it was a very happy household (同住在一家的人). there was leopold, a fine musician (音乐家) and music master in austria. there was his adoring (敬慕的) wife. there was marianne, a schoolgirl. and there was little wolfgang, a child not quite four years old.

　　marianne was learning to play the piano, and day after day the handsome leopold stood behind her as she practised. how very patient and loving her father was, and how cleverly he showed marianne how to play some particularly difficult piece! she was making very good progress, and that was excellent.

　　and there, almost lost in the big chair, sat wolfgang, little wolfgang, who never had to be told to keep quiet, when marianne was practising.

　　one evening at sundown (日落) leopold patted (轻拍) marianne's shoulder saying she had done remarkably (非凡地) well. at that moment wolfgang climbed on his father's knee and begged to be allowed to play the pretty piece marianne had now mastered (掌握).

　　what a joke that was! picking up his baby son, leopold laughed, tapped the tiny nose, and said, “look at your small hands. why, you cannot span (横跨) the notes (琴键) yet. you must wait, little man. you must wait!”

　　there was no end of fun during tea, and marianne had to tell her mother about wolfgang wanting to play one of the classics (古典作品).when the meal was finished, marianne helped clear away the dishes while leopold lit his pipe (点燃烟斗).

　　but the pipe went out. leopold was on his feet. “listen!”said he in awed tones (使人敬畏的声调).“listen! marianne is playing that piece better than ever!”

　　but marianne was washing pots in the kitchen.

　　his wife following, leopold crept (蹑手蹑脚地走) upstairs, the lamp in one hand, his pipe in the other. he pushed open the door, and there was little wolfgang playing in the darkness. “i love it so!”whispered the child.

　　it was the beginning of mozart's life of music.