CHAPTER II.
The first thought of Mr. Gottschalk, after their return to New Orleans, was to make inquiries for the best professor of the piano. Mr. Letellier, a young Frenchman, a singer of great talent at the Théâtre d'Orléans, was introduced to him, and immediately Moreau commenced the study of music. One year afterwards, Mr. Letellier, full of pride at the remarkable progress of his pupil, repeated everywhere that the little Gottschalk could read at first sight any manuscript which might be placed before him. Besides the piano he was also taught the violin, and Mr. Miolan, the brother of Madam Carvalho, the French singer, was chosen for his professor.
Several years were thus passed. Moreau, although in delicate health, grew in height; but the passion he had for music did not prevent the assiduous labour to which his father subjected him from becoming injurious to his constitution. One day, when Mr. Letellier, who was organist at the Cathedral of St. Louis, had taken his little scholar to show him the mechanism of the organ, and to explain it to him, he was surprised to see how quickly the child understood, and decided to teach him the organ. As Mr. Gottschalk made no objection to the proposition, the idea of the professor was immediately put into execution, and the lessons commenced. His progress was so rapid that one year after—Moreau might then have been seven years old—having gone to high mass one Sunday, Mr. Letellier beckoned to him so energetically that he was obliged to understand that his professor wanted him in the choir; but what was his surprise when, reaching it, Mr. Letellier said to him, "Now, then, sit down, and decipher this mass for me; the tenor is ill, I must take his place, and there is nobody else to play the organ; and above all make no blunders—now begin." Trembling, but not daring to disobey, the child commenced. Mr. Letellier managed the pedals,
