The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-07-16

your goodness Of heart. Good night, little one
ri come tomorrow. Dry your tears, for will
yet make you happy. Here, Bridget, is some
money for you and be sure you, do pot send her
out to sing again. i have something better FOR
her TO do
Bridget dropped another courtesy: and her
mouth opened wide for she was all mystified and
bewildered
An hour later and Mr.. Patron is again seated
in an easy chair before his bright coal fire, with
his dressing gown once more folded around him.
the only difference is that he smiles instead of
signing as he did before.
All, yes he says, "I see my way clear.
can now, without hesitation, call upon Madame
Victor in her room, to interest her about my
little Casta Diva. | will tell her the story and
engage her to cultivate the voice of my little
protege. | will see her tomorrow morning and
perhaps sne will accompany me to Bridget's
lodging. Not very romantic walk to invite the
lady di my heart to share, but then the circum-
stances are peculiar"
Now think Of it, l must engage of my
landlady the little bedroom next to mine.
am determined to adopt that singing cherub for
my own. | will change her name to Casta Di-
va Patron. II sounds riiusica, and she is musi-
cal herself. II sweet Madame Victor only sees
in her what do, we shall be an amazing happy
family declare feel like husband and faith
er already. shall find enough TO do with my
money after all"
And so he goes to bed and dreams of his fu.
ture joys till he fairly laughs aloud in his sleep.
Now it is morning, and if you wilsput your
head out of yoii door you caf see him walking
along the hall. He stops at g. knocks gently;
but the rich toned piano, touched by thrilling
hand, does not allow s. dove-like tap to be
heard. This time he knocks louder the music
stops, and the door is opened by beautiful
woman. who smllingly invites him to enter
Well, | don't wonder he fell in love with her !
They closed the door. Let's you and go and
peep at the key-hole and hear what they have to
say. I'll never tell-wll you? Hark We'll,
after all can't tell what they said now, because
promised wouldn't; but Patron has staid in
there great while, and he don't ask her to sing
or play all the time.
Now the door opens again and they come
out together; he in his overcoat and hat she
in her cloak and velvet bonnet He looks very
much excited, and she looks pale and trembles
so she can hardly speak. She tales his offered
Land goes down stairs out of the street door.
do believe they ure going TO Brdget's.
And so they are.
Good Mr.. Patron walks slowly with the sweet
lady, for she has'erety reason to tremBle; she
believes she is Laurettas rriattma for she has
been telling her friend how her husband was
killed in a dreadful mob one day because he
" dS SIedt WHEN t1ey Ild0 burned
his house they took and threw her into prison,
where she remained a whole year. and only
made her escape when during the terrible
trouble in Italy, the prison doors were unbarred
to all.
She s5ught frautically for her child, but in
vain and believing that both Lauretta and her
nurse were crushed in the mob that killed her
husband she came to America to try to earn a
livelihood among the hospitabe strangers by her
fine musical education and uncommon voice.
Madame Victor believes that Laurettta is her
child because their stories are so strongly alike.
Five years have passed since she left Italy; but
she knows that her eyes will not deceive her
Her babys features are indelibly engraved upon
her heart
Her kind friend supports her up five flights of
stairs and she stops to take breath and to nerve
herself for either intense happiness or dsap-
pointment
They are about to enter the room when lit,
tie voice greets her ears, singing with wonderful
power and expression, an Italian melody, which
he lady herself used to sing in her own sunny
land. She stops and grasps the arm of her
friend.
ooh, watt" she whispers, "let me try" with
great effort, she continues and cotipletes the
unfinished strain i'll voice that an angels might
not exceed.
He opens the door.
LaureIta stands IN the centre Of the floor
alone pale and agitated her great eyes diated
with emotion long repressed. Her mothers
voice has reached spot in her little heart
which vibrates on her memory like glimpse Of
Heaven.
Madame Victor sank upon chair, and gszes
long and earnestly upon the little moIionless
figure; then she stretches out her arms and whis
pers, come here"
Lauretta slowly advances, and when she is
close to the lady, she nestled her head upon her
bosom, and draws long deep sigh.
'fTell me your name, sweet one."
The lady presses the little formstill closer.
Darling ] am your mother"
al know it." sighed the child.
"You know il my angel"
"Yes; have seen you in my Dreams and al.
ways called you mother and when you sang
Just now,it brought it all backw ...
Good Mr.. Patron went to the window and
wiped his eyes.
Once again we see HIM sitting IN his easy
chair before the bright coal fire. BY his side
sits beautiful lady-one hand lies in his, and
the other was tenderly stroking his hair, but her
ewes are resting upon the little fairy who sits at
the piano, sill ntly dreaming over some of HIM
de's music which her papa has brought home to
her.
The lady is his wife
The fairy is his " Casta Diva
= The oldest book in the United States, ii is
said is n Rihla in tho pes;,,,, nj