Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-06-23

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observed was a superb piano, before which
he quickly stationed himself; his father
went out into balcony which overlooked
the magnificent gardens Of the palace.
Wolfgang, alone in the vast saloon, lighted
as for royal fete, was seated before the pi-
ano, his little fingers flying with wonder
ful rapldity over the keys, when he heard
the voice of a child near him say
"Oh how we'll you playl Are you the
little Mozart that they have all been talk
ing about2"
Wolfgang turned his head, and saw be-
side him little girl OF about seven years
old very richly dressed.
show beautiful you are r. was the reply
Of the Bohemian boy.
"Oh never mind that ~ said the little
girl. "But tell me, are you Wolfgang Mo-
zart?"
Eyes, Mademoiselle."
"And who taught you to play 20 well on
the pianoH
"My father"
"And is it not tiresomo to Learnt Are
you not obliged to practise great dealf"
"Yes, and sometimes that fatigues me,
and then say prayer, and ask for the
help of the great st. John Nepomucene,
that may have courage, and goodwill and
he always gets 1t for me-"
"And who is the great st. John Nepomu-
cenef"
"The saint Of Bohemia"
"Why is he called saint OF Bohemia ?" -
because there is statue of him on the
I.a 81 ~
That is no reason" said the little girl,
impatlently.
81 know his history, and can tell you all
about him." said Wolfgang.
"oh, tell mer said the little girl, 81
shall like TO hear itp'
"Listen then ;''-and the little Mozart
proceeded to relate what he knew of the life
and martyrdom OF The Bohemian saint.
AS Wolfgang was finishing his story, he
heard great rustling of silken robes, the
sound of satin slippers, and the waving of
feathers and flowers; and looking around
him, he saw with astonishment that the sa-
loon, which was empty Gn hour before,
was now filled with beautiful ladies aud
fine gentlemen.
He rose, blushing and confused.
"Do you not remember met said a gen.
tleman, approaching him."
"You are the king - answered Wolfgang,
as he looked at him.
"And this is the queen, Maria Theresa"
said Francis, leading the little Mozart to-
wards a lady about forty-five years of age,
and in all the lustre of her beauty; who re-
ceived the child with the most unbounded
kindness.
Little Mozart was then seated at the pi-
ano, and then, smiling at those who sur
roun ded him, and particularly at the little
| girl, who still kept near him, he began TO
play. His execution was so perfect, his
little fingers passed with such facility from
quick and difficult movement, to meas
ure slow and melodiously accentuated, that
the illustrioHs audience uttered cry OF ad-
miration at the wonderful and precocious
talent which he displayed.
"Wolfgang is so well practised on his pi-
ano, that he could play with his eyes shut p
said his father.
"Cover the piano, and you shsli see 7"
answered Wolfgang, and he then played
with the greatest accuracy under a cloth
which concealed the keys. When he stop
ped, worn out and fatlgued, his poor little
forehead covered with perspiration, the
Empress made him sign to approach her.
Wolfgang got down from his chair to go
TO the Empress; but either from the confu-
sion he felt amidst that brilliant assem-
blage, or through not being accustomed to
walk upon a waxed floor his foot slipped,
and he fell.
The little girl uttered cry, and running
10 assist wolfgang, she exclaimed, in a
voice soft and full of tenderness, "Have
you hurt yourself my little friend"
Wcllgang only answered, "You are more
charming than all the world. Will you be
my wife ?"
The little girl burst out a-laughing. 'That
cannot be, poor fellowV she said.
"Why notf" asked Wolfgang; "we are
both of the same age."
"You are only poor little artist"
"But shall be great man some day.
"But am Maria Antoinette, Archduch-
ess of Austria"
"That does not matter 1 will marry you
all the same {" cried Wolfgang, TO the great
amusement of that imposing assembly,
who were little used TO such plain language.
Alas, that little girl whom the infant Mo-
zart so ingenuously chose for his wife, was
not so happy as TO marry an artist. Long
afterwards, on the very day when Mozart,
the great composer, was hailed with the ac-
clamations of the people of Vienna, that
little girl become queen of France, and
wife of the unfortunate Louis the Six
teenth, was insulted by a furious mob.
Strange and mysterious destiny of human
life, which God coneeals from mortal eyes,
and the end of which none can divinel
But 10 return to our little hero, who
promised so early all that he afterwards be-
came. Charmed by his precocious genius,
the Empress Maria Theresa condescended
to let him associate as playfellow with the
Archduchess Marie Antoinette, who was a
year older than the little Mozart.
Wolfgang was not quite eight years Of age
when he appeared, in 1867, at the court of
Versailles he played the organ in the
kings chapel, and was considered to equal
the greatest masters. At this epoch he COM
posed two sonatas, one Of which he dedl-
Gated to Madame Vlctoire, the kings
daughter, and the other to the Countess de
| Tesse.
Mozart was but thirty-six years old when
he died. 1t was while engaged in the COM
position Of his famous Requiem, which had
been ordered by some unknown person,
that he felt his end approaching. 81 am
working for my own funeral" he said. In
fact, the excitement of composing increas-
| l. l., -. l. r..