Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn, whose full name was Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, was the son of a rich Hamburg banker. He was brought up in the lap of luxury, and never knew what it was to want for anything. Such a condition might induce many to become idle, and spend a lazy, useless life. It was not so with Mendelssohn, he worked very hard indeed, and saw in his wealth only the means of a more exclusive consecration to his musical art. The law of his life was hard work.

A great English musician, Sir Julius Benedict, was once walking in the streets of Berlin with another master of music, Von Weber, when the latter called his attention to a boy of about eleven years old, and said, "Why, it is Felix Mendelssohn." Benedict narrates his amazement at the extraordinary attainments of this boy, with auburn hair, brilliant clear eyes, and lips smiling with innocence and candour. He goes on to tell us that he played perfectly some of Benedict's own compositions at sight and five minutes afterwards jumped over the garden hedges and climbed a tree like a squirrel. A real boy, with rich parents, who need not have worried about anything, but so loved music that he worked like a galley slave to be able to give to the world some of the most charming melodies that have ever been composed. Before he was twenty years old he had composed his octet, three quartets for piano and strings, two sonatas, two sym­phonies, his first violin quartet, various operas, many songs, and the wonderful overture of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Here we notice a boy who might have had a selfish time and lived an easy life, working tremendously hard to perfect a gift that God had given him, with the result that by his music lie has brought to millions of people in all parts of the world, joy, pleasure, comfort, and peace.

He was wonderfully gifted, and did not hide his talent, but used all his time and energies in making it as perfect us he could. We all have a gift, even the youngest, which God has given us; we all have different gifts. What we must do is to discover the gift we have, and do our utmost to improve and perfect it, so that it may help our friends and others. What gifts have you? Whatever it may be, use it unselfishly, then you will find that it will bring happiness to many another.

In the parable of the talents (gifts) the men who made good use of their talents had in the end a real reward for their labours, but the lazy man who hid his talent, lost all that he had. God has given you a gift, perhaps the gift of a merry heart, a personality, or it may be drawing, singing, playing an instrument, or physical strength. Whatever the gift may be, use it, first to the glory of God, and so show your gratitude to Him; and, secondly, for the good of others; then you will please your heavenly Father, help others, and have joy yourself. You will then enjoy your young life as Mendelssohn did, who, although such a gifted boy, was always cheery and bright because he made the best use of his time and talents.