Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

MY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
these occasional ' incursions ' into the clover naturally
did not satisfy me; on the contrary, I fumed and
worried all the more. But I said nothing, until
finally I lost both sleep and appetite, and the doctor
was called in ; he, not finding any ailment which he
could define, ordered ' me change of air and scene.'
Now, this was rather a puzzle in our family, for my
mother was too delicate to leave home, and there was
no unmarried aunt to come to the rescue. When
I saw they all were really anxious about me, I suddenly
took courage and said, ' There is something that will
cure me without sending me away, but I am afraid
you will not care to do it.' And when they pressed
m e to say what this something might be, I said, ' Give
me a piano all to myself, and let me play on it as
much as I like !'
They were much amused at this novel remedy,
but it seemed worth trying. A piano was put into
the dining-room, and I was allowed to play on it to
my heart's content; and after one month, to my
mother's delight and surprise, I was as full of life
and brightness as I had before been of languor and
depression. How I did rush through the classics
in every direction! Mozart, Beethoven, Weber
wherever I tried them there seemed to be mines of
wonderful jewels. Months over which an enchanted
'light still gleams as I look back on them ! I believed
that everything was possible ; and by natural facility
I got a mass of beautiful things under my fingers
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