THE SWEDISH NIGHTINGALE. '

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 80

THE SWEDISH NIGHTINGALE. '

A little Sforcdi&h girl was sitting in a. schoolroom at Stockholm. She was bru&hing and dusting and singing; for her mother had the care of the school. As she worked she sang like a bird in springtime. One day a lady was passing. The girl's song reached her ear, and the voice touched her heart. She stopped, and went back to seek tho little songster. "I must take your daughter to Oraelius," said the lady to her mother—"Craelius, the famous musio master. She has a voice that will make her fortune." "Make, her fortuae! Ah, what a great thing that woulcl be !" The lady took her to the musio niastsr, who was cleliglited 1 with her voice. He said, "1 must take her to Count Puche, a great judge in such matters.'' i Count Puche looked at her, and gruffly j asked what tho music master expected him to do for her. "Only hear iier sing," said CraeHus. Count Puchj condescended to do that, and the instant she had finished he said, "She shall have all tho advantages of Stockholm Academy!" So tho little girl's sweet voice- charmed' everybody. She sang and studied, v.nd studied and sang. She was not yet 12, and she was not :n danger of being spoiled. Ojjs evening she was announced to sing a .higher part than she had ever had, and one i^ had long been her ambition to reach. Thehousa was full, and everybody was looking out for the little favourite. Her time came; she was mute. She tried, but her silvery notes were gone. Her master was angiy, and her friends were 15lied with surprise end disappointment; and the littlo songsti ces cTrcoped with sorrow. Did her" voice come back tho next day? No, *ior the next, nor tho next; and so her dream of fame and future suddenly passed awiv. What a, disappointment! But she bore it meekly, and said, "I will study." Four years passed away, and the public had quite forgotten the little prodigy. One day another voice was wanted in an insignificant part of the choir, which none of the regular singers were willing to take. Craelius suddenly thought of his poor little scholar. Whilst practising her pa<rt, to the joy of both pupil and teacher, tho long-lc&t voice suddenly returned, with all its beauty and richness. What a delightful evening that was! All who remembered the little nightingale received her back with a hearty welcome. She was now 16. Can you guess lier , name ? It was Jennie Lind ! I