2. Mozart executed his pieces with the greatest precision and delicacy of touch, and his progress was so rapid, that when only five years old he composed some little pieces

in strict accordance with the rules of counterpoint, which he played before his father, who thought them worthy of being preserved. His passion for music was so great that all his amusements were connected with it. Though much petted and caressed on account of his wonderful abilities, he lost none of his child-like simplicity, but continued loving and gentle in his manners and obedient in his conduct.

3. When Mozart was six years old his father took him

and his sister to Munich, where they performed before the Elector, and soon after they went to Vienna, where the children were presented at the Imperial Court. Their travels were extended to many of the chief towns of Europe, and lastly, to Paris, where they remained a considerable time. The brother and sister performed before the royal family at Versailles, and the former played the organ in the chapel royal. They also gave two grand public concerts, which excited great astonishment and admiration. Everywhere the family was treated with the utmost respect. At Paris, Mozart composed his first two works at the age of seven years.

4. On leaving Paris, in 1764, the Mozart family came to England, and had the honour of performing before the royal family. Several concerts were given which excited great interest in the wonderful abilities of this juvenile musician. While in England, young Mozart was put to several severe tests, and the manner in which he acquitted himself was very surprising. He played very difficult pieces at first sight, in a masterly manner, and exactly as the composer intended they should be-he sang parts with the utmost correctness, which his father failed to do, -and he composed extempore music for songs on different subjects; becoming so excited with his themes that he seemed quite unable to restrain his feelings.

5. After three years of travel, Mozart returned to his home in Salzburg, where he remained a few years. At the age of twelve he went again to Vienna. He gave several exhibitions before some noblemen and gentlemen of his skill in extemporaneous composition. At the consecration of the orphan house, he arranged all the music and had the entire direction placed in his hands. After another return home, the father and son travelled into Italy, being everywhere received with respect and ad

miration. At Rome, they attended the Sistine Chapel and heard the celebrated Miserere, the music of which was not allowed to be copied. Young Mozart, on his return to his lodgings, wrote it all down from memory, and took the score with him on another occasion to correct it. When this feat became known, it made so much noise that he was requested to sing it with an accompaniment on the harpsichord, at a concert at which Christophori, who had sung it in church, was present, and who by his astonishment rendered young Mozart's triumph complete.

6. At his father's death, Mozart received the appointment of concert-master to the Prince-archbishop, but after he had held it two years, he went to Vienna and was appointed chapel-master to the Emperor Joseph. His progress and fame continued to keep pace with the expectations of the public to the end of his life. Premature genius, however, seldom enjoys a long career. The health of Mozart began rapidly to decline. In the few months preceding his decease, he was unusually diligent, producing three of his best works. Mozart was exceedingly rapid in composition. On one occasion an opera which he had written, was to be performed the next evening. All the parts had been prepared and rehearsed, but the overture was not even begun. Mozart spent the preceding day in the country, and remained out late. He came home, slept for two hours, then began his work. The overture was completed before breakfast and the copyists had scarcely time to write out the score. A rehearsal was out of the question. The orchestra, however, acquitted themselves so well that it was received with thunders of applause.

7. Mozart's last work was composed when he was conscious the hand of death was upon him. A stranger

called and requested that he would compose as speedily as possible, a requiem to soothe the last hours of a dying prince. He left double the price Mozart asked to insure expedition. The composer began his work, in the progress of which he felt his mind unusually agitated. He employed not only the day but much of the night in the composition of it, with which he seemed to be infatuated. He wrote portions of it after he was no longer able to rise from his bed, and told his wife he was writing it for himself. It was arranged that it should be performed in his chamber, but the performance had not proceeded far, when he was so affected by it, the musicians desisted. He finished it on the day of his death, and speaking to his wife, with tears in his eyes, he said, "Did I not tell you I was writing this for myself?" Mozart died in his thirtysixth year.

Salzburg, a town in Upper
Austria 156 miles W.S.W.
Vienna.

harpsichord, a musical instru-
ment with strings of wire played
by means of keys; a kind of
old form of piano.
minuets, slow dance music.
counterpoint, harmony of parts
to a melody, so called because
harmony was formerly noted
by points.

Munich, the capital of Bavaria.
Versailles, near Paris.

extempore, on the spur of the moment.

Sistine Chapel, where the car-
dinals meet in conclave to
elect a pope.

premature, very early, or before
it might be expected.
overture, the preliminary music
to an opera.

requiem, a solemn piece of music
suitable for a death-bed or a
funeral.
infatuated,

reason.

uncontrolled by

At what age did Mozart show an interest in music? What were his musical abilities at the age of five years? did he accomplish in England? Describe his at Rome. When was his requiem written? circumstances.

What wonderful feats great accomplishment Describe some of the

FOWLING IN THE ORKNEYS.

1. Many of the islands which stud the sea around the north and west coasts of Scotland are remarkable for the stern grandeur of their precipitous cliffs. One might almost imagine that the surges of the mighty Atlantic, dashing against them for ages with unbroken fury, had undermined their solid foundations, and worn for themselves numerous passages, leaving only columnar rocks of vast height, detached from one another, though of similar formation and construction.

2. Such a rock is the Holm of Noss, apparently severed from the isle of Noss, from which it is about a hundred feet distant; but the cliffs are of stupendous height, and far below in the narrow gorge, the raging sea boils and foams, so that the beholder can scarcely look downwards without horror. But stern necessity impels men to enterprises from which the boldest would otherwise shrink. To obtain a scanty supply of coarse food for himself and family, the hardy inhabitant of the Orkneys dares even the terrors of the Holm of Noss.

3. In a small boat, with a companion or two, he seeks the base of the cliffs; and leaving them below, he fearlessly climbs the precipice, and gains the summit. A thin stratum of earth is found on the top, into which he drives some strong stakes; and having descended and performed the same operation on the opposite cliff, he stretches the rope from one to the other, and tightly fastens it. On this rope a sort of basket, called a cradle, is made to traverse, and the adventurous islander now commits himself to the frail car, and, suspended between sea and sky, hauls himself backward and forward by means of a line.

4. And do you ask what prize can tempt man to incur