Good fortune followed him on his return to Vienna.  More pupils came, until he was able to raise his prices and move into better lodgings.  A wealthy patron of music, the Countess of Thun, sent for him to come and see her.  She had heard one of his clavier sonatas played, found it charming and wished to see the composer.  Her manner was so sympathetic, that Haydn was led to tell her the story of his struggles.  Tears came into her eyes as she listened.  She promised her support as friend and pupil, and Haydn left her with a happy, grateful heart.

His compositions were heard in the best musical circles in Vienna, and the future was bright with promise.  A wealthy music patron persuaded him to write a string quartet, the first of many to follow.  Through this man he received, in 1759, an appointment of music director to a rich Bohemian, Count Morzin, who had a small orchestra at his country seat.  In the same year the first Symphony was composed.

As brighter days dawned, Haydn procured all the works on theory obtainable, and studied them deeply.  He had mastered the difficulties of the “Gradus,” one of the books purchased years before, and without any outside help had worked out his musical independence, uninfluenced by any other musician.  He was now twenty-six, and his fame was growing.  Meanwhile an affair of the heart had great influence on his life.  Sometime previously Haydn had been engaged to give lessons on the harpsichord to two daughters of a wig-maker named Keller.  An attachment soon sprang up between the teacher and the younger of the girls.  His poverty had stood in the way of making his feelings known.  But as prosperity began to dawn, he grew courageous and asked the maiden to become his wife.  His disappointment was keen when he found the girl had in the meantime decided to take the veil.  The wig-maker proved to be a matchmaker, for when he learned how matters stood he urged the composer to take the sister, who was only three years older.  The gentle Haydn was unable to withstand the pressure brought to bear, and consented.  After his bride was his he found he had won a virago, one who cared nothing for art or for her husband’s ideals, if only she could have enough money to spend.

The composer was in sad straits for a while, but fortunately a way opened by means of which he could be free.  Count Morzin, where he had conducted the orchestra, was obliged to reduce his establishment and dismissed his band and its director.  As soon as this was known, the reigning Prince of Hungary, Paul Anton Esterhazy offered Haydn the post of assistant Capellmeister at his country seat of Eisenstadt.  The head Capellmeister, Werner, was old, but the Prince kept him on account of his long service.  Haydn, however, was to have entire control of the orchestra, and also of most of the musical arrangements.