The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-04-23
LIsETTE, THE MUsICALsoMNAM
BULISr.
AID AND COMFORT FOR THE
SPIRITUAL

A lady of indianapolis furnishes the
People, u paper there, with the following
extraordinary narrative concerning L,sette
Bernard, girl Of French extraction,
who was one Of u car load If orphan,
homeless children, sent west from New
York by the Children's Aid 5 'ciety there,
to lind homes. Ny husband had spoken
to Mr.. Friedgen, the agent Of the society,
brother OF the shoe merchant in Washing.
ton street, to BRING him lutte nurse girl
the next carload he should conduct to the
west. This was in the winter ls64-5.
That spring, in April, he br ought US
L.set.e, stating that he knew nothing Of
her percentage, that he selected her on
account Of her gentle disposition from
mum Der OF favorites ut the Orphan Asy-
lum on Randall's Island, naer New York,
where she had been for four years.
There was nothing remarkable about
her but her very mid ways, and dreary,
weary look from her deep-set blue eyes.
l noticed Liselte manifested u peculiar and
intense interest whenever played on the
piano selections from any of the old
operas and masterpieces. At such times
/ would frequently find her sitting in the
adjoining room utterly obliviuus to every
thing but the music; from the Effects Of
which she seeneI to awaken when spoken
to, and would then rouse herself MS If from
sleep. 1hs absorption was the subject Of
frequent remark in the family. One night
last November, at 2 o'clock, my husband
and I were aroused from our slumbers by
hearing the sweetest music, coming appar-
emily from our piano. Our bed-room Was
off the sitting-rooln, all on the same fioo'l
and of course we were frightened. The
doors from our room to the sittng-room
and parlor were all open-the gas by our
bedside burning dimly, but the parior was
dark. We lay a moment and listened to
the perfect concord Of sounds from the
piano, which we perceived was under the
fingers of a master hand. The music was
from Handel-one OF his grand and
majestic movements, and not one that /
had played on that piano AID / had not
the notes in the house. The playing
ceased moment or two, and soon began
with one Of Liszts fantasias, one So diff
cult of execution that none but the high
eat professors of art ever attempted it. /
had heard it the summer before at Crosby S
in Chicago, but had never tried it myself.
Mr.. j. and l hastily dressed ourselves, for
by this time we supposed some Of our
friends had taken this novel method Of
serenading US. Bat who was the per-
iormer then touching the instrument with
skill possessed by none of my acquain-
lance, was the puzzling question. We
passed noselessly to the parlor door; the
night from our room BY reflection made
everything in the paror visible. You
may imagine our surprise WHEEL tell you
that the performer at the piano was none
other than Liset;e. dressed in her gayest
suit, with her abundance of hair put up in
style never saw before on any one, bu,
very neat and tasty. Her face was from
Us, and Mr.. j. mvtioning me to keep
silence, lighted the gas, and we both went
to Liselte's side just us she concluded the
fantasia. Her eyes were closed, and her
face usually SO pale, was now deadly
white. At the same time Liscttc, turning
her head toward me and bowing politely
said in lady.like voice-not unnatural 10
her-That was Listzs own fav0rite when
knew him, beautiful, isI't in But here
is something l like better, ard turning
to the piano, her eyes still closed, she
gave with exquisite skill one Of Bach's
Counter Fugues, which is perhaps the
most difficult of all compositions ~ render,
but when we'll delivered, rs this was, Car.
ries the hearer from earth to heaven, If
| could render Counter Fuge, as a
musician, / should be content. l Was 30
absorbed in her theme that l forgot who
was the fine performer As il closed,
Lisette rose gracefully, and bowling said (:
That is sufficient for this child tonight;
she must now rest. Please kind friends
do not waken her in the morning; / will
| arouse her nj the proper time, and bow
| ing again with u wOnanlv grace Lisette
had never attained, she pissed to her room.
| "rhe next morning, Li-ette, usually an
| early riser, slept until 10 o'clock. We
said nothing To her of what we hid wit.
messed, nor ,old IL to any one else that day
On the second night after we Were awak
ened by similar performance IN the DIR.
ior. We went IN again. The pieces
played were all classic mostly from Han.
del--one or two from Beeihoven-and
!. their execution was perfect; only one q,
winch had ever been played in her hear,
ing. Between each she made remarks and
criticisms As naturally MS II she we're som,
accomplished performer presiding at the
+, piano. ana not our little nurse girl. As
she closed this performance she astonisheI
US more than ever by saying; Good friends
l much thank you for your kindness I,
: this child l am her mother, and / mr.
: training her unconscously to herself
|
! fear she will not long remain with Won
as she is very delicate, and bowed hersel,
out AS fore.
"Ihsse performances being repeated
every altc' nate night after, became some.
what annoying, especially since Lisetlt
seemed to be declining rapidly. The phys.
: iclan prescribed for her, but never seemed
to understand her case. He witnessed
the musical performances. lie said sb,
; was undoubtedly asleep the whole time a,
me piano On one occasion she turned ts
him and said:
. "oh, doctor l see you don't und erstand
y TINS; Lisette is not before you except In
oody' Ny name is Therese Bernard.
W. reared in Lorraine, married ia Paris
=. 'nush t must" in Paris---it Was nv CRANE
Hlon' My husband died on board sh,,
M we came to America. l died in New