"Thank you, Alice," he said at the close of my second performance; "you are a good child, and now I will sing you a song in return." And instantly the gentleman assumed the most comical expression I had ever seen, placed his hands on his knees, and began to sing. I have now no recollection of the words or the air, but I remember dancing and rolling about in ecstacies of mirth. He seemed to tie up every feature into knots, his mouth extended itself from car to car, and his words poured forth as if he had a dozen tongues.

I have said that had a little girl like me. And then he took me on these are my earliest his knee, and kissed my cheek, and showed me his recollections; but I watch; and so winning my confidence with gentle seemed even then to words, persuaded me to sing to him again. He have dim remem-listened to me very attentively; and when I had brances, broken and done, asked me to repeat it. My childish vanity shadowy enough, of was pleased for the first time, and I sung one of a time long before. my father's brilliant pieces. They were not so much remembrances, either, as reflections from a faded light, like images mirrored dreamily in water. Fragments of old rhymes and fairy stories floated in my mind, mingled with the tones of a soft voice; and these I In the midst of a torrent of volubility on the part used to strive to sum- of the gentleman, and my shrill peals of laughter, mon back again, and the door opened suddenly, and my father walked in. loved to connect the The stranger started, and his face became instantly scattered links with transformed to its previous mild good-natured rethe weavings of my pose: the merriment died away upon my lips; my own fancy. Some- father looked sternly amazed; and as he advanced times too, when I towards the visitor, reddened, and bowed with some was lying in my bed, with the moonlight streaming formality. in through the uncurtained window, I woke from pleasant dreams in which I seemed to see a gentle face, forgotten, yet familiar, and then slept to dream again.

I.

MY earliest recollections—and they are of many
I was very young at this time; not more, I should
years ago, for I am no longer young-carry fancy, than seven years of age; but I never knew
The
me back to a dark and dirty room in the neighbor- the exact date of my birth, nor do I now.
hood of Drury Lane. The ceiling was smoke- house in which we lived was let out from kitchen
stained, the paper faded and torn, and the windows, to attic. The ground-floor and shop belonged to a
from never being cleaned, admitted no prospect and Jew, who made up clothing for the stage, and kept
scarcely any sunshine from without. There was a all kinds of hideous masks, glittering dresses,
battered pianoforte in one corner, of that old-fash- swords, and fearful things, for hire. If ever I went
ioned kind I knew afterwards was called a clavecin. out into the street, I hurried past his door with un-
This was crowded with heaps of yellow dusty mu- controllable terror. I cannot even now recall, with-
sic. There was also a bass viol, several violins, cut a shudder, the hideous laugh with which he
and my father's music-desk, for he was a musician, lay in wait for my return, thrusting his yellow face
and played in the band of Drury Lane Theatre. I through the half-opened door, and asking me if I
also recollect that a portrait of Mrs. Billington, and would not give one little kiss to old Soloman!
a print of David Garrick were suspended on the I had a beautiful voice. I used to sing for hours
walls, and that my father's easy-chair was gene- in the day, and delighted, in my father's absence,
rally occupied by a large black cat, the dearest play- to repeat, in my clear childish treble, the airs and
fellow of my childhood. I was a lonely, mother-brilliant variations I sometimes heard him practis-
less, neglected little creature, without amusement ing upon the violin. From daily exercise in this
and without education. I could not read. There amusement, I attained to such proficiency that I
were some dusty volumes lying about with curious could warble the most difficult bravura passages
frontispieces, and portraits of a past generation of with perfect fluency.
actors in strange dresses, scattered at long intervals
amid their pages. These I used to look at day by
day with hopeless admiration and perplexity, and
turn over leaf after leaf of those mysterious printed "Go on, my dear," said he with the kindest smile
characters which had no meaning for my eyes, till in the world; "go on, and sing that pretty tune
I wept for very ignorance and shame. I used now again for me."
and then to see my father reading the newspaper
on a Sunday morning, and sometimes smiling over
its contents. I never dared to ask him if I might
learn to do the same, for he was harsh and cold,
and seldom seemed aware even of my presence;
but I have sat for many a silent hour and watched
the motion of his eyes along the lines with inex-
pressible longing.

