"The electric chain wherewith we are darkly bound," while heart responds to heart. Besides, we know that man, in his rudest, as well as in his most highly-civilized state, readily pays tribute to the power and beauty of song. In this form of musical expression the singer conveys to the listener's ear not only melodies that the latter naturally delights to hear, but utters also the words of sentiment, of instruction, that appeal to his mind, and touch his heart; thus doubly enchaining his interest, and enhancing his pleasure. Moreover, to the mere charm of resonant vocalization is added the one afforded by a warm, a living presence; the speaking eyes (so aptly called the "windows of the soul"), with their glowing, magnetic expression, and the effective gesture, forming together pleasure-giving elements that must ever be wanting in other forms of musical presentation. And so easily are our musical sensibilities awakened, and so readily are we influenced by song-power, that these effects may be exerted upon us, to a very considerable extent, even by the singer of ordinary abilities. But by a beautiful cantatrice, gifted with a pure, resonant, sympathetic voice, its natural sweetness and power supplemented by careful artistic cultivation, possessing a pleasing, unaffected manner of appearance and expression, all these effects may be amplified, intensified. Such a one may often, nay, at will, call into life our most delightful emotions, and evoke the warmest admiration of those who see and hear her. Her sway is over all, and is absolute; the natural music of her voice merely serving as sufficient charm for those not highly cultured, while the embellishments of art which she so intelligently uses in her performance add to the pleasure of, as they satisfy, the aesthetic conceptions, the love of full, harmonious development, held by persons of the most critical tastes. As prominent among those lyric artists of New England whose fine natural musical powers and many winning accomplishments have formed the theme of frequent praise, as they have been the source of constant delight for many persons in private circles and public audiences, I may confidently mention Nellie E. Brown of Dover, N.H.,--a lady who within a very few years has, by the great beauty of her voice, and the exhibition of many noble qualities of heart and mind, won a name of which she and all her many admiring friends may be justly proud. At quite an early age Miss Brown evinced a fondness for music, the slightest sounds of which readily attracted her attention; and, long before she had acquired a knowledge of its rudiments, the natural sweetness of her voice, as she was heard merely humming a tune, often arrested the attention and called out the praises of those who heard her. Thus musically endowed, of an amiable disposition, with spirits ever as free as the mountain winds of her native State, she became the favorite of her school companions, and their leader.