JENNY LIND'S CHILDHOOD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 15, 17 January 1879, Page 4

JENNY LIND'S CHILDHOOD.

There was once a poor plain little sir I, dwelling in a little room in Stock, holm, tbe capital of Sweden. She was a poor little girl indeed, then; she was lonciy and neglected, nnd would bave been very oobappy. deprived of the kindness and care so necessary to a child if it bad not heen for a peculiar gift. The little girl had a fine voice, and in her loneliness, in trouble or sorrow, she consoled herself by piDgiog. In fact, she sung io all she did, at her work, nt her play, running or resting, she always song. The woman who had her in care went out to work during the day, and used to lock in the little girl, who had nothing to enliven her solitude but the company of a cat. The little girl played with the cat nnd sang. Once she sat by tbe open window and stroked her cat and sang, when a lady passed by. She heard the vioee, and looked up aod saw the littla singer. She asked tbe child several questions, went away, and came back S3»ersl days later, followed by an old music master whose name waa Crelius. He tried tbe little girl's musical enr and voice and was astonished. He took her to the manager of the Boyal Opera bt Stockholm, then a Couot Puhe, whose truly generous and kind heart was concealed by a rough speech and a morbid temper. Crelius introduced his little pupil to the count, and asked bim to engage her as eleve for the opera. " You ask a foolish thing," said tbe count gruffly, looking disdainfully down on the poor little girl. " What sball we do with that thing? She will never be presentable. No — we cannot take her. Away with her!" The music master insietad almost indignantly. "Well," exclaimed be at last, "if yoa will not take her, poor aa I am, I will take her myself, and have her educated for the scenej then, soch another ear as she has for music is not to be found in the world." Tho count relented. The little girl was at last admitted into the school for el eves at the opera, and with some difficulty a simple gown of black bombazine was procured for her. — Frederika Bremer,