The daily gazette., 1877-05-31

I 1t were awed and charmed INTO order and
su On before his superlative genius.
We sat, with painting breath, listening
to him. The brother and sister were trans
fixed with delightful astonishment, and
like persons entranced The former had
put away his work the latter. her head II
little advanced, almost touched the eud of
the harpsichord her hands pressed to her
heart, as il she dreaded lest its beating
should trouble those accents of so magic
sweetness. 1t seemed that were all subject
OF a strange dream, and our only fear was
OF waking from Its bliss to soon.
Suddenly the fame of the only candle
vacilla'ed, the wick consumed to ths end,
fell and was extinguished. Tue musician
| ceased l opened the shutters t. admit
the rays of the moon. The apartment was
| nearly as light as before, while upon the
instrument and its player the illumination
\ fell more clearly.
But the occurrence seemed TO have broken
| the chain of Beethoven's ideas. HIS head
was inclining upon his breast, his hands
| rested on his knees; he appeared plunged
in profound mediation, and thus renamed
| for some time.
| At last the young shoema ker rose up, and
approaching hun said in low and respect
ful voice {:
| Wonderful man who ar you ?"
Beethoven raised his head and looked
at him with an distracted air, as il he
did not com prehend his words. The 9th
er repeated them. The composer smiled
as only he knew how to smile, with a
gentleness and regal benevolence.
Listen" said he, and he played the
first measure of the symphony which
had attracted him to the house.
A cry OF JOY escaped the lips of the
nj ,tano,. 1.
and exclaiming, you are Beethoven p
covered his hands with kisses and tears.
He rose to depart, but our supphca-
tions restrained him.
"Play for US one more piece-only
one more"
He returned to the instrument. The
moon-rays entered brightly at the uu-
curtained window and nlum mated his
severe and massive brow.
"I am going to improvise a sonata to
the moonlight he said with sportive
air.
He contemplated q few momen Is THE
heavens sown with stars, then his nngers
sought the keys again, and he COM
meneed in low, pensive, but most ex-
quisIte strain the harmony coming out
Of the instrument softly and evenly as
the light of the moon is nightly shed
upon the earth.
Good evening"" said Beethoven alb
ruptly, pushing back his chair and NOV
ing toward the door.
"You will come again." entreated the
brother and sister at the same time.
He paused aud regarded the blind girl
with ompassion, even tenderness
eyes. yes" responded he precipitately.
81 will come again, and will give the
young lady lessons. Good evening-I
will come again soon."
They followed us to the door in silence
more eloquent than words, and remained
standing on the sill till they could no
longer see or hear US.
"Let us hasten to my room," said Bee
thoven to me 10 the street; "Let us has
ten, in orler taat may note this soma
tn before forget it.
We entered, and he remained writing
long after day break. Such is the history
of the Sonata to the Moonlight, which
is so much admired.
What of blind Beatrice7 Beethoven
fulfilled his promise to become her in
structor her improvement was even be-
yond what could have been an n.icipated.
In short time she received a few pu-
pills, and when it becomes known that
her talent had been guided by the
greater master-whose star as now ris-
en- never to set-applicatIons counted
ten-fold more than could in any wise bs
entertained.