The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1878-03-22

,ang, with pleasure, recognized the
'nvoy of st. John Ncpomucene; and
leopold Mozart, with awe and won.
Ter, inclined his head as he recognized
Francis I. Of Austria, who had come
10 spend some time in the quiet seclu-
ion Of Kosohcez, and whom he had
frequently seen at the chapel.
A few days after this adventure,
and his father set out for
Vienna, in order to appear at thecourt
Of the Empress Marie Theresa, at the
command Of her husband the Empe.
ror.
beginning life of labor at six
yeaIs Of age. alas" said his mother,
weeping, show hard is the lot Of the
poor"
81 shall work for you, my mother,
and n life Of labor shall then be life
Of pleasure, cried the child, as he
threw his arms round her neck, and
kissed her.
Wolfgang Mozart, dressed in gay
court costume, was led TO the imperial
palace Of Vienna, and conducted by
the master of ceremonies into the con-
cert-hall. II was tenantless when the
little musician entered, but the first
thing that attracted his eyes was a
splendid piano, before which he quick
ly and almost instinctively seated him.
self, while his father passed out upon
n balcony which commanded a noble
view of the splendid royal gardens.
Alone in the great saloon. with his in
strument before him, the boy began
to play, timidly at first, for the full
rich tones Of the grand instrument
seemed to fill the whole spacious apart.
ment with a tremulous sense Of life;
then, as his ear became familiar with
the tones, he burst into one Of his
most beautiful strains of improviza.
ton, and gave himself wholly up to
his instrument. The boy, lost in the
fancies which gave life and the power
OF q noble accentuation to his fingers,
and the chords which they touched,
did not observe the rustling Of silken
robes, the waving of perfumed plumes,
the glitter Of gems and gold, and the
sparkling Of pearls, nor the sott foot
falls OF little feet, as the gay courtly
train entered the saloon. 1t was on
ly when he had finished, and the last
vibration of the instrument had died
away, that he looked around. and
found himself gazed on by bright
eyes, and regarded with lovely smil
ing countenances.
"How beautifully you play" cried
a little girl, as she ran to the side o.
the little musician. and took his hand
"Will you teach me to play as well''
"Ah, il is a wearisome, tOilsomt
thing to learn to play said the boy,
innocently. "You must sit long, and
grow tired, and then begin again.
will not learn you until you are big
ger, and then you will not feel it 81
sore upon you
"And who taught your" said the
child, as she parted his curls and look
ed into seyes.
Ma father, and the good st. John
Nepomucene. said the boy, archly.
"Then you and the saint may Learn
me- cried the little Princess Mari,
Antoincitc, clapping her hands at til,
thought.
"Great princesses do not need tn,
saints to teach them, said the boy
"they don't need TO play for bread
Wolfgang Mozart, at the age o
eight years, appeared before the cour
of Versailles and ravishcd his audito
ry with the precocity Of his genius
He played the organ in the chape
royal before the King and his cour
tiers, and in style that had neve
been surpassed by the most accom-
plished masters. AT that early peri
cd of his life. he composed two soma
tas, which are still extant to attest III,
richness of his fancy and the fumes
Of his powers of development. On,
Of these he dedicated to Victoire
daughter to the King of France, ant
the other to the Countess of Jesse. II
l7GS, he returned to Vienna, wher,
he composed, at fourteen years Of age
his opera of "Alithridaies," which wa,
honored with twenty successive per
formances.
In l71G, a young man sat in a qui
ct retired box in an opera-house ia
Paris, with his head resting upon hi
hand, listening to the performance a
the celebrated "Alcesta," whose glo
rious strains fell almost unregarded
upon the ears of the cold throng, who
had come determined to condemn it,
The young man was of small stature
and his long fair hair tell round hi
pale cheeks and neck, but his counte
nance was as beautiful as that o
Apollo Belvidere, and il seemed Il
sympathi1e with every emotiona