Two weeks after the marriage we find Mozart writing to his father in this tone: 

“Indeed, previous to our marriage we had for some time past attended mass together, as well as confessed and taken Holy Communion; and I found that I never prayed so fervently nor confessed so piously, as by her side; and she felt the same.  In short, we were made for each other, and God, who orders all things, and consequently this also, will not forsake us.”

They looked forward with great eagerness to visiting Salzburg, and it is not the least evidence of the kindness of Constanze’s heart that one of her chief ambitions seems to have been the winning over of the father and the sister.  The visit home was to be in November, 1782, but the weather grew very cold, and the wife’s condition forbade.  Mozart writes to his father that his wife “carries about a little silhouette of you, which she kisses twenty times a day at least.”  His letters are full of little domestic joys, such as a ball lasting from six o’clock in the evening until seven in the morning,—­a game of skittles of which Constanze was especially fond,—­a concert where Aloysia sang with great success an aria Mozart wrote for her,—­and financial troubles of the most petty and annoying sort.

In June, 1783, Mozart writes his father asking him to be godfather to the expected visitor, who was to be named after the grandfather, either “Leopold” or “Leopoldine,” according as fate decided.  Fate decided that the first-born should be a son, and the young couple started gaily to Salzburg, for a visit.

But fate also decided that the visit should not be in any sense a success.  Even as they set forth, they were stopped at the carriage by a creditor who demanded thirty gulden [about $15], a small sum, but not in Mozart’s power to pay.  At Salzburg, Mozart’s father and sister seemed not to have outdone themselves in cordiality, and, worst of all, “the poor little fat baby” died after six months of life.

There is little profit and less pleasure in describing the financial troubles of the young couple.  They are generally blamed for extravagance and bad management, for which Constanze is chiefly held responsible; but there are many reasons for disbelieving this charge, perhaps the chief of all being old Leopold Mozart’s own statement that when he visited them he found them very economical.  That was praise from Sir Hubert.

Of Mozart’s devotion to his wife in the depths of his heart, there can be no doubt.  But the circle he moved in, and his volatile, mischievous, beauty-idolising nature played havoc with his good intentions, though not to the extent implied by some critics who have pictured him as a reckless voluptuary.  But just herein is the final proof of Constanze’s devotion and her understanding of him, for, while there never was a breath of slander against herself, she found heart to forgive Mozart’s ficklenesses.  He actually made her the confessional of his excursions from the path of rectitude, and found forgiveness there!  “He loved her dearly, and confided everything to her, even his little sins, and she requited him with tenderness and true solicitude.”