"You are surprised to find me here, Hoffmann," said he, blushing also; "but I came to see Soloman down stairs about some properties, and hearing your child's voice singing overhead, I stole up stairs to listen to her."

"It is a poor place for you to enter, Mr. Grimaldi," said my father, proudly.

"Poor, with this little treasure in it !" exclaimed Mr. Grimaldi, taking me by the hand: "I should think my home rich if I possessed her!" What a magnificent voice the child has !"

"Indeed?" said my father, with a glance of cold surprise. "I never heard her sing a note!"

The strange gentleman whistled and stared, and looked from my father's face to mine with a curious expression of bewilderment.

My father turned stiffly towards me: "Can you sing, Alice?" he asked in a harsh tone.

I faltered, and looked down; but my friend an swered for me.

Sing now," said my father peremptorily.

I felt as if I could not utter a note, if I were to be

killed for it the next moment; but the gentleman saw my embarrassment, and kindly whispered some words of encouragement and praise in my ear. I began the air I had last been singing; but, alas! at One morning as I was singing thus, the door the fourth or fifth bar, my voice and memory failed; opened slowly and softly, and a gentleman looked I trembled, stopped, and burst into a passion of in.

I was silent.

tears.

"Pooh," said my father contemptuously, "the child can't sing. She has no more voice than my cat."

The driving wind and rain beat pitilessly that "What ! quite dumb?" said he, coming over and night against my chamber-window, as I lay shivertaking a seat opposite to me. "Well, if you willing upon my little bed, and sobbed myself to sleep.

not sing, tell me your name."

The gentleman's voice and eyes were so pleasant, that I contrived to stammer: "Alice Hoffmann."

II.

I KNOW not how it happened, but my father

shortly after this discovered that I could sing.

He looked surprised, and told me that he knew my father quite well, but had never supposed he I imagine that he must have listened at the doors,

"It was winter-time. My father was out as usual. I had a scanty fire burning in the grate, which the old woman who waited on the lodgers from time to time replenished. I never was permitted to have a candle, so I used to sit singing, or strumming on the old clavecin by the faint firelight, till I felt tired or sorrowful enough to go up stairs to bed very weary, so I raked the ashes out somewhat earlier than usual, crept up softly to my room, and soon fell into a profound and dreamless sleep.

I might have been there some three or four hours, when I was roused by a heavy hand laid upon my shoulder, and a bright light before my eyes. 'Alice," said a stern loud voice; "Alice, get up directly!"

I was so terrified and confused, that I scarcely understood a word; I did not even know where I was, and I began to cry.

"Stop that noise, child," said my father in a deep smothered voice that I used to dread; "get up and dress directly. Do you hear? Be quick!" And giving me a parting shake, with a half-uttered threat, he laid the candle down, and left the room. Breathless, weeping, and frightened. I obeyed his directions. The night was very cold, and seemed to pierce through me on leaving my warm bed. I strove to wash the traces of tears from my cheeks, and glanced at the window. All without was intensely black, and a thick mist was drizzling against the panes. I heard my father's step upon

the stairs.

"What may be her age now ?" asked the stranger. "Six or seven, I suppose," replied my father with an odd smile; "but we'll call it five, Mr. Smith, or four if you like best. No one will be likely to search the register."

And then they both laughed; but I was ready to cry again, for I felt so apprehensive. I believe my fears were chiefly that I was going to be sold and carried away, so mere a child was I then! "Well, Hoffmann, let's hear her first," said the stranger when he had done laughing.

"No time like the present," said Mr. Smith: "let had given me money when I was taken away, and her begin to-night." many had kissed me, and said: "Good-night, little 'To-night!" exclaimed my father; "but it's past one;" and my heart was lighter and my pockets heavier than I had ever known either before.

eleven !"

"No matter-they never go till three or four in the morning."

The next morning, very early, my father took me home, and at night we went again He was now

"Put on your bonnet, child," said my father; "we kinder to me in his manner, though I was not perare going out."

