. St. Nicholas [serial]. of fairygodfather, for, if he had nt come to ask him toplay, the splendid clothes would not have beenbought. It was still fifteen days until the ap-pointed night, and it seemed as if they wouldnever pass. He began to think that men who sayFebruary is the shortest month in the year are I9i6.] THE WONDER-CHILD OF WARSAW 389 mistaken, and that surely it is the longest, for al-though the day would wane and the night wouldcome, there was always another day and thenanother night, and still no concert time. But atlast the much desired occasion came, and ar-rayed in his velvet
. St. Nicholas [serial]. of fairygodfather, for, if he had nt come to ask him toplay, the splendid clothes would not have beenbought. It was still fifteen days until the ap-pointed night, and it seemed as if they wouldnever pass. He began to think that men who sayFebruary is the shortest month in the year are I9i6.] THE WONDER-CHILD OF WARSAW 389 mistaken, and that surely it is the longest, for al-though the day would wane and the night wouldcome, there was always another day and thenanother night, and still no concert time. But atlast the much desired occasion came, and ar-rayed in his velvet suit with its splendid collar hewalked across the stage of the concert-hall, asproud as a young prince. applauded with hand and voice. Even the GrandDuke Constantine, who seldom gave praise to anyone, called Bravo! bravo! while the noble whohad blamed Niemcewicz for bringing the boythere, sought the poets side and exclaimed,Surely he is Polands wonder-child, even as lit-tle Mozart was Austrias! Have him come outagain !. HE SCARCELY BKEATHEU, FOK CATALANI WAS SINGING. (SEE NE.\T PAGE.) The great lords and ladies in the audiencelooked surprised. He was small for his age, andso slender and delicate that he looked youngerthan he was, and one powerful noble said in aloud whisper, Why does Niemcewicz bring us tohear a baby when he might have had a man whocould play well ? And he expected to be very much annoyed. Little Frederic sat down and began to play, firstsomewhat hesitatingly, for the piano was not theaccustomed one of his home, and the action wasa trifle strange. But in a moment the keys andhis fingers seemed to understand each other, andhe played as never a child of Warsaw had playedbefore. The lords and ladies in the audience satvery straight and very still, and, when he finished, So the child played again to the silently listen-ing throng, after which the applause thunderedonce more and some of the ladies had tears intheir eyes. And what thought little Frederic? Oh, he was
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Keywords: ., bookauthordodgemar, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookyear1873
