He read the poem with marvellous eloquence; while his artistic figure, his mobile countenance, his dark-brown eyebrows, which he raised or lowered at will, his expressive gesticulation, and his passionate acting, added greatly to the effect of his recital, and soon won every heart.

When he came to the refrain, "The paths with buds and blossoms strew," he no longer declaimed, but sang after the manner of the peasants in their popular chaunt.

His eyes became suffused with tears, and those who listened to the patois, even though they only imperfectly understood it, partook of the impression, and wept also.
He was alike tender and impressive throughout the piece, especially at the death of the blind girl; and when he had ended, a storm of applause burst from the audience.

There was a clapping of hands and a thunderous stamping of feet that shook the building almost to its foundations.
It was a remarkable spectacle, that a humble working man, comparatively uneducated, should have evoked the tumultuous applause of a brilliant assembly of intelligent ladies and gentlemen.

It was indeed something extraordinary.