Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-06-04
CASTA DIVA.

himself therein, wrapping bis tricolered
dressing gown about him. i wish were
married. know lady-boards in the
same house, too--and l believe she'd have
me if ] were to ask her. mean the pretty
music teacher. She is young, delicate and
amiable; only there seems to be something
melancholy about her; she is widow. I
like her though. and believes she likes me;
I'll think this over. Ihave plenty of mon
ey, and nobody to spend it upon. Yes, l
think l will ask pretty Madame Victor to
marry me-
Rap, rap, rap.
Come in--who's there?'
Please, sir, it's your clean Clothes
Clean clothes! and play who are you,
you little cherub, and where do you come
from?'
Il am Lauretta, sir, and live with Brid-
get. who washes your clothes, and she sent
me with the basket, tonight
Yes, should think she did, you little
duckling; and the basket is larger than
yourself Come and sit down in this
chair by the fire and warm your toes
there, now, 1 want to talk to you.
Are yoa Bridget's child"
oh, no, SIR and look of care passed
over the little face.
No, l thought not. Washerwoman' S
children don't have such eyes, nor such
broad foreheads, nor soft hair. Well, bird
lie, how came you with Bridget? Have
you no parents?'
Il don't know. l only dream / have
Bridget les me stay with her because /
ca silg'
Sing! and what has that 10 DO with it?'
Oh. sir. sing my songs il the great
houses and they give ne sixpenoes. aad |
.aae them to Bridget
Aas. you pay Jour board then? Well
little Laaretta, viii you sing for me now?'
Yes indeed. and he little one stands uI
in the middle of the rug. and opening hel
rose bud mouth, she sings Casta Dival
Bless nay stars, what voice!
know something about music myself; a
least enough 70 know such a voice should
be fortune 10 tie one that possesses it,
Little one. whore did you learn thai?'
Nurse taught me-
'Nursei Who is nurse?'
'Narse is dead The dark eyes fill with
tears.and the ruby lips are quivering.
Mr.. Parton walks up and down the
room; his curiosity is excited as we'll as his
pity.
please, sir, shall have the basket
Bridget will scold me if ! stay so long
No, little one. will carry the baske
am going home with you
It's up FIVE flights OF stairs. sir, ant
: there is no light in the passage
All the more reason should go witt
, you. Now am ready. Come my littl
; singer, you and l will be better acquainted
before long. Don't fall down these steps
keep hold of my hand; here we are i
Broadway. Now where do we turn? dow
Prince Street, hey! and now down Crosby
What! do you live in this alley? Oh neve
fear, little Casta Diva, shall tread safel
enough while this little hand leads me-
Ugh! how many more flights are there?-
R only two!-well, can climb them if 70
can. So is this the door?'
2 Och, and is it you sir, that would b
after coming to see a poor woman at thi
hour? Will you be seated, SIR said Bird
get. wiping wooden chair with her apron
7 Your shirts were not ironed to be suitin
ye. may be?'
5 Shirts all right. Bridget. 1 came :
bring home your little girl and to as
. you something about her. She has bee
singing to me. Will you tell me wher
:, she came from?'
: .Ye take deal O. trouble for lone b
of childer, indeed sir; but her story j
not SO very long. She lived with furre
J. woman, in the room below; named There's,
: The woman she was waiting maid in Lau
n re,ta's family. in Italy, somewhere; an
: while she was out with the chill. then OF
ly two years old. for tie sake of the al
there came big row in the city, and tn
child's father was in the middle of it, an
got kilt; and when she reached the house
;. all in fright, sure it was on fire and th
mother of it gone, and never was she abl
find it. So she kept the child and sh
comes to America with it; for she hear
how the streets were paved with gold, an
when she came and found nary gold nc
food, but for the working, she had to go
work, as all we poor creatures do; but ni'
er bit would she let the child do for i
} self; but waited on it like slave, and onl
} taught il to sing, 'as its mother did befol
| it, she said; and last year Theresa died.