It was summer-time. I was at home in the middle

mitted to keep the money I nightly received in the O how wet, and 'cold, and slippery it was out in way of presents; and I never had the doll. I canthe dark streets! Not a shop was open-scarcely a not tell how long I continued to sing at the tavern. creature stirring, save now and then a solitary The first night seems burnt into my memory, with watchman. I remember that dreadful night as well its hopes and fears, griefs and pleasures; but of the as if it were yesterday: the standing pools of water succeeding evenings my recollection is very imperin the pavement-the long dark streets-the pale fect. They seem all blended confusedly together; flickering oil-lamps-the misty rain that clung to my but I imagine, from the seasons of the year, that I hair, and wet my clothes nearly through-the cold must have been in the regular habit of going there raw wind, and the coaches that once or twice rattled for six months, when an event occurred that changed past us on the way. It was a long, long distance the whole course of my life. that we went-down so many streets and turnings that my limbs ached, and I thought we never should arrive. Then we crossed a long bridge over a broad bright river, with the rain misting down upon the water, and stopped at last before the door of a large shop, with all its shutters closed, and a lamp hang. ing outside. Mr. Smith knocked heavily upon the door, and a sleepy-looking man opened it and admitted us. The moment we were inside, I heard a great noise of people talking and laughing, a jingling of glasses, and a sound like beating upon wood. "Alice," said my father, stooping down and putting his lips close to my ear, "you are going to sing presently. Do your best, and you shall have a doll; break down, and'- He said no more, but his

voice and look was enough.

In another moment I found myself in a room full of company, and brilliantly lighted. At first, the noise, the heated atmosphere, the glare, the clouds of tobacco-smoke, and the terror I experienced, deprived me of all powers of observation: but when some moments had elapsed, I began to look round and examine the features of my audience. My father had taken a seat near the end of the table, and I was placed beside him. Mr. Smith was a long way off at the head of the table, and his appearance

was welcomed with great thumping and the rattle of

glasses. All the company consisted of men, and
most of them looked merry and good-natured.

Then Mr. Smith stood up, and said something about my father, and a great deal about me, and I was called upon to sing. I distinctly recollect an old gentleman lifting me up, and placing me standing on a chair, that I might be seen and heard. In doing so, he found how cold and wet I was, and gave me something to taste out of his glass. Whatever it was, it did me good at the time; the faces around me looked smiling and pleasant, and I sang as well as I could. Then there was such a shouting and jingling and clapping, that I was almost frightened at first, and thought the gentlemen were angry; but I found, instead, that they wanted another song Then I sang again, and, having another sip from my friend's tumbler, felt very merry and warm indeed, and became quite happy. I do not know how many times I could have sung that night, but at last my father said I should not go on any longer, and I was carried into another room, and laid upon a sofa, with "Then it is settled, Smith," said my father tri-a covering of heavy coats to keep me warm, where I umphantly; "and when shall we begin?" soon fell sound asleep. Almost all the gentlemen

Sing a song, Alice," said my father; "and mind, if you behave now as you did the other day, I'll turn you out of doors into the street!"

The alarm which this threat occasioned me had the effect of giving me a sort of desperate courage. I sang, I know not what; but the stranger nodded his head and rubbed his hands, and my father, instead of scolding me, began talking earnestly with him in an under-tone for some minutes.

of the day, when Mr. Grimaldi, whom I had never seen since the first time he came, entered the room abruptly, and sat down beside me.

"Little Alice," said he, and his kind face was pale and troubled, "you must put your bonnet on and come out with me."

I timidly said that I dared not, for I had to go out with my father at night.

"Ah yes I know-poor child, poor child," he muttered; "what a life-what degradation !—But, indeed, you must come, Alice," he continued; "I am going to take you to my house, and we have no time to lose." I longed to go with him; but I was afraid my father would be angry.

"No, Alice,” he replied gravely, and kissing my forehead, "your father will not be angry, my child."

So I went. There was a chaise at the door into

which he lifted me, and then drove rapidly away. As we turned the corner of the street, I saw a crowd coming along, surrounding four watchmen, who were carrying what seemed to me to be a sleeping

man upon a narrow board; but Mr. Grimaldi laid his hand suddenly over my eyes, and I felt the hand

tremble. When he removed it we were in another street, and the crowd had disappeared. I asked

him why he did so; but he made no reply. We then went along through many streets and roads,

out into the country, among green fields, and lanes, and cottages, to a pretty house, where a lady came out and welcomed us. She seemed surprised at seeing me, but her husband whispered in her ear, and then she kissed me too, and took me into the garden, and seemed very kind, but very sorry for me; and that I could not understand. I was very happy indeed, and delighted with everything I saw ; but every moment I dreaded to hear my father's angry voice inquiring for me, and this fear damped all my enjoyment.

