Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-21
Wonderful Performance.


was in the monastery of little town on the
banks of the Danube. He was then only
six years old, and in company with his
father had left his home in Salzburg and
started upon long course of travel. All
day long they had been sailing down that
majestic river, past crumbling ruins,
frowning castles, cloisters hidden away
among the crags, towering cliffs, quiet vii
lagos nestled in sunny valleys, and here and
there a deep gorge that opened back from
the gliding river, its hollow distance blue
with fathomless shadow; and its loneliness
and stiffness stirring the boys heart like
some dim and vast cathedral. The company
of monks with whom they had been travel
ing that day were at supper in the refectory
of the cloister, when Father Mozart took
Wolfgang into the chapel to see the organ.
And now as the boy gazed with something
Of awe upon the great instrument, looming
1pin the shadows of the great, empty church,
MS face lit up with serene satisfaction, and
every motion and attitude of the figure ex-
pressed wonderful reverence. What tones
must even now be slumbering in those mighty
pipes? Tones, which, if once awakened,
could give utterance to all that voiceless
beauty which the days scenes had showed
him-ife and death, present and past; the
peaceful river and the deserted ruin; the
sunshine unfailing and the untailing shadow
at Its side. "Father," said the boy, 'explain
to me those pedals at the organs feet, and
let me play"
Well pleased, the father complied. Then
Wolfgang pushed aside the stool, and when
Father Mozart had filled the great bellows,
the elfn organist stood upon the pedals, and
trod them as though he had never needed to
have their management explained. How the
deep tones woke the sombre stiffness of the
old church! The organ seemed some great
uncouth creature, roaring at very joy at the
caresses Of the marvellous child.
The monks, eating their supper in the
refectory, heard the tones and dropped knife
and fork in establishment. The organist of
the brotherhood was amongst them; but
never had he played with such power and
freedom. They listened; some grew pale j;
others crossed themselves till the prior rose
up, summoned all his courage, and fastened
into the chapel. The others followed, but
when they looked up into the organ loft, 10!
there was m form of any organist to be seen,
though the deep tones still massed themselves
in new harmonies, and made the stone arches
thrill with their power. cit is the devil
himself" cried the first one of the monks,
drawing closer to one ofhis companions, and
giving scared look over his shoulder into
the darkness of the aisle cit is miracle"
said another. But when the Oldest of their
number mounted the stairs to the organ front
he stood petrifed with amazement There
stood the tiny figure, treading from pedal
to pedal, and at the same time clutching the
keys above with his little hand, gathering
handfuls of those wonderful chords as if
they were violets, and flinging them out into
the solemn gloom behind him. He heard
nothing, saw nothing besides his eyes beam
ed liked stars, and his whole face lighted
with imprisoned joy. Louder and fuller
rose the harmonies, streaming forth in swell
ing pillows, till at last they seemed to reach
sunny shore, on which they broke; and
then whispering ripple Of faintest melody
fingered a moment in the air, like the last
murmer of a wind harp, and all was still.