Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-08-07

and | determined that henceforward
l would put my delights in surety
behind the regular accomplishment of
my duties as a pupil. had deter
mined to become an artist, but there
was time when | hesitated between
painting and music. Finally. how
ever. found more propensity TO render
my ideas in mimic, and | decided
upon the latter choice. My poor
mother was distressed; she knew well
what the life of an artist was, and
doubtless she feared for me a second
edition of the little favored existence
which she had shared with my father.
She went up to the principal. M.
Poison, and explained her trouble.
The latter relieved her anxiety. Fear
nothing, said he, your son will not be
a musician. He is an industrious
little fellow; he works hard. and his
professors are satisfied with him. You
may make yourself comfortable, Nine.
Gounod, your SOD will not be musl-
cian.
my mother went away delighted.
Shortly afterward the principal called
me into his private Office.
i" What's this | hear, my child?'
said he: you want to be a musician
!" Yes, sir.
Come. come. don't think of such a
thing. A musician has no profession.
+" What, sirl' said l. a musician
has no professioni And Mozart and
Rossini?' AS l said this, felt my
little 14-year old head toss backward.
At that moment the expression of my
interlocutor' face changed.
" Very WE'LL said he, we can
easily see if you are fit to be must
clan. For the past ten years l have
had my box at the Italians, and I am
good Judge.
Immediately he opened his drawer
and took out a sheet of paper and COM
menced to write some verses.
"There. said he, take that and put
| it into music.
81 was deligh ted. l left him and
returned to class. On the way ran
over with feverish anxiety the verses
he had just given me. 1t was the
romance of Joseph. "A peine au sortir
de l'enfance.'
81 knew nothing about Joseph or OF
Mehul, and consequently was neither
troubled nor intimidated by any re-
collection. One can easily imagine
the little ardor | felt for my Latin
theme at that moment of musical rap
ture. At the following recess my COM
position was done. In haste l ran to
the professor.
What is it now, my child?' said
/ he.
Z" Sir. my composition is DONE.
What? already?'
4" Yes, sir.
+" Now, let's hear you sing that for
me.
" But, sir, it will be necessary to
have piano accompany me-. Il knew
that there was piano in the next
room.)
No. said he. it is not necessary;
we won't need piano..
+" But, sir. l will need it, for my
barmonies. "Whatl your harmoniesl
Anu WHcI0 arc bnOps tn0eO plCOiouo
harmonies?'
g" Here. sir, said ], putting finger
on my forehead.
Well, never mind. sing on; will
be able to Judge without the har-
monies.
81 saw that it was useless to insist,
and that must obey; SO sang
81 was hardly through with the half
of the first strophe when l noticed that
the expression of my judges eye had
become softened. That encouraged
me- l began to feel that victory was
coming to my side. l continued with
confidence, and when ] had finished
the principal said to me, Now let us
go to the piano.
From that moment / triumphed.
! had all my arms in hand. re-
commenced my little exercise, and at
the close poor M. Poison was con-
quered. With tears in his eyes, he
took my head in his two hands, kissed
me and said:
Go, my child; compose musicp'