32 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



which it is brought out, appear to me to shew 

 more talent than when violence of passion and 

 great strength of expression are used." 



" On the bat's back I do fly 

 After summer merrily." 



I repeated these lines in Ariel's song, and 

 asked the meaning of " after summer." " Some 

 critics," said my uncle, " have thought it should 

 be after sunset, because Ariel speaks of riding 

 on the bat; but commentators delight in deep 

 and hidden meanings, and it has therefore been 

 suggested, that as the fairy tribe dislike winter, 

 Ariel, who is now to be restored to liberty, re- 

 joices that he may follow summer round the globe ; 

 and therefore he is said to fly after summer." 



17th. We have been reading the life of that 

 delightful musician, Mozart ; and he is claimed by 

 each party. But I think he can give very little 

 support to Mary ; for though his father was a 

 teacher of music, and early began to instruct 

 him, his rapid progress and juvenile success seem 

 to have gone far beyond the effect of circum- 

 stances, which in a hundred cases have been 

 the same with other musical teachers, and other 

 children. Mozart was but four years old when 

 his great delight was seeking for thirds on the 

 piano-forte. When five, he learned difficult 

 pieces of music from his father so quickly, that 

 he could immediately repeat them ; and in the 