But I never heard that voice in praise or blame again. My father was not angry with me for going away with Mr. Grimaldi into the green fields, for he was dead, and that was his body I had seen borne along the streets, on its way home from the theatre, where he had expired.

III.

ALTHOUGH my father had never shown me affec

tion, I was as much grieved at hearing of my loss as any child can be that does not understand the

meaning of that strange word-death. But Mr. and Mrs. Grimaldi were such kind and gentle friends, that I fear I soon forgot him. At first, too, I am ashamed to say, I regretted the nightly excitement of the tavern-the cakes, the presents, the applause. Mrs. Grimaldi was the first to discover how utterly ignorant I was; and I often heard her speaking with her husband on the subject. One day when he came home after a morning rehearsal at Drury Lane, he called me to him, and taking me upon his knee, said: Little Alice, you are going to school." Away from here?" I cried in terror, for I was perfectly happy now, and never wished to leave my adopted home.

66

"Yes, Alice," said he kindly; "a long way from here. Don't cry, my darling; people must learn to read and write; and I have been speaking about you at the theatre among your poor father's old friends, and they have all offered to pay for your going to a beautiful school, where music is taught, and where you will learn to make good use of that pretty voice of yours, little Alice. Don't cry, Alice" -for I was sobbing as if my heart would break. "You will be very happy, Alice, for there are many learners in this school, all of whom will be players and singers by and by; and so will you; and it is in a beautiful country called Germany."

"But can't I come and see you every Sunday, Mr. Grimaldi?" said I, clasping my arms about his neck, and weeping still. My friend laughed, and told me it was impossible, for Germany was a great way off across the sea; and then he told me about the vineyards and castles, and the river Rhine! and soon made me forget my grief at the prospect of departure.

However, when the time came that I must go, I was almost distracted with sorrow. I was taken in a coach from Finchley, where Mr. Grimaldi lived, back to London, and through some dirty streets to a dark gloomy wharf, where was a trading vessel, with its busy sailors, bales of goods, and thronging

porters crowding all the deck. My kind friend put me on board, kissed me a great many times, and with tears in his eyes bade me farewell.

I was very unhappy; and when we set sail, very ill. I remember lying in my berth, and crying for grief and sickness through many days and nights. At length the motion of the ship grew less uneasy, and one morning, when I awoke, the vessel was quite still. We had arrived at Rotterdam.

There was a great noise on board, for the vessel

and sailors, and warehouses, and cranes, and high
houses, and a city with steeples, and a river, and
ships, and a confusion of voices all speaking a
strange tongue, so that I was quite frightened, and
clung to the captain's hand. Then he took me to a
tavern, where we dined, with a number of other
people, at a long table; and he told me it was a
table d'hôte; but I did not know what that meant,
unless it had something to do with the dinner, where
we had jam with our meat and vegetables, and thin
soup and sour cabbages, none of which I could like
at all.

between both of hers. "And so you are our little new friend, Alice Hoffman, my dear?" she said in good English, though with a foreign accent: "welcome to your new home. Try to like it and be happy, and we shall all love you." And then the lady kissed me on both cheeks, and led me up stairs to a room like a long gallery, with a row of ten little bedsteads, with clean white draperies and coverlids. Here, she said, the eight young girls whom I had seen slept at night; and my bed was the last one next the window. She then helped me to change my dusty travelling-clothes, and took me back to the sitting-room, where we supped.

After this we went to a coach-office, where he
paid some money for me; and then into a yard,
where a great unwieldy vehicle was standing, and
horses were being harnessed to it. There the cap-handed me a book:
tain gave me a ticket, which he said secured my
place all the way; a paper in a little case, which he
told me was my passport; a purse with some
money; and a bag of sweet biscuits. Then he put
me into a comfortable corner inside the coach, and
shaking my hand very kindly, bade me good-bye,
and went away.

