Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-02-12
The Boy Organist.

Mozart s. trst experience of large
organ was i'm the monastery of little
town on the banks Of the Danube. He
was then only six years old, and in com.
pany with his father, had left his home
in Salzburg, and started upon long
course of travel. ALI day long they had
been sailing down that majestic river,
past crumbling ruins, frowning castles,
cloisters hidden away among the crags,
towering cliffs, quiet villages nestled in
gorge that opened back from the gliding
river, its hollow distance blue with faith
omless and stiffness stirring the boy s
heart like some dim and vast cathedral
The company of monks, with whom
they had been travelling that day, where
at supper in the refectory of the cloister,
when father Mozart took Wolfgang into
the chapel to see the organ.
And now, as the boy gazed with some
thing of awe upon the great instrument,
looming up in the shadows of the great
empty church, his face lit up with serene
satisfaction, and every motion and atti-
tude of the little figure expressed won
dering reverence What tones must even
now be slumbering in those mighty
pipesl Tones which, if once awakened,
could give utterance to all that voceless
beauty which the days scenes have
showed him-life and death; present
and past; the peaceful river, and the
deserted ruin; the sunshine and the
unfailing shadow at its side.
"Father," said the boy, explain to
me those pedals at the organ feet, and
let me play"
Well pleased, the father complied
Then Wolfgang pushed aside the stool,
and when father Mozart had filled the
great bellows, the elfn organist stood
upon the pedals, and trod them as
though he had never needed to have their
management explained.
How the deer tones woke the somber
stiffness of the old church, The organ
seemed some great uncouth creature,
roaring for very joy at the caresses OF
the marvellous child.
The monks eating their supper in the
refectory heard the tones, and dropped
knife and fork in astonishment. The
organist of the brotherhood was among
them; but never had he played with such
power and freedom. They listened;
some grew pale; others crossed them
selves; till the Prior rose up, summoned
all his courage, and hastened into the
chapel. The others followed, but when
they looked up into the organ loft, lol
there was no sign of any organist to be
seen, though the deep tones massed
themselves in new harmonies, and made
the stone arches thrill with their power.
" 1t is the devil himself, cried the last
one of the monks, drawing closer to one
Of his companions, and giving scared
look over his shoulder into the darkness
Of the aisle.
" 1t is miraclel said another. But
when the boldest of their numbers
mounted the stairs to the organ 'front.' he
stood as if petrified with amazement
There stood the tinny figure, treading
from pedal to pedal, and at the same
time clutching the keys above with his
little hands, gathering handfuls of those
wonderful chords as if they were violets,
and fingng them out into the solemn
gloom behind him. He heard nothing,
saw nothing, besides; his eyes beamed
like stars, and his whole face lighted
with impassioned joy Louder and
fuller rose the harmonies, streaming
forth in swelling billows, till at last they
seemed to reach sunny shore, on which
they broke; and then a whispering ripple
of faintest melody fingered a moment
in the air, like the last murmur of a
wind harp, and all was still.