Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-07-24
CAsTA DIVA.

bis chair close TO the fire and ensconced
himself therein, wrapping his tri-colorcd
dressing gown about him. 81 wish | were
know a lady boards in the
same house too-and | believe sho'd havc
me if l were to ask her; mean the pretty
music teacher. She is young, delicate and
only there seems to be something
about her; she is n widow; l
like her though and believe she likes me
I'll think this over. l have plenty Of mon
ey, and nobody to spend it upon. Yes, 1
think will ask pretty Madame Victor to
have me-
Rap, rap, rap!
"Come in-who's there :"
"Please sir, it's your clean clothes"
"Clean clothes! and pray who are you,
you little cherub, and whore did you come
from?"
81 am Laurctta, sir, and live with Budget,
who washes your clothes, and she sent me
with tho basket tonight"
eyes, l should think she did, you little
duckliug, and tho basket is larger than your
self! Come and set down in this chair by
the fire and warm your toos-there now,
want to talk with you. Arc you Bridget's
childl"
"Oh no, sir;' and look of care passed
over the little face.
"No, 1 thought not. Washerwomen':
children don't have such eyes, nor such
broad forehead, nor soft hair. Well, birdie
how como you with Bridget! Have you
no parents ~
81 don't know. l only dream have
Bridget lets me stay with her because can
sing"
"Sing! and what has that to do with it y
"Oh, sir, l 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 Lauretta, will you sing for me now |?
eyes, indeed" and the little one stands
up in the middle of the rug, and, opening
her rosebud mouth, she sang Casta Diva!
'Bless my stars, what a voice! | know
something about music myself; at leas
enough to know that such voice SHOULD
be a fortune to the one who possesses it,
little one, where did you learn that9"
''Nurse taught me-"
'Nurse. Who is nurse?"
'Nurso is dead" The dark eyes fill will
tears, and the ruby lips are quivery."
Mr.. Patron walks up and down the room
His curiosity is excited as well as his pity
"Pleaso, sir, shall 1 have the basket9-
Bridget will scold me if 1 stay so long"
"No little one, will carry the basket,
am going homo with you.
ats up five flight of stairs, and there
no light in the passage"
All the moro reasons | should 90 wit
you. Now I am ready. Come my littl
singer, you and | will be better acquainte
before long. Don't fall down these steps
keep hold of my hand here we arc i
Broadway. Now where do we turn dow
Prince street, Hey and now down Crosby
What! do you live in this alley9 Oh, nev
er fear, little Casta Diva, shall tread saf
enough while this hand leads me. Ugh
how many more flights arc there 9-onl
two! Well can climb them if you car
So, is this tho doors"
"Och, and is it you, sir, that would be al
ter coming to see a poor woman at thi
hour. Will you be seated, sir" said Bride
ct, wiping wooden chair with her apron
"Your shirts were not ironed to be suitir
ye, may be-"
"Shirts all right, Bridget. l came t
bring home your little girl, and to ask yo
something about her. She has been sing
ing to me. Will you tell me where sh
. came from?"
aye take deal o trouble for lone bi
of child, indeed, sir; but her story is nc
so very long She lived with furren VIC
man, in the room below, named Theresa
The woman she was waiter in Lauretta
family, in Italy, somewhere, and while SD
was out with the child, then only two yeal
old, for the sake of the air, there came
big row in the city, and the child's fathc
: was in the middle of it, and got kilt; an
then she reached the house, all in frigh
sure it was on fire and tho mother of
gone, and niyer was able to find it. So sh
kept the child and como to America with it
for she heard how the streets were pave,
with gold, and when she came and foun,
nary gold nor food but for the working, sh
had to go to work, as all VIC poor creature
do; an she took in washing in the one room
below stains; but niyer bit would she le
the child do for itself; but waited on i, tk
slave, and only taught it to sius rs i.
, mother did before it. she sad and lxsa YEA
Theresa died. This poor eFe&,aro took o.
so bad that l took hOr myself, only I'll b
, bringin' her up differently, intirely; II
teach her TO earn her bread, at any rate
and so / send her out every day, to sing t
the great folks, an make her hcp me I
carry around the clothes and that is all, sir.
! at was was very good in you, Bridget I
: take the little orphan; you have saved he
from sad fate: you will bo rewarded, yo
may depend"
!, Bridget raised her eyebrows and droppe
a courtesy, while little Casta Diva, as M
Patron then, and ever since called her, hi
her face in the bed and sobbed to hear he
+; own story related. The kind gentlema
: looked at her tenderly, and then continued
~ have plan for this poor child, whic
!, will relieve you of your charge and repa
Q you for your goodness of heart. Goo
r night, little one; I'll come tomorrow. DR.
your tears, for will yet make you happy
Here, Bridget, is some money for you, an
be sure you don't send her out to sing agar
0 l have something better for her to do"
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