that I went to school in that town, and was therefore
attached to it. Soon followed messages from sympathetic friends in
Aarhuus, in Stege; telegram on telegram from all around. One of these
was read aloud by Privy Councillor Koch. It was from the king. The
assembly burst out in applause. Every cloud and shadow in my
soul vanished!

How happy I was! And yet man must not exalt himself. I was to feel that
I was only a poor child of humanity, bound by the frailty of earth. I
suffered from a dreadful toothache, which was increased unbearably by
the heat and excitement. Yet at evening I read a Wonder Story for the
little friends. Then the deputation came from the town corporations,
with torches and waving banners through the street, to the guild-hall.
And now the prophecy was to be fulfilled that the old woman gave when I
left home as a boy. Odense was to be illuminated for me. I stepped to
the open window. All was aglow with torchlight, the square was filled
with people. Songs swelled up to me. I was overcome, emotionally.
Physically racked with pain, I could not enjoy this crowning fruit of my
life, the toothache was so intolerable. The ice-cold air that blew
against me fanned the pain to an awful intensity, and, instead of
enjoying the bliss of these never-to-be-repeated moments, I looked at
the printed song to see how many verses had to be sung before I could
step away from the torture which the cold air sent through my teeth. It
was the acme of suffering. As the glow of the piled-up torches subsided,
my pain subsided too. How thankful I was, though! Gentle eyes were
fastened upon me all around. All wanted to speak with me, to press my
hand. Tired out, I reached the bishop's house and sought rest. But I got
no sleep till toward morning, so filled and overflowing was I.

'MISERERE' IN THE SIXTINE CHAPEL

From 'The Improvisatore': Translation by Mary Howitt

On Wednesday afternoon began the Miserere in the Sixtine Chapel. My soul
longed for music; in the world of melody I could find sympathy and
consolation. The throng was great, even within the chapel--the foremost
division was already filled with ladies. Magnificent boxes, hung with
velvet and golden draperies for royal personages and foreigners from
various courts, were here erected so high that they looked out beyond
the richly carved railing which separated the ladies from the interior
of the chapel. The papal Swiss Guards stood in their bright festal
arra