The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-06-13
AN ANGELIC VISITOR.
A Very Extraordinary Story.

Throwing extraordinary narrative concern.
ing Llsette Bernard, girl of French ex-
traction, "who was one of a car load of
orphans, homeless children, sent West
from New York by the Childreu's Aid
Society there, to fud homes My hus.
husband bad spoken to Mr.. Fried yon. the
agent of the Society, brother of the shoe
merchant in Washington street, to bring
him little nurse girl with the next car.
load he should conduct to the West
This was in the winter of 1868. That
spring, in April, he brought US Lisette,
stating that he knew nothing of her par
entage, aud that he selected her on ac.
count of her gentle disposition from
number of favorites at the Orphan Asy-
lum on Randall's Island, near New York,
where she had been for four years. hos
There was nothing remarkable about
her but very mild ways and dreary, weary
look from her deep set blue eyes. no.
ticed Lisette manifest peculiar aud in
tense interest whenever L played on the
piano selections from any of the old oper-
as and masterpieces. At such times |
would find her sitting in the adjoining
room, utter y oblivious to everything but
the music, from the effects of which she
seemed to awaken when spoken to, and
would then rouse herself as if from sleep
This absorption was the subject Of fire.
quent remark IN the family. One night
last November, at o'clock, my husband
aud | were reused from our slumbers by
hearing the sweetest music, coming APP
parently from our piano.. Our bed room
was off the sitting room, all on the same
floor, aud of course. We were frightened.
The doors from our room to the sitting
room and parlor were all open-the gas
by our bed side burning dimly, but the
parlor was derk. We lay a moment list
epiug to the erfact concord ofsouuds from
the piano, which VIC perceived was under
the fingers of masters hand. The N usic
was from Handel-one Of his grand and
majestic movements, and not one that |
had played on that piano, and | had not
the notes in the house. The playing
ceased a moment or two, and soon began
with one Of Liszt's fantasias, one so diff
cult of execution that none but the high
est professors of art ever attempted it. i
had heard it the summer before at Gros-
by's in Chicago, but had never tried it
myself. Mr.. j. and hastily dressed
ourselves, for by this time we supposed
same of our frinds hab taken the novel
method Of screaming US, but who was
the performer that TOUCHED the instru-
ment with skill possessed by none of
my acquaintances, was the Puzzling ques.
ton. -r..-.-s III -s.s#
We passed noiselessly to the parlor
foor the light from our room by refec-
ton made everything in the parlor yisi-
BILE. You may imagine our surprise when
| tell you that the performer at the piano
was DO other than Lisette, dressed in her
gayest suit, with her abundance of hair
put up in style | never saw before on
any one, but very neat aud tasty. Her
face was from US, and Mr.. j. mentioned
to me to keep silence, lighted the gas,
aud we both went to Lisette's side just as
she concluded the fantasia. Her eyes
were closed, and her face, usually pale
was uow deadly white At the same tiue
Lisette, turning her head toward me, and
bowing politely. said in lady like voice
not unnatural to her-"That was LIFTS
own favorite when | saw him beautiful.
isn't itY But here is something like
better" and turning to the piano, her
eyes still closed. she gave with exquisite
skill Que of Bach's Counter Fugus, which
is perhaps the most difficult of all com
positions to render, but when well de
livered, as this was, carried the hearer
from earth 10 heaven. Ii | could render
a Coulter Fogue, as magician [ would
be content was SO absorbed in her
theme that forgot who was the fine per
former.
As it closed, Lisette rose gracefully, and
bowing said: That is sufficient for this
child to night, she must now rest. Please,
kind friends, do not waken her in the
orning; will rouse her at the proper
time" and bowling again with a womanly
grace Lisette had never attained, she pass
ed 20 ber room.
The uext morning Lisette. usually an
early riser, slept till 10 o'clock. We said
nothing TO her of what we had witnessed.
nor told it to any one else that day On
the second night after we were awakened
about the same hour by similar perform
ance in the parlor We went in again
The pieces played were all clasic, mostly
from Handel-one or two from Beethoven
and their execution perfect; only one
of which had ever been played in her
hearing. Between each each, she made
remarks and critisisms as naturally as II
she were some accomplished performer
presiding at the piano, and not our little
nurse girl As she closed the perform
ance she astonished us more than ever by
saving: Good friends, | much thank
you for your kinkness to this child am
her mother, and | am training her un
consciously to herself. Please do not 'ell
her of this practice, for | fear, she will
not lono ren,ain with YOU, as she is very