QUITE A PRODIGY.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Issue 3941, 8 July 1918, Page 4

QUITE A PRODIGY.

A certain woman in a country district had a little girl who could play a number of lively tunes on the piano with one finger. The mother doted on this accomplishment of her only daught«r, and regarded her as a genius.

One day a lady called, and, noticing the piano, asked if either of them could play the instrument.

"Oh 1, yes," said the fond mother, "Mary plays the piano." The visitor said' she would be delighted if the little girl would play for her.

Mary did so, much' to the secret amusement of the visitor, who was a doctor of music. However, as the mother took such pride in her little girl's "accomplishment," she refrained from making any discouraging opfcorvutions. The lady then herself played on the piano, giving delightful renditions of .Wagner, Mozarfc, and Chopin.

The same evening, when telling hei friends of the visit of this lady,, the mother of the "precocious" youngste?' remarked: —

"Of course, Mrs. Smith is not a ba4 player, but not at all as clever as my Mary. Mrs. Smith had to use all ho; fingers on both hor hands, but Mary oould do it with one finger. I think our Mary must be one of those infant prodigies we often read about in the news papers."