The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-10-29

night, one very black night poorJohn Wetin
was dragged by wicked men on the bridge OF
the Moldau. They did not mind his tears and
prayers, but threw him over into the river
which Is very deep just there, His body was
never found, because, instead of going to the
bottom of the river, he was carried by an angel
INTO Paradise, where he is with God. And so
john Welfin, who used to be a poor man when
he was uDOn earth is 10 heaven now and IL
the SAINT of Bohemia; and ne deserves il very
we'll"
As Wolfgang finished his story, he heard II
rustllng OF sllken robes, of satin slippers, q
waving of plumes moving i'll flowers lie look
ed about him, and saw with establishment that
the great saloon a moment before deserted,
was filled with beautiful ladies and ilne gen.
tlemen. He rose blushing and confused.
Don't you recognize me-" asked gentle
man approaching
You are the Emperor" said Wolisang look.
ing at MIN.
"And this is the Empress Maria Theresa"
continued Francis, leading the little Mozart up
to a lady Of about forty.tive years, in all the
brlllIancy of her beauty.
She welcomed the child with great kindness.
The little Mozart then seated himself at the
piano, and smiling to those around him, par
ticularly TO the young girl who had been I'M
wiling to leave him, he began to play lie
showed such facility that his little fingers
seemed sporting with the keys. From quick
movement, difficult and low, he passed to
slow and most melodiously accented measure.
The lllustrious audience could not restrain
cry OF admiration, amazed at talent SO prcco-
ciOus
"Wolfgang knows his keyboard so well that
ne can play with his eyes closed said his
father
Cover the piano and you shall see" cried
Wolfgang
And in truth, he played with the greatest
accuracy under the cloth that covered the keys.
When at last he stopped, weared and out OF
breath, his poor little forehead covered with
preparation, the Empress signed him to come
to her
Wofgang left his seat to obey, but either
through his want of practice IN walking on a
waxed floor or on account OF his cmbarrass'
mcnt IN such brilliant assembly, he made
false step and fell
The little stranger uttered cry, and dartcd
forward to raise him up.
Are you hurt, my little frlend?" she asked,
gang said to her artessly,
You are more beautiful than you were just
now. viii you marry me?"
The little girl answered with merry laugh.
"Why, that can't be, my poor boy"
"Why not? We are of the same age"
Bat You are only \ poor little artist"
But shall he great ONT"
And am Maria Antoinette, .Mch.duChcss
of Austria"
II don't mind that | shall marry you all
the same" returned Woltgang, to the great
amusement of the noble and imposing assem-
bly,. little accustomed to such artless language
Alas! THIS little girl whom the child Mo-
Fart, with such beautiful righteousness, chose
for his wife, was not so fortunate as to marry
an artist Years after, when Mozart the great
composer, was publicly crowned, and saluted
with the huzzas of the people Of Vienna, upon
that very same day this young girl, then
Queen of France, and wife Of Louis XVI was
lnsultcd by a furious populace. Twoyears at
terward she mounted the scatfOld.
But to return to the boy, who was already
giving the promise he so well performed
Charmed by his precociOus talents, the En-
press condescended to allow HIM to join in the
amusements of the little Maria Antoinette
one year Older than himself.
Woltgang was not eight years Old when in
1863, he appeared at the Court of Versailles
He played the organ IN the Kings Chapel,
and, it Is said, proved himself the equal of the
best performers. At that time he composed
two sOnatas which he dedicated, one to Nine.
Nictoire, the Kings daughter, the other to the
Countess of Tessa. In 1868 Mozart returned
to Vienna, where he composed a comic opera,
ala Tinte Sempllce." Atfourteen he brought
out "MlthrIdates," which had twenty cOnsec.
utive representations. In 171G Mozart went a
second time to Paris. Gluck's opera ot"Al.
ceSte" was then on trial 1t was successful.
After It's first representation GluCk was in the
green room receiving condolences from his
friends, when yOuny man, almost weeping.
rushed up to him and threw his arms about
HIM.
THE barbarians! The hard-hearted crea-
lures What would be enough to move
them ?" he cried
"Condole yourself, little one" answered
Gluck, another generation will do me jus,
tIce"
This young man whom GluCk called little
one" was no other than Wolfgang Mozart.
Mozart died at thirty-slx. 1t was in com,
posing the famous Requiem, ordered by an
unknown person, that he felt his end approach.
ing.
Il am composing my own requiem" he
would say.
At length the effort of composition excited
him to such a degree that his wife, through
the advice Of physicians, was compelled to take
his score away from him. When he had re.
gained strength he took up his work again.
But death did not give him time to entirely
complete It, The "Agnus Del" which termin,
ates this wonderful composition was indeed
the song Of the artist. One feels in 1t the deep
melancholy and the religious imprcssiveness
with which MS soul was filled.
Some hours before his death he had this ta
nous Requiem brought to him.
Was not right" he asked, "n saying that
was composing this death song for myset?'
This was Dec. T. 1891.
Man NnhlesI Mnrk