The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-20

| "Chr bella ragu2zal' lie CALCULATED, I'M
| der his breath, with fat, approving
| smile, ~ Annuuziata nodded aud waved
| her hand to her tunCiul swain. He sat
| and looked and listened till the song had
! been gone through down to the last word
/ oi the last stnuzn, only giving vent to nm
occasional shuddcling, Ah-h-1, when
/ Luigi sang ilat-as to Tell the truth, he
pretty frequently did-and then got up to
/ return 10 ms hotel.
/ Bat why does that elderly gentleman
suddenly Whisk round upon his heels with
m exclamation of delightY What causes
/ hun IL tear of his white LoghOrn straw
| hat, rs II IN frenzy, ana dash IL upon the
! CrOundi Aud why does he presently
| pounce upon It again, and scamper off to-
ward the hotel rs fast rs his fat, little
round legs will carry him II is only that
| Anuuuliata, by way of reply to her lover,
has begun TO sing one of the songs
OF the country. Everybody in Sorrento
| has heard her sing; every body knows that
She sings well, and has a sweet voice; but
upon no one havo her vocal powers pro-
duced such an effect as this before.
The old gentleman clntters noisilY up
the wooden staircase OF the Albcrgo della
Srena, and bounccs into the sitting room,
where his wife, who is twice us fat Us him
| self, lies doing in nm arm chair.
My denrf' he gasps, my dear.-"
We'll, Snssi, what Is II nowT says she,
still only half awake.
MY dear, have heard the voice OF an
angel'
"Chc, che There would not be room In
heaven for all the angels you have heard,
| Snssi"
"CdriSsind mia, come and heart You
| shall judge for yoursclf-you who know
whit voice is 1t Is but two steps from
hgre--a little cottage, not hundred yards
OFT" And the enthusiastic Sassi seized his
| ppnderous partner by the arm, aud Mt
tempted TO drag her to her feet.
Decidedly shrieked that lady, strug-
Cling violently, / do not leave this chair
till go to bed! Let mo alone, SASH; you
are causing me great pain and discomfort"
And, being released, she dropped heavily
back into her former position with grunt
Signor SASH sighed. "Well, we'll" he
said, will bring her here In the morn
ing. on will hear her, and be convinced
VIII make the fortune Of that girl"
Bah" said the Signora. Struggling her
shoulders and depressing the corners of
her mouth. You IRE always going to
make somebody's fortune-and what IL
tho RESULT Remember that girl at Venice
whom you took 10 live with us for six
months, and who, ms had already prophe-
sled, turned out to have no more power OF
understanding music than that table. Re-
member the tenor, rs you called him
though he was really nothing but BARI
box at Ancona. But what Is the use of
wasting breath on those who will not
hehrY | suppose this new angel will come
nnd stay with us from Tomorrow | only
beg YOU to notice that prophesy she win
prove TO be "a failure, ana that she will run
away with all our clothes into the bar
gain"
Nou will sce--you will see. replied old
Sassi, nodding his head ana closing his eyes
with an aspect OF serene certainty.
The next morning, while old Marta Van
mini was hard at work over the Washing,
by means of which she lived, somebody
wrapped ut the door with the handle of Il
stick. and on going 10 admit her visitor she
- a. A.,
stranger, OF benevolent aspect, who took
on his straw hat aud bowed down To the
ground
".signora," said he let me first OF all
fchctat" you
Your fxccllency is very good" replied
the wondering Marta, "but with times US
hard as they are now, don't know"
You possess treasure, Signora."
santa MddOnHd "A treasure, | can as
sure your ENcellency that this is the first
have heard Of it,"
you possess treasure. | was about to
say, in your niece
ION !" said Marta, with heightened
countenance. "Well, yes; she Is u good
ElIl-one cannot complain; but she scarce
~ pays for her keep; and we poor people
have to think of that"
Not pay for her keep Woman, is not
voice Ike hers payment enough Tor the
Keep OF "a whole regiment! Does not your
heart leap into your mouth when you hear
her singT'
laughing little for she began to suspect
that her interlocutor was not quite right
in his head. ." she is one OF those who must
work and not sing. one may sing all day
long, like ciCdlu, but that Will not bring
IN money
THAT is precisely whore you are mis-
taken. my good madam; singing viii |
sometimes bring in money enough to buy
up the whole OF sorrento. Did YOU ever |
hear of Alboni, and Grisl. and Mahbrnuy'
No; Marta was unacqualnt,d with any
of these names.
"Well, they were ladies who made more
money by singing one night at the opera
than | suppose you would earu by wash |
ing in u couple of years. What do you
think of that
1t is extraordinary, said Marta, with
n sigh; but surely, Eccellenza YOU do not
mean that our Annunziata could do that p
WHO knows | should be better able
to tell you II You would permit me To see
her and hear her sing for Jew minutes
Anhunzlnta!' shrieked the old woman
in her shilll, nasal accents, leave the
washing. ana come here. Here Is gen
tleman who wishes to speak 10 you
Annunziata made her appearance, sml-
ing and surprised, and was greeted with
much COTdHllty by gnor Sassi. Like the
generality OF Italians, she was wholly free
from shyness, and though somewhat taken
aback by the visitors request, she made
no difficulty about obliging him with a
specimen OF her musical capabilities. She
sang him first one song, then another, and
finally, REFRESHING u strong inclination 10
burst out laughing, consented, for the
first time in her lIie, TO be put through
her scales. Higher and higher rose
the clear, full, true notes TIL Signor
SASH could no longer contain his delight
lie seized Annunzlata by both hands, and
went near 10 embracing her in his eXulta-
ton. "SignOrina," he exclaimed, the
world Is open TO you! A little work-a
little perseverance-and everything you
touch Will turn to gold!' Then he twirled
round and faced the older woman. And
now, Signora," he said, q" for few words
with you. | am Signor Sassi-you may
perhaps have heard me spoken orr
But Marta was rs ignorant OF the fame OF
Siguor SASH Us she had admitted herself to
be OF Grsi ana AlbOni Hunt" grunted
the old gentleman, % am not altogether
obscure for ali thar. III chance ever takes
you 10 Paris, LOnton, or Vienna, you Will
nnd that Alcssaudio Sassi, the singing
master, is pretty well known III all those
places. Not that | am II singing master
now; made money enough years ago To
keep my wife and myself III comfort, and
! have no children. Music and Art occupy
the place Of children in my affections
said the littlc man, drawing himself up
and tapping his breast. "NOw this Is what
| propose to YOU" he continued. Dur
ing the present winter, which intend TO
pasa at Gnppapto fhn GiUnopiuu shall .pma