Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-03-26
lFrom Harpsr's Weekly
CASTA DIVA.

IL = |
know lady--boards in this house, too-ana
believe she'd have me, if were to ask her.
mean the pretty music teacher. She Is young,
delicate, and amiablei only there seems 10 DC
something melancholy about her, as tnoughd
she had known sorrows besides, sne IS WIZ
ow. l like her though, and / believe she
likes me. I'll think this over. have plenty
of money, and nobody to spend 1t upon. res,
I think I Will ask pretty Madame victor 10
marry me-
Rap, tap, tap
Come inl-whose thereP
please, Sir, it's your clean clothes
Clean clothes and pray who are you, you
little cherub, and where do you come from
81 am Lauretta, Sir, and live with Bridget
who washes your clothes, and she sent me VAIN
the basket tonight M,
sYes l should think she had, you little
duckling; and the basket is bigger than your
self Come and sit down in this char ny
the fire and warm your toes-there now
want to talk with you. Are You Bridget
child p
ooh no, Sir and look of care passes over
the little face. -,
mo, thought not Washerwomen's chill
dren don't have such eyes, nor such pro,a
foreheads, nor such soft hair. Well, blrdle,
how came you with Bridget? Have you no
parents p
Bridget let's me stay with her because can
sing
tSing and what has that to do with 1t
'oh, Sir, l sing my songs in the great houses
and they give me sixpences, and take them
to Bridget
tAhaI you pay your board, then7 Well,
little Lauretta, will you sing for iue now =
Yes, indeed = and the little one stands up |
In the middle of the rug, and, opening her |
rosebud mouth, she sings Casta Diyal
Bless my stars, what voice know some
thing of music myself; at least enough to know
that anrh ay nica shond q fortuna to tho one
who possesses it, Little one, where did you
learn thatf
Nurse taught me-
sNurse2 Who is Narse3'
Nurse is dead The dark eyes fiji with tears
and the ruby lips are quivering.
Mr. Patron walks up and down the room.--
His curiosity is excited as we'll as his pity.
Please, Sir, shall have my basket Bridget
will scold if stay so long,
'No, little one, will carry the basket, am
going home with you.'
It's up five flights of stairs, Sir, and there
Is no light in the passage
All the more reason should go with yoh.
Now | am ready. Come, my little singer, you
and will be better acquainted before long
Don'tfa down these stone steps; keep hold
OF my hand here We are in Broadway. Tow
where do we turn down Prince street, hey
and now down Crosby. What! do you live il
this alley; Oh, never fear, little Casta Diva,
shall tread safely enough while this little hani
leads me. Ugh how many more flights ar,
there 7---only twol Well, we'll, can climl
them if you can. So, is this the door2'
sOch, and Is ityou, Sir, that would be atte
coming to see poor woman at this hour p
VIII you be seated Sir7' said Bridget wpn
wooden chair with her apron. 'Your shirt
wore not ironed to be suiting 20, maybe
Shirts all right, Bridget. | came to brni
home your little girl, and to ask you somethin
about her. She has been singing to me. Wi
you tell nae where she came from 2
sYe takes deal o. trouble for a lone bit @
childer, indeed, sir; but her story Is not s.
very long. She lived with turrin woman, i
the room below, named Theresa. The wOma
said she was waiting maid in Lauretta's tamil
in Italy, somewhere, and while she was gu
with the child, then only two years old, for til
sake OF the air, there came big row in ii
city, and the child's father was in the midd
oft, and got kilt and when she reached til
house, all in fright, sure it was all on fire, ar
the mother of 1t gone, and niyer was she alb
TO find her at all. So she kept the child al
comes to America with it-for she heard te
how the streets were paved with gold al
when she came and found nary gold nor 100
but for the warking, she had to go wark as Q
poor creathers do +; and she took In washir
in the one room down stairs, but niver /
would she let this child do ritsef, hut waite
on it like slave, and only taught it to sin!
as its mother did before it, she said
and last year Theresa died. This poor lit
ereather took on SO bad that took her mesi
only I'll be bringing her up differently, intirel
I'll tache her to earn her bread, at any rat
and so | sends her out livery day to sing to u
great folks, and make her help me 10 car
f0and the clothes and tRet Bridget II to.aa
little orphan. Yeu have saved her from ST
fate. You will be rewarded you may d
pend
Bridget raised her eyebrows and dropped
courtesy, while little sCasta Diva as Mr.. Pt
ron then and ever since has called her, hid h
face in the bed and sobbed to hear her oN
story related. The kind gentleman looked
her teuderly and then continued:
Il have plan for this poor child, which v
at once relieve you OF your charge, and re[
yeu for your goodness of heart. Good mig
little one III come tomorrow. Dry "
tears, for will yet make you happy. He
Bridget, is some money for you, and be =
You do not send her out to sing again. | h
something better Tor her to do
Bridget dropped another courtesy, and
mouth opened vide, for she was all mystii
and bewildered.
An hour later and Mr.. Patron is again Sea
IN his easy chair before his bright coal
with his dressing-gown once more folded arc
him. The only difference is that he smiles
stead Of signing as he did before.
'Ah yes he says, 81 see my way clear
can now, without hesitation, call upon
dame Victor in her room, TO interest
about my little 'Casta Diya.'-I will
her the story, and engage her to cult
the voice of my little protege. | will
her tomorrow morning, and perhaps she
accompany me to Brdgets lodging.
a very romantic walk 10 invite the lady of
heart to share, but then the circumstances
peculiar.
'Now think oft 1 must engage OF
landlady the little bedroom next to mine
am determined to adopt that singing chs
for my own. | will change her name to Q
Diva Patron. II sounds MUSICAL and sh
music itself. If sweet Madame Victor
sees in her what do, we shall be an ama2
happy family declare, l feel like hush
and father already. shall find enough Il
with my money after ALL
And so he goes to bed and dreams OF
future joys till he fairly laughs aloud in
sleep.
Now it is morning; and if you will put Y
head out Of your door, you can see him Ga
along the hall, lie stops at No. 6-kno
gently but the rich toned piano, touched
thrilling hand, does not allow so Lowell
tap TO be heard. This time he knocks lou
the music stops and the door is opened /
beautiful woman who smingly invited hin
enter. Well | don't wonder he fell in
with her. They have closed the door. |.
you and go peep in at the key-hOlc, and
what they say; I'll never tell, will you 2 II
Well, after all, cant tell what they said i
because would'nt but Mr.. Patron has S
In there great while and he didn't ash; Ii,
play or sing once all the time.
Now the door opens again, and they c
out together ho in his overcoat and hat
In her cloak and velvet bonnet. Tie Il
very much excited, and she looks pale
trenbles so abe can scarcely speak. She
his offered arm and goes down stairs aud
the street door. ! do believe they are go
u idPnt'S