdentially,
to the measureess aStoniShment of the soldiers,
was never made public; but it is matter of his
tory that Franciscus de Minde no more left the
general, and accompanied him afterwards to
Sweden, where the general made q present of
the singer, as it were, 10 the king as the "most
valuable prize of the war" Here in the state
rooms of the royal castle at Gothenburg was re-
peated the story of Saul and David; the sick
ruler became soon unable to dispense for a
single day with the sweet voice and gay converse.
of the young singer, and appointed him his pri- 4
vate singer, His songs alone were able to dis
tract the melancholy king and drive away his
gloomy thoughts.
81 have found a second royal father" wrote
Franciscus to Copenhagen, "but my beloved
king in old Denmark is the only true one, and
my present patron but an indulgent step-father.
bear my scar with pride, and although the
women unfortunately do not vet hate me on its
account, still | feel that | shall become some
thing that will do honor to my dear instructor"
King Frederick had long since pardoned his
favorite his apparent faithlessness, and occa-
Sionally sent him a present to Gothenburg,
among other things pair of costly bracelets set
with pearls. Not till after the kings death did
de Minde leave Sweden; Germany attracted him,
he wished to hear and to learn. Hamburg was
next the goal of his wishes. So he wandered off
with a slender bundle and little money, for it
was not in his nature to collect treasures; he al
ways gave with full hands, as long as he himself
had anything to give, and was accustomed over
the to-day continually to forget the tomorrow
he enjoyed the present regardless of the future.
No wonder then, that in Wismar he suddenly
found himself again with empty purse; his last
piece of gold he had thrown into the hat of a
beggar before the city gate. With somewhat
anxious heart, his lutte on his back, genuine
travelling singer, he entered the first inn of the
city and begged for lodging. 1t was fortune
that the advanced twilight compassiouately
yelled the condition of his travelling costume,
but the host was nevertheless Just about to turn
away the insignificant looking wanderer, as he
was accustomed to lodge "arislocratic strangers
who travelled in Carriages" and had no desire
to be encountered with pedestrians.
In the public room a couple of candles were
burning, and their light fell on Franciscus's
handsome face, and on his lightly Drowned fore
head with the scar; and the hosts fresh, pretty
little daughter, behind the side-board, saw all
that, and her brown roguish eyes met the blue
ones of the young guest, and-his fate was de-
cided. She softly besought her father in his be-
half, and he was permitted to remain.
So he drew up his stool close to his protec-
tresS, and began to chat with her so merriy and
pleasantly, that the maiden frequently broke
forth into bright laugh, and thought she had
never seen more joyous companion
"You would be just the person for the aristo-
cratic lady up yonder, who is looking for a SER
want TO travel with her to Hamburg and Paris"
said she in the course of the conversation. "YOu
seem at home everywhere, and have seen the
world Her attendant must indeed know some
thing of music, thelady said, concluded she with
sigh, "and | suppose you can know but little
about that, otherwise Iwould gladly have spoken
word for you'll"
"Who knows if do not understand as much
about it as that donna" said Franciscus, laugh.
ing; "but the word [ would much rather speak
myself! Where is her room~
81 will accompany you! Gomez
And with soft steps she led him up a fight of
stairs into dmly lighted passage The way
was somewhat long, the steps steep, and his
neat little conductress often tade him keen fast
hold of her hand. This he did then very faith
fully, and also bent very frequently with his Iips
on the warm full fingers, in order to assure him
self that the little hand did not escape, and was
really still his prisoner.
"Here is the door," said she at last, lingering
ly." wish you fortuneP
"Stay yet a moment" begged he, ofortune
leaves me when you depart!"
She remained, therefore, and he took his lute
in his arms, and began song in praise of
women which he himself had SET to music AZ
a stream of light flowed the matchless voice
through the dark passages-breathless trem
bling, as in dream listened the hosts little
daughter. Such tones had never been heard
here beforel What a song! More rayisbincly
had Franciscus himself not sung even in front Of