Delsarte interpreted what he saw in the light of Christian ideas: it seemed to him that the angels made this delightful concert to console him in his misery and to strengthen him to bear his hard lot.
Rising up, the child felt himself a musician. He soon evinced an utter contempt for the china painting to which he had been bound apprentice. That too was an art; but of that art, the angels had said nothing.
How was he to learn music?
He knew that by a knowledge of a very small number of signs, one could sing and play on instruments. He talked of this to all who would listen; he questioned and inquired:--
"Do you know music, you fellows?" he asked some school boys of his own age.
"A little," said some.
"Well! what do they teach you?"
"They teach us to know our notes."
"What notes?"
"Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si."