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

said Fcederika, but 4 see now that this gen
tleman Is really the messenger OF the SAINT OF
Bohemia"
"My dear children" SAID Herr Mozart, let
us SIT down to the table. The generous ian
who sent rs thus dinner is not am sure he
representative Of any SAINT. Let Us drin TO
llls health. We don't know his name, Ou we
shall always remember his kindness
Imagine, my young readers, how gay nat
repast must have been. 1t was long Tune
since the Mozart family had dlned SO splendid.
ly. The children, indeed, had never seen
feast Ike this, and they were doing fall justice
10 il m,rrily when the clock Of ncighb)ring
convent struck two. Wolfgaug sprang up
from his chair
"Waere are you goiug?' asked his mother.
Going to the piano to compOsea sonata that
will make the messenger appear"
And Woltgang drew up to the piano little
stool upon which he remained standing. He
was SO small that his elbows were hardly as
high rs the keyboard.
"Ahl don't forget one thing OF all we are
going to have" he cried, beginning to play.
He first ran few scales with power ana
precision extraordinary III so delicate anu
impulsve II child Growing animated by de.
grees, he passed from scales TO chords Then
he began to improvise theme so sweet so
smoothly flowing, that the chapel master and
his wife remained dumb with surprise. Soon
abandoning himself to all the wealth of a ca
PRECIOUS and chlld.like imagination, he made
his fingers fly over the key board. They seem
ed scarcely to touch the keys yet some, struck
by the hand of a master, vibrated with force
Others Caresscd, gave out tones so expressive
that tears stood In the eyes Of Mozart and his
wife
Overcome, moved beyond all selfcontro by
the ravishng tones Wolfgang was drawing
from his instrument, they all forgot, net only
the dinner, but the coming of the stranger
whom the first tones of the improvised sonata
were to bring.
"Come to my arms, Woltgang, come" cried
the chapel. master, with the enthusiasm of the
father and the artist you will one day, with
the help of Heaven, be a great master, great
composer, great man. But who will push
you forward in the world, poor neglected child !?
Who will draw you from the obscurlty IN
which my poverty has placed you? Who will
protect you?"
"In' cried voice from the outside.
1t was the strangers. At sight of him Wolf
gang ran to him, and taking his hand,
Here is the friend of the great st. John OF
EepOmuck :" he exclaimed.
But scarcely had the chapelmaster glanced
at him when with every mark OF the deepest
respect he rose and bowed, saying,
His Majesty the Emperorot Austria Fran
els l."
Some DAYS alter tins advertise Frau Mozart
was putting up the articles ot ,.olhlng neces.
sary for her husband and son, weeping as she
did SO.
Don't weep, dear wife" said the chapel.
master, since Gods goodness TO our dear son
is already manIfestlng itself. Remember, we
are going to the court of the Empress Maria
Cnp % md uriSn aS oh IL
beautiful. We are gong there, too, invited by
no less a parsonage than her august husband,
Francis l."
AT SIX years old to begin a life of labor"
exclaimed the poor mother, sitting her slghs,
II am going to work for you, dear mamma,
and that will be a life Of JOY" answered Wolf
gang, throwing his arms about his mothers
neck.
An hour afterward the chapelmastcr and his
son were upon the road to Vienna. Nothing
worthy of note happened during the journey.
AS soon as they arrived the Emperor sent them
word that he would receive them the next day.
In the meantime orders were given to organ
iZe aconcert. All the lords and ladies of the
court were invited to hear the wonderful child
The next day Mozart went out to visit some
friends On his return he found his son turn
ing somersautS in the room.
II have said my prayers he SAID to his
father. 81 have exercised my fingers and
now | am resting myself"
"a fine rest" responded the elder Mozart
laughing.
Indeed. papa, everyone takes that in his
own way"
Iu the evening Wolfgang was conducted by
his father to the imperial palace. The chapel
master was dressed in black. His son wore a
court dress, a little coat of lilac cloth with a
vest of watered silk of the same color, little
breeches of rCse-colOred silk white stockings
and shoes with buckles He was as pretty as
picture; he looked like marquis in mini
AZURE.
A master of ceremonies conducted the two
to the concerthall. No one had yet appeared.
The first thing Wolfgang perceived was a SUI.
perb piano at which he ran to seat himself
Mozart passed out upon balcony overlooking
the beautiful gardens of the palace Wolfgang
left alone in this vast saloon, lighted as if for
royal festival, remained seated at the piano
His little fingers were running over the keys
with marvellous rapidity, when he heard
child's voice close beside him exclaim,
"Oh, how well you play! Are you the little
Mozart that they have been talking about here
for the last two days."
Wolfgang looked up. He saw at his side a
little girl seven years old, very richly dressed
and very lovely.
"How beautiful you are" was the response
of the Bohemian child.
THAT is what they tell me every day, but
that's of no consequence" replied the little
girl decidedly. Tell me, are you Wolfgang
Mozart"
Eyes, Frauen'
And who taught you to play the piano so
well?"
"My father"
"How tresome 1t is to learn. You were
4. L