himself about, his eyeballs rolled, his fingers
twitched involuntarily, and he seemed like one possessed;
and, on being allowed to seat himself at the piano, he
repeated from memory the various pieces which had been
played to him. In the evening, Mr. Hirst played over a
number of pieces of the most difficult character, all of
which Tom produced with fidelity.

"On inquiry, we find that his proficiency is a natural gift.
From his earliest infancy he betrayed the utmost interest in
musical sounds of every kind,--the cries of animals, the
moaning of the wind, the rushing of waters, and the like;
and when he was allowed to go out in the fields, if he heard
a bird sing, he rushed off towards it with frantic delight.
We publish a letter we received the other day from an
intimate friend in another town,--a gentleman of great
musical taste, and no little executive ability,--who is well
qualified to give an opinion on such matters. He says,--

"'I presume you have not heard "Blind Tom" play. If not, you
never heard a better performer. Like most people, of course,
I was inclined to regard this wonderful prodigy as a
wonderful humbug; but I assure you, that so far from this
being the case, or any thing like it, Tom is as genuine an
artist, and possesses as much (and, for any thing I can
tell, a great deal more) musical talent or power, either as
regards the execution of the compositions of others or of
his own, as either Thalberg, Halle, Madame Goddard, or
anybody else you ever listened to. I write merely to
disabuse your mind of the common impression which we are all
apt to form of these singular geniuses; and very strongly
recommend you not only to _hear_ him play, but privately
test him (as I have done) in any way you like. Improvise to
him as difficult or elaborate or out-of-the-way piece as you
please, and he will instantly reproduce it. Now, this is no
common gift; and therefore you and I, and all who know any
thing of music, should use our best efforts to let the
public know, that, so far from there being any thing in the
nature of clap-trap about Tom, he is, in fact, a musical gem
of the first water. Of course I have nothing to do with him;
but I have been so highly pleased with his performances,
that I thought it might be as