The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-17
Casta Diva.


same house too'-and believe she'd have
mo if Iwcrc to ask her; mean the pretty
music teacher. She is young, delicate and
amiablc; only there seems to be something
melancholy about licr; she is Il widow; /
like her though, and believes she likes mo q;
I'll think this over. | have plenty of mo.
ney, and no body to spend it upon. Yes,
think will ask pretty Madame Victor to
marry me-"
Ray, rap, rap
"Come in-who's there 2"
"L'Icase, sir, it's your clean clotlcs.'
"Clean clothes ! and pray who arc you,
you little chcrub, and where do you come
from 2"
81 am Lauretta, sir, and live with Br;d
get, who washes yonr clothes, and she sent
Inc 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 tocs-thcre now,
I want TO talk with you. Are you Bird
gets child ?"
ooh no, sir" and look of care passed
over the little face.
"No, thought not. Washcrwomcn's
children don't have such eyes, nor such
broad forehead, nor soft hair. Well, birdie,
how come you with bridget? have YOU no
parents 2"
81 don't know. I only dream I have.
Bridget lets me stay with her because | can
sing"
"Sing, and what has that to do with it.!
"Oh, sir, sing my songs in the great
houses and they give me siSpences, and |
take them to Bridget"
"Aha, YOU pay your board then? Well,
little Laurctta, will you sing for me now ?"
"les, indeed" and the little one stands
up i'll the middle Of the rug, ami, opanin.
her rosebud mouth, she sings Casta Diva
'1'css my stars what voice! know
something about music myself; at least
enough to know that snch voice should
he fortune to the one that possesses it.
Little one, where did YOU learn that ?"
HNurse taught me-
"Nurse! Who is nurse?"
"Nurse is dead" The dark eyes fill with
tears, and the ruby lips are quivcry.
Mr.. Patron walks up and down the
room. His curiosity is excited as well as
his pity.
"Please, sir, shall I have the basket {?
Bridget will scold me if I stay so long"
"No, little one, will carry the basket, |
am going home with YOU"
sits up five flights Of stairs, sir, and there
is no light in the passage"
Gall the more reason should 90 with
you. Now am ready. Come, my little
singer, you and will lie acquainted before
long. Don't fall down these steps keep
hold of my hand here we ara n Broad
way. Now where d? We dow"
Prince street, hey and now Crosby.
What! do you live in this allcsS N. ncv-
CT fear, little Casta Diva, shantrc:ul safely
enough while this little hand leads me-.
Ugh how many flights are there ?--onlv
two We'll, l can climb them if vou can.
So, is this the door ="
''Och, aud is it you sir that would hc
after coming 20 sec Il poor woman at this
hour! Will you DC seated, sir" said I;ril-
get, wiping wooden chair with her apron.
"Your shirts were not ironel to be suitin,r
ye, may be?"
"Shirts all right Bridget. came to
bring home your little girl, and to ask YOU
something obout her, She has been sing
ing to me. Will you tell Inc where she
came from?"
''Ie take deal trouble for a lone bit
OF children, indeed, sir, but her story is
not so very long. She lived with furren
woman, i'll the room below, named Theresa.
The woman she was waiting maid in Lau
rettas family, in Italy, somewhere, and
while she was out with the child, then only
two years old, for tho sake Of the air, there
came big row in the city, and the clills
father was in the middle Of it, and got kilt ;
and when she reached the house, all in a
fright, sure it was on fire and the mother
OF it gone, and nivcr was she able to find
It. So she kept the child and comes to
America with it, for she heard how the
streets were paved with gold, and when she
came and found nary gold nor food but fo,
the working, she had to 60 to work, as all
we poor creatures do; an she took in wash.
ing in the one room down stairs but nivcr
bit would she let the child do for itself
but waited on it like slave, and only taught
it to sing, "as its mother did before it," She
sad; and last year Theresa died. This
poor creature took on so bad that I took
her myself, only I'll be bringin' her up diff
ferently, intirely; I'll teach her to earn her
bread, at any rate, and SO send her Out
every day, to sing to the great folks, an
makes her help me to carry around tho
clothes, and that is all, sir"
"lt was very good in you, Bridget. to
take the little orphan; you havo saved he,
from sad fate; you will be rewarded, vol
may depend"
Bridget raised her eyebrows and dropned
a courtesy, while little Casta Diva, as Mr.
Patron then, and ever since called her, bif
lfer face in the bed and sobbed to hear he
own story related, The kind gentlcma,
looked ather tenderly, and then continued
~ have plan for this poor child, which
will relieve you Of your charge, and repa,
you for your goodness of heart. Good
night, little one ). I'll come tomorrow. DR.
your tears, for I will yet make you happy
Here, Bridget, is some money for you, an, i
be sure you do not send her out to sint
again. have something better for her t
do"
Bridget drop. =. another courtesy; ant
her mouth opened wide-for she was al