When the meal was over, the youngest of the
party read prayers aloud in German, and the lady
"There is an English psalm-
book for you, my child," she said kindly, and I
blushed and trembled, for I could not read, and I
was ashamed to say so. I saw her glance keenly
at me, and then at the book, and I felt that she had
guessed my secret, but she said nothing. When
we rose from our knees, she kissed us all upon both
checks, and we went to bed. There was only one
Now I was more lonely than ever. It was getting in the room who could speak a little English, and
evening; two or three other passengers took their this young girl occupied the bed next to mine.
places inside, but not one spoke a word of English; She told me that the eldest scholars slept in this
the hostlers and postboy shouted; the horses made dormitory, but that I was placed with them because
a great clattering, and away we went. I soon fell I was a foreigner, as it was feared that I might be
asleep, waking only now and then to find that it teased by others of my own age, who could not
was dark night, and that all my companions were understand a word of my language. She told me,
asleep likewise. The next morning we got out at a also, that the academy held twenty boys and twenty
dirty inn, in a dirty village, and great herds of girls; that pupils came from the most distant parts
cattle, over and over again. So with the same of Germany, so high was the musical reputation of
routine we travelled for some days; when one the school; that our matron's name-the lady whom
morning we all had to shew our passports, and I had seen-was Madame Kloss; that we lived in
allow our boxes to be opened by a company of sol- the dominions of the Grand Duke Leopold of
diers. I afterwards knew that we then passed the Schwartzenfelden; and-and-a great deal more,
frontier, and went into Germany; but at the time I but I fell asleep.
could not tell what it all meant, and discerned no
difference in the strange language.

The scenery from that period became more beau

tiful, and for the first time I beheld mountains, I
vineyards, and waterfalls. But the perpetual tra-
velling by night and day wearied me so much, that
at last I scarcely heeded where we went. After
passing through many towns and cities, we came
one evening to a pretty town with churches and
white buildings, at the foot of a steep acclivity; and
here they made me understand that I was to alight,
for I was at Schwartzenfelden.

I was put down at a large hotel, my box was
deposited by my side, the coach rolled away through
the narrow streets, and I was left alone. Presently
a waiter came out and spoke to me; but finding
that I could not reply, he examined my boxes, and

IV.

would be superflous to dwell very minutely on

those years of education, school pleasures, and school griefs, that like a bridge, unite child-life to womanhood. The sketch of a day, of a week, would suffice for the picture of years. Time passed gently on; and amid the same round of occupations, the same friends, the same teachers, and, with few exceptions, the same schoolfellows, I grew in age and knowledge till the lapse of ten happy years found me in the first bloom of youth, hope, and ambition. My voice, from the first, had been highly esteemed by Herr Schnieder, our singing-master. Ten years of skilful tuition had developed it into a soprano of such sweetness, flexibility, and compass as, it was

was unlading; and when I ventured up on deck, the captain told me rather gruffly that I had better keep down in the cabin till he could take me on shore. Once a gentleman, with an account-book in his hand and a pen behind his ear, came down and seeing my name and the subjoined address, smiled said, had never before been heard within the walls

on my box.

of the academy.

Nor, though the education afforded by the acade

asked me what I was doing there, and if I were and nodded, and led me into the house. In the not going to my friends on shore. And I cried, and entrance-hall I found a man in a kind of livery, who said I did not know. So he looked at the direction took my box in one hand and me by the other, and my was expressly musical, were the more plain and so went out and along the streets. We stopped not less necessary branches of knowledge neglected. soon before a high wall, where there was a large French, English, and Italian were taught in the wooden gate, or rather, two folding doors, with two best manner; together with writing, arithmetic, and enormous knockers. This was opened to us by a geography. On Sundays, we all went hand in second man in the same livery, and I found myself hand, and two by two, to the neighboring church, in a square courtyard, leading to a large white man- and with our youthful voices swelled the solemn sion. I was shewn into a spacious parlor, where hymns and sweet responses. In the evening, we an elderly lady and eight young girls were sitting read aloud by turns from the Bible, or perhaps at needle-work. The lady rose and took my hand some pious discourse translated from Isaac Milner,

"Schwartzenfelden!" he exclaimed; ". why, that is a long way from here, little traveller. Who is to take care of you across the country?" But I could only say I did not know; so he shrugged his shoulders, and walked away again.

