Призрак Оперы
V The Enchanted Violin
Therewasonce,inalittlemarket-townnotfarfromUpsala,apeasantwholivedtherewithhisfamily,diggingtheearthduringtheweekandsinginginthechoironSundays.Thispeasanthadalittledaughtertowhomhetaughtthemusicalalphabetbeforesheknewhowtoread.Daae’sfatherwasagreatmusician,perhapswithoutknowingit.NotafiddlerthroughoutthelengthandbreadthofScandinaviaplayedashedid.Hisreputationwaswidespreadandhewasalwaysinvitedtosetthecouplesdancingatweddingsandotherfestivals.HiswifediedwhenChristinewasenteringuponhersixthyear.Thenthefather,whocaredonlyforhisdaughterandhismusic,soldhispatchofgroundandwenttoUpsalainsearchoffameandfortune.Hefoundnothingbutpoverty.
Hereturnedtothecountry,wanderingfromfairtofair,strumminghisScandinavianmelodies,whilehischild,whoneverlefthisside,listenedtohiminecstasyorsangtohisplaying.Oneday,atLjimbyFair,ProfessorValeriusheardthemandtookthemtoGothenburg.Hemaintainedthatthefatherwasthefirstviolinistintheworldandthatthedaughterhadthemakingofagreatartist.Hereducationandinstructionwereprovidedfor.Shemaderapidprogressandcharmedeverybodywithherprettiness,hergraceofmannerandhergenuineeagernesstoplease.
WhenValeriusandhiswifewenttosettleinFrance,theytookDaaeandChristinewiththem."Mamma"ValeriustreatedChristineasherdaughter.AsforDaae,hebegantopineawaywithhomesickness.HeneverwentoutofdoorsinParis,butlivedinasortofdreamwhichhekeptupwithhisviolin.
