Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-09-18
Giterarp 9elertions.
CASTA DIVA.

tri-colored dressing gown about him. |
wish l were married l know a lady
boards in the same house too-and l be-
lieve she'd have me if were to ask her,
Imean the pretty music teacher. She
is young, delicate and amiable; only
there seems to be something melancholy
about her though, and l believe she likes
me, I'll think this over I have plenty of
money, and nobody to spend it upon
Yes, think I will ask pretty Madam
Victory to marry me.
Rap rap, rap,
" Come in-whose there 2"
Please sir, its your clean clothes.
Clean clothes and pray who are
YOU, you little cherub, and where did
YOU come from?'
Il am Lauretta, sir, and live with
Bdget who washes your clothes, and
she sent me with the basket tonight"
Yes, l should think she did, you lit
tie duckling, and the basket is larger than
Yourself! come and sit down in this
chair by the fire and warm your toes
there, now, want to talk with you. Are
you Bridget's child p
"Oh no sir > and look of care pass
ed over her little face.
" No thought not. Washerwomen's
children don't have such eyes, nor such
broad foreheads, nor such soft hair. Well
birdie, how came you with Bridget ?
Have you no parents ?"
81 don't know. only dream have
Bridget lets me stap with her because
can sing"
Sing and what has that to do with
n?"
"Oh sir, 1 sing my songs in great
houses and they give me sixpencee, and
take them to Bridget"
Yes, indeed" and the little on stand;
up in the middle of the rug and opening
her rosy bud mouth, she sings Casts
Diva!
"Bless my stars what voice
know something about music myself; a
least to know that such voice should bt
fortune to the one that possesses it
Little one, where did you learn thai" !"
Nurse taught me-"
Nurse! Who is nurse ?"
Nurse is dead The great eyes fill
ed with tears, and the ruby lips are -quiv
ering.
Mr.. Patron walked up and down tn
room. His curiosity excited as well a
his pity.
please sir, shall I have the basket
Bridget will scold me if stay so long
"No little one, will carry the baske
lam going home with you"
Its up five flight Of stairs, sir, an
there's no light in the passage.
"All the more reason l should 90 wit
you. Now 1 am ready. Come, my Ii
tie singer, you and will be better a
quainted before long. Don't fall dow
these steps keep hold of my hanC
here we are in Broadway. Now whel
do we turn ? down Prince street, hey
and now down Crosby. What do yc
live in this alley? Oh never fear, lit
Casta Diva, 1 shall tread safely enoue
while this little hand leads mo. Ugl
how many more flights are there ?-on
two! Well, l can climb them if y
can. So, is this the door %
"Och, and is it you, sir, that would
after coming to see poor woman at Il
hour? Will you be seated sir" Sc
Bridget, wiping a wooden chair with b
apron. Your shirts were not ironed
be suiting ye, may be ?"
"Shirts, all right, Bridget. l came
bring home your little girl, and to a
you something about her. She has be
singing to me. Will you tell me wht
she from?'
Ye take a deal O. trouble for lc
bit Of a childer, indeed, sir, but her ste
Is not very long. She lived with f
ren woman, in the room below, nam
Theresa. The woman she was wal
maid in Lauretta's family in Italy son
where, and while she was out with
Child, then only two years old, for the
and there was big row in the the C
and the child's father was in the mid
oI 1t, and got kilt; and when she rea
ed the house, all in a fright, sure it '
On lire and the mother of it gone +;
niVer was she able to find it. So
Aept the child and come to Amer
with 1t; for she heard how the sire
were paved with gold, and when
came and found nary gold nor food
'OF the working. she had to go to W.
" "il we poor creatures do and size {