By and by the captain came down for me, and we went across a plank on a large quay, where there were a great many people, and more bales of goods,

and some times a few pages from Klopstock's Messiah. On Wednesdays, we had a half-holiday, when we made little excursions to the forest or the river-side; and at night we had cream-cake for

supper

Such was the school when I entered it-a lonely, ignorant, fatherless child, sent out by the bounty of strangers. Such was it at the time when I resume my narrative, when I was perhaps seventeen or eighteen years of age. I had heard at long intervals

during this period from my kind friend and patron,

Mr. Grimaldi, and always with the same unwearied kindness and paternal solicitude. His letters, coming seldom, told of many changes-of domestic sorrow, of sickness, of a checkered and a fatiguing life. At last they ceased altogether; and after a time I heard that he was dead. I grieved much for him, and often. To this day, I think of him with love and gratitude. So ended all my connection, for life, with

the country of my birt

Herr Stolberg was the first musician of our quarter of Germany. He held the appointment of chapelmaster to the Grand Duke, examined the classes of the academy in harmony every month, and we were all in great awe of his celebrity, his red ribbon, his quick black eyes, his harsh voice, and his impatient temper. His compositions were singulary affecting; as a contrapuntist, he was, perhaps, not excelled even by the greatest masters; he had studied under Beethoven, won the golden medal at the Strasbourg Festival, and had lately produced an oratorio on the anniversary of the Grand Duke's wedding-day!

:

"Was I not right, Fräulein Alice?" said Herr Stolberg, as he came over to me, after speaking for moment with the Grand Duke. "Take my arm that

and peace passed suddenly into my breast. I wept.
I could have sung then, and sung as I had for days
but faintly pictured to myself. But I would not
break the enchanted silence of the place. I hastened I may introduce you to his Highness. He says it is
back to the academy, and remained in the library unnecessary for the two other candidates to sing, for
alone till I was summoned to dress for the evening. he has selected you."
There were five competitors besides myself. Three
sang very well, and the other two indifferently. The
best was a young girl named Rebecca Leo. Her
father was a Jewish merchant and money-lender in

V.

WITH the appointment of first soprano to the

the town, and was reported to be wealthy. Rebecca WITH

was not so happy in the school as most of us, for I
regret to say that many of the pupils avoided the
Jewess, whose father they called Der Wucherer.
We had often done each other little kindnesses. She
was lonely. I pitied her, and she was grateful for

my attention.

At six o'clock we were in the music hall. Herr Stolberg sat at the piano; the students occupied benches at the extremity of the room; Madame Kloss and the teachers were ranged along one side of the platform and we, the performers at the other. At a quarter past six the Grand Duke entered with his suite-the list of our names was placed before him, and we began. My name was the fourth in succession, so I had some little time to wait. The first candidate began—I strove in vain to recall the feelings of the morning-I felt my breath flutter and my whole frame trembling I tried to read the words, in the vain effort to abstract my thoughts to their exalted sense.

Alas! the letters swam befor

my eyes, and it was with difficulty I could restrain
my tears. A gentle hand was laid upon my arm
"It is your turn, Alice," said Rebecca.

saw Herr Stolberg gazing at me with an unwonted
cordiality in his dark eyes. He pretended to be
arranging some music near where my hand was laid.

:

