g composer were obliged to take rooms nearer
the Court. At once rehearsals of the opera began, and the days were
marked by a succession of exciting events for Wolfgang and for Nannerl,
into whose apartment Wolfgang ran half a dozen times a day to report
progress.

Up and down the street, humming bits of the opera or intent on some new
scenic effect, dashed the young composer a dozen times a day, and he
and Nannerl were perfectly sure that no performance ever was or ever
could be so marvellous, as this one was to be.

At last the great night came. Nannerl was dressed in her dainty white
gown hours before the time, but Wolfgang, who was detained at the opera
house until the last moment, had just time to jump into his fine new
costume of satin and lace, with the flash of brilliants in his ruff and
on his slippers; without a glance in the mirror, but he looked like a
proud young prince when he joined his father and sister, although the
hand that he slipped through Nannerl's arm was trembling. Who could say
what the evening would hold of triumph or of failure? No wonder he
trembled.

When they arrived at the opera house, it was crowded to the doors. All
the court was there in gala dress, but the youthful music-master,
scarcely nineteen years old then, sat with his father and Nannerl,
unmindful that all eyes were focussed on him, forgetful of all but the
performance of his opera.

The music began, and from the first note to the last, the opera was a
triumphant success. Young Mozart then became the object of the wildest
enthusiasm, and from that moment his popularity as a musician was
established.

There let us leave him, as he stands before us in his stately costume,
bowing acknowledgment of the applause raining upon him, with the blaze
of light shining full upon his clean-cut dignified face, and when we
hear his famous compositions played, let us think back to that night of
his first great public triumph, when he was nineteen years old.

Pianist, violinist, composer, little music-king and great genius as
well--the world owes a debt of gratitude to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
which can only be paid in the coin of appreciation.

End of Project Gutenberg's Ten Boys from History, by Kate Dickinson Sweetser

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TEN BOYS FROM HISTORY ***

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