east of me and
unmuffled himself, he called out to my driver to stop. It was the
leader, and he said to me, 'Well, now that you are a celebrated
violinist, remember that, when I heard you play Paganini, I predicted
that your career would be a remarkable one.' 'You were mistaken,' I
cried, jumping up; 'I did not read that Paganini at sight; I had played
it before.' 'It makes no difference; good-by,' and he urged on his
horse, and in a minute the leader was gone."

II.

To please his father, Ole Bull studied assiduously to fit himself for
the preliminary examination of the university, but he found time also to
pursue his beloved music. At the age of eighteen he was entered at the
University of Christiania as a candidate for admission, and went to that
city somewhat in advance of the day of ordeal to finish his studies.
He had hardly entered Christiania before he was seduced to play at a
concert, which beginning gave full play to the music-madness beyond all
self-restraint. As a result Ole Bull was "plucked," and at first he
did not dare write to his father of this downfall of the hopes of the
paternal Bull.

We are told that he found consolation from one of the very professors
who had plucked him. "It's the best thing could have happened to you,"
said the latter, by way of encouragement.

"How so?" inquired Ole.

"My dear fellow," was the reply, "do you believe you are a fit man for
a curacy in Finmarken or a mission among the Laps? Nature has made you a
musician; stick to your violin, and you will never regret it."

"But my father, think of his disappointed hopes," said Ole Bull.

"Your father will never regret it either," answered the professor.

As good fortune ordered for the forlorn youth, his musical friends did
not desert him, but secured for him the temporary position of director
of the Philharmonic Society of Christiania, the regular incumbent being
ill. On the death of the latter shortly afterward, Ole Bull was tendered
the place. As the new duties were very well paid, and relieved the youth
from dependence on his father's purse, further opposition to his musical
career was withdrawn.

In the summer of 1829 Ole Bull made a holiday trip into Germany, and
heard Dr. Spohr, then director of the opera at Cassel. "From this
excursion," said one of Ole Bull's friends, "he returned completely
disappointed. He had fancied that a violin-player like Spohr must be
a man who, by his personal appearance, by the p