a

I was sitting one morning in the class with some of my elder schoolfellows, when the door opened suddenly, and Herr Stolberg walked in, accompanied I rose and crossed to the piano-the Grand Duke by Madame Kloss. He laid his hat on a table, and looked up and scrutinised me attentively-I thought drew a paper from his pocket. "Ladies," he said in I should have fallen, and laid my hand upon the inhis quick, decisive tone, I have the honor to inform strument for support; a hand was laid upon it and you that, in consequence of the departure of Made-instantly withdrawn. I turned involuntarily, and moiselle Uhden for Berlin, there will shortly be a vacancy for a first soprano in the choir of the Chapel Royal. It is the gracious pleasure of His Highness the Grand Duke to select a lady from this academy to fill the situation and I am therefore directed to announce to you, that as many as desire to compete will be heard on this day week in the music-room of the institution. A selection from the Messiah of Handel and the Creation of Haydn has been appointed for each candidate to sing; and His Highness will attend in person at your performance" -and Herr Stolberg laid the list of music on the desk of Madame Kloss, bowed once more all around, and left the room as abruptly as he had entered it. I need not say what an excitement raged among the soprani of the Schwartzenfelden Academy Royal of Music during the week that succeeded this announcement. Many of the girls said that it was useless to compete with me, since I had the finest voice there. But they practised, nevertheless; and nothing was heard from morning till night but the selections from Haydn and Handel. For my part, I scarcely sang a note. I felt that rest and thought would aid me better in that moment, which I knew was the most eventful of my life.

Chapel Royal, I also received that of subprofessor of singing to the academy, and was next in authority to my former master, Herr Schnieder. I was, consequently, removed from the pupils dormitory, and allowed a separate bed-chamber with a sitting-room attached. In the latter, a small piano was placed for my accommodation, and that of any private pupils whom I might obtain, and whom I was henceforth permitted, by the laws of the academy, to instruct. I had five or six before three weeks had elapsed. This unusual good-fortune was the result of my chapel-situation; for, on the departure of Mademoiselle Uhden, three families, where she had been a teacher of singing, had instantly transferred their patronage to me, as her successor.

Life was now all happiness, and fate seemed His Highness repeatedly honored smiling upon me. me with his approbation, and the Grand Duchess frequently sent for me when the evening service was concluded, to sing her favorite morceaux from the oratorios of Handel, and the masses of Mozart. They were a most unassuming and domestic couple dignified, it is true, but glad to lay aside the ceremonies of royalty, and in private, to place everybody around them at ease, and even ready themselves to take a part in a glee or a motett. At last, it became the rule for me to attend in the drawing-room every Sunday evening; and as Herr Stolberg was likewise invited, we went together. Thus we came to be—I had almost said friends, but that is not the word; for though the great maestro was, in his abrupt way, kind and even familiar, I could never forget his fame, his superior position, and the authority of his appointment in the palace. Besides, he was forty years of age, and to a girl of seventeen that appears no inconsiderable seniority. But there is another person whom I have hitherto delayed to name. I would break off even now, rather than But it is useless, and I can avoid it no longer.

“Fear nothing, Fräulien Alice," he muttered in low voice: "you alone are capable of the part." This strange encouragement from the formidable maestro almost took away my breath with surprise; in a moment he had commenced the symphony, and I began. I was so terrified that I know not how I sang the opening bars; indeed, I have no recollection of singing them at all. I was in a whirlwindThe Baron von Bachhoffen, master of the horse to concert-room, Grand Duke, music, all vanished from his Highness the Grand Duke, was the youngest before my eyes. After a few moments, I seemed to nobleman in the little band who composed the royal hear the silver notes of my own voice rising above the suite. I never sang in the chapel, but I saw him accompaniment, like a bird from the forest-as if it there. My attendance was never commanded at were some other person, and I were listening to the palace, but he was there also. The families them. Gradually this sensation left me; I fancied where I taught were of the first importance in the myself once more in the still wood, the sense and state, and frequently invited to the royal circle: majesty of the words seemed again unfolded to me, I seldom went to their houses, but I encountered him and the full tide of deep religious enthusiasm rushed either going or coming; and sometimes he would over my soul, and poured itself forth in the super-visit them when he knew that I was giving the human gladness of that inspired song in which the lesson. It would be useless for me to deny that these people of Zion are bidden to rejoice greatly!'

silent attentions dwelt more upon my mind than I When I had concluded, and resumed my seat, my would then confess even to myself. I tried not to heart was beating, it is true, but no longer with ap-think of them; I left myself no idle moments-I prehension. The other five looked from me to one another, the eyes of Madame Kloss were full of tears, and a burst of half-uttered bravos proceeded from the end of the hall where the male students were seated.

read, practised, conversed more than ever with my young friends in the academy, and fancied I succeeded. The baron was very young-not yet of age. His face was the most beautiful I have ever beheld,