Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

136 MY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
at that time regarded as the first musical college in
that country—there alone was that which I needed
in order to realize my dreams ! But it seemed
hopeless to wish—to think of ever getting there. I
thought and thought, however, planned and planned
the upshot of all this thinking, all this planning,
being that I resolved, by doing various jobs out of
working hours, to earn the money which would bring
me to Gei-many—to Leipzig. Once resolved on this,
it was my thought by day and night for several years.
I gave music-lessons in the evenings, did a good deal
of copying, and finally, at the age of sixteen, in
counting up all I had put together, beheved the sum
total would enable me to travel the whole way from
America to Leipzig, and there I hoped my talents—of
which I had no mean opinion—would gain me free
instruction at the Conservatorium of Music. I knew
my parents would never have given their consent to
such a step ;
and, therefore, without saying anything
to them of my purpose, I left my country and came
to Hamburg in a steamer. When I reached this city,
I found that I had only a few marks in my pocket,
and there was, therefore, nothing for it, if I ever
wished to reach Leipzig, but to travel there on foot.'
Mr. Clarke must have had an admirable memory,
for he described each day of this journey, and every
little incident that marked the various days. He was
deeply religious, and he told us that he prayed
earnestly that people might be kind to him. He was
;