The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-07-09
CASTA DIVA!


Torn life It is to live alone?'' aud he drew his
! chair close 10 the fire and ensconced himself
therein, wrapping his tri-colored dressing
fgown around him. wish l were married !!
81 know lady boards in the same house too
y and L helieye she'd have me if we're to ask
khrr; mean the pretty music teacher. She is
young, delicate aud amiable; only there seems
to be something melancholy about her; she is
= . widow; l like her though, and believe she
] 1ikes me; I'll think this over. / have plenty
\ of money and nohoay to spend il upon Yes,
! think | will ask pretty Madame Victor to
= marry me.'' s
4 Rap, rap, rapl sss,
@Come in--who's there ?''
Please sir, it's your c lean clo,bes.''
Clean clothes aid pray who are yoi, ye,
title cherub, and where do yon come from 20
y Il am Lam etta,i sir, and live with Bridget,
Yaa washes your clothes, asd she sent me with
Me basket tonight. ssea
s.Yes, should think she did, you little d,ck-
Ming, and the basket is larger than yourself .
G,me in and sit down in this chair by the FIRE
snd warm your rtoes~-thers now, n wantto talk
x Nathy op- Are you Bridget 's,eAild ?v * ~
"Oh no, sir;', and look of care passed over
sihe little face. 30 - sa II -
:"No, thought not. Washerwomen's, chill
crcn don't have such eyes, nor such broad fore
bead, nor soft hair, Well birdie, how ONE
you with Bridget Have youno parents?'' :
~ don't know | only dream have. Brid-
I set lets me stay with her because 1 can sing. !"
s'Sing and wha. has that to do with it ~
Oh, sir. sing my songs in the great houses,
and they give me six-pe.lces, and take them
10 Bridget se.
"Aha, you pay your board, then? Well,
little Laureita, will yon sing for Ine now?,a
Is sYes, indeed, and the little one al,ds up in
the middle Of the aug, and, opening her rose
: tud mouth, she sings Casts Diva!
Bless my stais, what voice! i know
something about music myself; at least enough
y know that such voice should be a fortune
y the one that possesses it. Little one, where
4ic you learn that?"
"Nurse taught me.o
81 ssNurse! Who is nnrse?"
Nurse is dead" The dark eyes Gil with
Asass, and the ruby lips are quivery.
". Patron walks up and down the room.
lis cuTiosityis excited as well as his pity.
EfkPlease sir shall have the basket Bridget
ill scold me II stay so long,
mo, little one, I win carry the basket,
&6going home with you.'' sssa A g
Fslps mp Ave flights Of stairs, sir, and there is
) light in the passage" :.
n xrstl, v,<,,,
~ am ready. Come, my little singer, you
ID viii be better acquainted before long.
on't fall down these steps, keep hold Of my
md, here we are in Broadway, Now where
we tsfn? down Prince street, hey and
wsdown Crosby. What do you live In thi.
fy? "a, never fear, little Casta Diva, shall
esd safely enongh while This little hand leads
:. Ugh low many more flights ara there
ealy twsi Well, 1 can climb them il you
=. Sc, d this the doors' A2a2
sOck and Is ityou, sir, that would be after
nirg gtctee poor woman atthis hour? Vii
- y seated, sir" said Bridget, wiping
podan;chair with her apron. "Your shirts
Fere not .iDeisd TO BE shifting ye, may be 9'
sSbirts an right, Bridget. ] came to brihl
car little girl and to ask you something
keSt heE. She has been anging ia. me. VIII
Uu:sifme where she came from?'
eye take deal o. trouble for a lone bit o
ehildren, indeed sir, but her story - net .
- long. She lived with afarrsn woman, il
: roam below named Theresa. Thewomal
y ives wailiae maid in Laufetta's family, Il
NAly, somewhere, and vhilt she was out witt
NE ekid, then only TIVE fears Old, fof y