school, which was called the "Convict."

It seems that the boys at the Convict endured many privations. The
practice-room was unbearably cold in winter, and the young students were
allowed to go without food for eight hours and a half, between a "poor
dinner and a wretched supper." When he was about fifteen, Franz wrote to
his brother, explaining his position, his hungry longing for a roll or an
apple, and concluded in these words: "I rely on the teaching of the
Apostle Matthew, who says, 'Let him that hath two coats give one to the
poor.' Meanwhile I trust you will listen to the voice which unceasingly
appeals to you to remember your loving, hoping, poverty-stricken--and once
again I repeat poverty-stricken--brother Franz."

His earliest composition for the piano is dated April, 1810. It was his
habit to date all his pieces. In March, 1811, he composed a long vocal
piece, "Hagar's Lament over Her Dying Son." His boy friends at the Convict
were devoted to him, and were eager to play, sing, or copy any of his
compositions. One of them, Josef Spaun, who was several years older than
Schubert, and better off, helped him to procure all the music paper he
needed.

His first mass, in F, was composed and performed in 1814. It is said to be
the most remarkable first mass ever produced, excepting Beethoven's in C.
In 1815, when he was only eighteen years old, he composed the music for
more than a hundred songs. The fine song, the "Erl King," was written in
this year, and many of his boyish songs are among his finest productions.
When he died in 1828, he left more than 1,100 compositions, the greater
number of which had not then been published.

In his lifetime, some of his songs were sold for a few pence, and he lived