The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-01-10
.BE JUST AND FEAR NOT!
RICHMOND.

peated the order and at the same time
sat the little fellow down. He then
lifted him up and repeated the order.
Tom instantly sat down. He then
told him to get up, and lifted him up.
Then to sit down, and he dropped on
the floor. The next time he told him
to get up. Tom jumped up. Every
something, and he proved an apt
scholar. Tell him the name Of any
thing as you presented it to him, he
would put his hands on it, smell it,
and pronounce its name. Any num-
ber of objects might be presented him
in this manner, and he would never
forget the names nor the objects to
which they belonged. He never for
gets anything that he is taught
LEARNING BY SOUND.
How did he learn the alphabet and
to .:g:g,,, spsll?. l., .....;.;o. ..,a 49,,
he learns everything BY 1DuDd- We
tiled him With the raised letters for
the blind, but he took no interest in
them. He takes no interest in the
common affairs of life. He does not
know the value of money or the nature
or necessity for any business transac-
ton. He has never asked how a pi.
ano was made. If the pedal gets out
of order or string breaks he says,
The draft is wrong" He cannot
bear to hear anything about business.
Letters he detests. He takes all
mine and Mr.. Warhurst's letters that
he can find and throws them out of
the window. If | ask him what for,
he answers: Because l don't like to
hear you read them. hope YOU won't
get any more" He is q mystery to
everybody that knows him. When he
is at home down in Virginia, where l
always take him in the summer, he
takes no particular interest in what is
going on around him. lie will stand
all day listening to the moving ma
chimes, and he always does the churn-
ing of the butter from choice, because
he likes to hear the sound. We have
always, as far as possible, permitted
him to do whatever he chose He is
SO tractable if we tell him anything is
wrong he will not do it again.
Have you ever told him that he
oaght not to cut up those singular
antics on the stage?"
I'VE have, and he tries to restrain
himself, but those motions seem in
some way connected with his faculty
of remembering or composing music.
When he is composing piece he acts
in the same manner, but the move
ments and contortions of his body are
much more eccentric and violent
when he is alone, or in his room with
those with whom he is familiar"
What makes you think that he
will become great composer?
He has always been a composer.
You know that we accidentally discov-
cred that he could play the piano
when he was about four years old.
About that time piano was pur-
chased for my sisters. The very first
notes struck brought Tom to the
house. We had already discovered
his powers as a singer. When two
years old he improvized seconds to
every song that he heard, singing in
concert with my sisters and others.
When he came up to hear the piano
We lifted him to the key board and
permitted him to indulge his curiosity
in running his fingers over the keys
and smelling them. He was then
taken out; but was content to lister
on the piazza. AS long as any one
played be was happy and quiet, but
fretted to get to the instrument wheI
the music stopped.
) ASTONISHING THE FAMILY.
One night his mother had neglected
to fasten her cabin door, and on the
same night the parlor and piano were
accidentally left open. My sister.
were awakened before daylight tn,
next morning by the sounds of tn,
piano. Some one was playing all theil
pieces. As soon as they were dressed
they hurried to the room and ther.
sat Tom playing with both hands. NJ
one disturbed him, and as the family
rose all gathered round to hear him
His performance was imperfect, O
course, but it was a miracle to us
After awhile he was allowed to pla.
whenever he wished, and he wishet
! to do so all the time. He mastered
everything he had ever heard, ant
then began to compose. After play
J ing over his acquired repertoire 70
, several hours, he would go out in tn
yard and begin to run and jump an,
caper just as you see him on the stage
only with more vehemence, and the1
return to the piano and begin to pla
!. something of his own. When aske,
: what it was, he answered, 1T is wha
the wind said to me" or ''the birds,
. or "the trees" or something else sal,
. . to him. In that way he composed hi
: ''Rain Storm" He was not quite fv
years old when he gave us that com
position, after listening to summe
!, storm, while standing in corrido
that connected wing of the hous
! with the main building. and where h
), heard the pattering of the drops o
the roof and the water running O
: through the cutters. It had been hi
: custom to come and stand in that pas
l sage to listen to the combination
! ! sounds to be heard there during
! storm from his babyhood. Anothe
= reason that makes me think he wi
e e be great composer is that he prefer
Il classical music, and the best cOmpos
tions. He never amuses himself whe
> recreating with any trifling study, an
: his improvisations in the way of intel
r. ludes thrown between the themes
!, !, the great composers are admitted
u be very fine. could make ten time
= as much money by letting him play
!, spectacular dramas, where his wol
{ derful powers could be brought in.
e have received offers from numero,
p !: parties to do so-but 1 regard ii
= amount of money made as Of sma
q moment compared with his develo]
g g ment and his happiness. He is takil
- lessons now. Come tomorrow an
- see him take lesson"
1t FOND OF PRACTISING.
le BEFORE leaving the renorter tried