Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-12-07
WHOLE NO. 1854.

magnificent gardens OF the palace. -
Wolfgang, alone in the vast saloon.
lighted as for royal fete was seated
before the piano, his little fingers
flying with wonderful rapidty over
the keys, when he heard the voice of
child near him say
oh how we'll you play Are you
the little Mozart that they have all
been talking about?'
Wolfgang turned his head, and saw
beside him little girl of about seven
years old very richly dressed.
'How beautiful you are p was the
reply of the Bohemian boy.
'Oh, never mind that, said the little
girl. But tell me, are you Wolfgang
Mozart?'
Yes, MademoiseIle.
And who taught you 10 play so
well on the piano?
MY father
And is it not tiresome to learn :?
Are you not obliged 80 practice a
great deal?'
Yes, and sometimes that tatigues
me, thea | say /. prayer, and ask for
the help of the great St. John Nepom-
ucene, that | may haye courage and
good will, and he always gets IT for
me-.
And who is the great ST. John
Nepomucene +?
srhe saint of Bohemia p
'Why is he called the sal Of b.
hemia?'
Because there is a statue of him on
the bridge over the Moldau at Prague.
That is no reason?' said the little
girl, impatiently.
4 know his history, and can tell
you all about him. said Wolfgang.
'Oh, tell me ! said the little girl, Il
shall like to hear it p
Listen, then and the little Mozart
proceeded to relate what he knew Of
the life and martyrdom of tie Bohe-
milan saint.
As Wolfgang was finishing his
story, he heard a great rustling of
silken robes, the sound of satin slip
pers, and the waving Of feathers and
flowers; and looking around him, he
saw with establishment that the saloon,
which was empty q few minutes be.
fore, was now filed with beautiful
ladies and fine gentlemen.
lie rose, blushing and confused.
Do you not remember me ? said a
gentleman approaching him.
You are the King' answered
Wolfgang, as be looked at him.
'And this is tic queen, Maria The.
resa,' said Francis, leading the little
Mozart towards a lady, about forty
five years of age, and in all the lustre
of her beauty who received the
child with the most unbounded kind
ness.
Little Mozart was then seated at the
piano, and then, smiling at those who
surrounded hm, and particularly at
the little girl, who still kept near him,
lie began to play His execution was
so perfect, his little fingers passed
with such facility from a qnick and
difficult moYement, to a measure slow
and mclodously accentuated, that the
illustrious audience IL tered a cry Of
admiration at the wonderful and pre-
cocious talent which he displayed
'Wolfgang is SO well practiced on
his piano, that he could play with his
eyes shut! said his father.
Cover the piano, and You shall seev
answered Wolfgang, and he then
played with the greatest accuracy
under a cloth which concealed The
keys When he stopped, worn out
and tatigued, his poor little forehead
covered with perspiration, the En-
press made him sign to approach
her.
Wolfgang got down from his chair
to 60 to the Empress; but either
from the confusion he felt amidst the
brilliant asemblagc, or through rot
being accustomed to walk upon a
waxed floor his feet slipped, and he
fell.
The little girl uttered a cry, and
running to assist Wolfgang, she ex-
claimed, in a voice soft and full Of
tenderness, 'IIavc you hurt yourself,
my little friend :?
Wolfgang only answered, You are
more charming than all the world. -
Will you be my wife :?
The little girl burs: ont a laughing.
That cannot be, poor little fellow 2
she said.
'Why not?' asked Wolfgang; we
arc both Of the same age
You are only poor little artist
But | shall be a great man some
day
but | am Marie Antoinette, Arch
duchess Of Austria!'
THAT does not matter, III marry
you all the same !! cried Wolfgang,
to the great amusement OF that impos-
ing assembly, who were little used to
such plain language.
Alas, that little girl, whom the in
FAINT Mozart so ingeEiously chose for
his wife, was not so happy as to marry
an artist. Long afterwards, OH the
very day when Mozart, the great com
poser, was hailed with the acc anna
tons of the people OF Vienna, that
little girl become queen of France,
and wife of the unfortunate Louis
the Sixteenth, was insulted by furi-
Gus mob. Strange and mysterious
d. stiny Of human life, which God con-
ceals from mortal eyes, and the end
of which none can divide
But to return to our little hero, who
promised so early all that he after
wards became. Charmed by his pre-
cocious genius, the Empress Maria
Theresa condescended to let him as.
sociate as a playfellow with the Arch.
duchess Marie Antonette, who was
q year older than the little Mozart
Wolfgang was not quite eight years
of age when he appeared in J767, al
the court of Versailles he played the
organ in the kings chapel, and wa,
considered TO equal the creates. mas
tiers. At this epoch he composed two
sonatas, one of which he dedicated tc
/ MADAM, Vietoira the kings dauohtar