MOZART.



DOUBTLESS all the readers have heard of the wonderful musician, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He was born in Salzberg, Germany, Jan. 27, 1756. Wolfgang, or Woferl, as he was familiarly called, had a sister Nannerl, five years older than himself. When very young, both these children showed evidence of great musical capabilities. Woferl wrote some music in his exercise book when only five years old, and once his father surprised him while composing a concerto so difficult that no one in the world could have played it. His sister, too, made extraordinary progress in music; and when they were six and ten years of age, their father began to travel with them, "to let the world see," he said, "these wonders of God."  In his sixth year, young Mozart learned to play the violin, and soon after that, the organ. In Heidelberg, Woferl's little feet flew about on the pedals so rapidly that the clergyman made a record of it on the organ itself.

In 1764, he visited London, where he was enthusiastically received. His first symphonies were written during this long stay here. After this journey with his father and sister, which lasted two years, he returned to Salzberg. He had kept a diary during the whole of his journey, and the lessons he learned from his contact with so many different nations and styles of music, were of the greatest benefit to him in after years. Mozart was a Roman Catholic, but a good Christian, and when twelve years old, he conducted a solemn mass at the consecration of a church. At the same time the Emperor Joseph of Italy engaged him to write an opera, La Finta Semplice, "Simulated Simplicity." This opera awoke much malicious envy among his fellow-musicians, which caused him great sorrow, and helped to bring his life to an early close.

From this time until he was twenty years old, he wrote music and studied the art among the different nations; and ere long his fame was worldwide.

When he had learned all there was to be learned from the masters, and henceforth he must dispense his gifts to the world.  

On the 28th of May, 1787, he lost his beloved father, and from this time he grew more sad and meditative, and wrote many touchingly sad pieces about death and the better life beyond. His last effort was the liequiem, a. funeral dirge, but he died before it was completed. One of his pupils, however, finished it according to the instructions Mozart had given him before his death, and it was sung at his own funeral.

Thus ended the life of one of the greatest and grandest men that ever lived. And when Jesus shall call his sleeping ones from their lowly graves, I hope to see Mozart, and hear from his own lips the grand music that has died away in the mists of time.  



MARY A. STEWARD.