Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-07-16
Casta Diva.

kNOU II.
Casta Diva.
high hoo sighs Mr. Patron. swhat a for
lorn life il is to live aloner and he dew
his chair close to the fire aud ensconsed him
sci! therein, wrapping his tri-colored dress
ing gown about hiIa. wish | were mar
.ried! Isknow lady boards in the same
house ioo-and believe she'd have me if
.xezeste ask her;sL mean thes pretty music
sssrfes.s She 5 young, delicate and admir-
ss5 90 " there seems 10 be Something
ine:anchogy about her; she is a widow, 4
Ike her though, and believe she likes me;
FL fhiak this over. ! have plenty of mon
ey. and nobudy to spend it upon. Yes,
-tls5nk will ask pretty Madame Victor to
marry me.
Rap, rap, rap!
sCorfe ie--who's there''
I PLEASE, sir. it's your clean cloihes'
sClean Clothes! and pray who are you,
yea little. .cherub, and where do you come
fsam!'
2 4 am Lauretta, sir. and live with Bridget,
who washes yoursciothes, and she sent me
with the basket tonight :
tYes, / should think she did, you little
dacklng, and the basket islarger than your
self! Come and sit down in this chair by
lie FIRE and warm your toes--there, now.
efnl to ;aik with you. Are you Bridget's
shildr
= Oh, no, sir;' and lock of care passed
over. the little face.
'No, thought not. Washerwomen's
children don't have such eyes. nor such broad
forehead nor such soft hair. Well, birdie,
bow come You with Bridget! Have you no
tparents!'
& don't know. ouly dream | have
Bridget let's me stay with her because can
sing
'Sinsi and what has that to do with it!'
.Oh, sir, sing my songs in the great
houses and they give me sixpences, and |
take them TO Bridget
.Aha, you pay your board, then! Well,
little Lsuretta, will you sing for me now!'
", S, inde.d.' and the little'one s ands up
in the ruiddle of he rug, and opening her
rosebud mouth she sings Casta Diva!
Bless my stars,what a voiceI | know
sUmething .abov, music myself; at least
enough to know that such voice should be
fortune to the one that possesses it Little
one. where did you learn thatp
Nurse taught me-
Nurse is dead The dark eyes fill with
tears, and the ruby lips are quivering.
Mr.. Patron welksnp and down the room.
His curiosity is excited. as well as his pity.
SFieasc, ST, shall Nave The =TUas Es'i =
Bridget ysill scold me il stay so lnng.'
No, little one, will carry the basket, I
am going home with you %
It's up FIVE flight of stairs, sir, and there
ia no light in the passage
'Al the more reasons should go with
you, Now am ready. Come, my little
singer, YOU and uil be better acquainted
before long Don't fall down these steps;
keep hold OF my hand, here we are in Broad
iway. Nov where do we turnl down Prince
street, hey! and now down Crosby What!
do you live in this alley! Oh, never fear
I LLtlc NdStd DINd, Sbdil tICau ~
while this Little hand leads me. Ugh! how
many more figh's are there! cnly two!-
Well, can climb them ii you can. 50, is
this he door!'
Och, and is it you, sir, thai would be
after coming to see poor woman at this
ho4r, VIII you be seated Sir said Bridget
wiping a wooden chair with her apron
f'Your shirts were not ir)ned to be suiting ye
may be'
sShnts al right, Bridget. | came TO bring
home your little girl, and to a you some
/ thing about her. She has been singing to
me- Will you tell me where she came
frcmr
.Ye take great deal y trouble for lone
Ebit of child, indeed, sr; but he- story is
! rot so serg long. She lived with fure
wonau, il the room below, named Theresa.
fhe woman siie'was waiting laid IN Lau-
retlz's family, in Italy, somewhere, and
Ewfile sac eas out with the child, then only
two wears old, for the sake OF the AR there
c me a big row in the city. and the chld's
4 father WAS in the middle of it, and got kilt;
Il and when she reached the house, all in d
4 asrigh,, sure it was on fire and the mother OF
lat eonc, AMI niver was she able 10 fad it -
4 So she kept the child and comes 10 America
slwith it; fur. She heard how the streets were
4 paved win gold, and when she cam and
found nary gold nor food but Tor The working
she had &c go 10 work, as we foor creatures
DO; an she took in Washing in me room
doWn stairs; bu. niver a bit would she let
the child dsf Itself; but waited on il like
a4a only taught It TO sing, AS ii:
!. mother did before H. she said: and last veal
Theresa died. This poor creature took OF
50 pad thas took her myself, only l. ot
bringin' her up diiitrently, intirely; II
! teach her 10 earn her bread. at any rate, ,anC
Isol send her ont every day, 10 sing to the
! great folks. an makes her help me to carry
around the clothes, and that is all sir
Il sIt was vary good in you Bridget, to take
Eth little orphan; you have saved her from
a sad fate; you will be rewarded, you may
depend
Bridge, raised her eyebrows and dropset
: courtesy, while little Cas;a Diva, as Mr
Pairon then and ever suce has called her
Z hid her face iii the bed aud sobbed to heaI
I her own story re lated. The kind gentle
! mar looked at her .enderly, and then con
|, ftnued: W
Il 4 have plan for this poor child, which
will relieve you of YOU. charge, and repay
you for your goodness of heart. Good night
Y little one; IN come Tomorrow. Dry you
l tears, for Will yet make you happy Here
Bridget, is some money Tor you, and be sur,
e You do not send her out TO sing again.
. have something better Tor ner 10 do
] Bridget dropped another courtesy; an
d her mouth opened wide for she was all mys
Y tilted and bewiIdered.
r An hour later and Mr.. Patron is ogail
$ seated in an easy chair before his brigh
coal Gre, with hts dressing gown once NOR
folded around hlm. The only difference
II thai he smiles instead of signing as he di
1t before.
" L. "A, -. In snue ii saa INV Way cieur