True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-06-30
4 A BEAUTIFUL STORY..
Casta Diva.
A TALE OF LOVE.

'tHeigh hol" sighs Mr.. Parton, "what
forlorn thing ii is to live alone !" and he
drew his easy chair close 10 the fire and
esconsed himself therein, wrapping his
tricOlored dressing gown about him. 81
wish I were married! know lady
boards in this same house, too-and /
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, as though she had known
sorrow; besides, she is widow. | like
her though, and / believe she likes me.
I'll think this over. have plenty of
money, and nobody to spend it upon
Yes, l think | will ask pretty Madame
Victor TO marry me-"
Rap, tap, tap! .a ..-...
"Come in who's there"
"Please, sir, it's your clean clothes 2"
"Clean clothes and pray who are you,
you little cherub, and where do you come
FRONT"
IL am Lauretta, Sir; and live with
Bridget, who washes your clothes, and
she sen, me with the basket tonight"
eyes, | should think she had. you
little ducklipg; and the basket is bigger
than yourself! Come and sit down in
this chair by the fire and warm your toes
there now want to talk with you.-
Are you Bridget's child !"
ooh, no sir" and look Of care passed
over The little face.
''No. I thought not Washerwomen's
children don't have such eyes, nor such
broad foreheads, nor such hair. Well,
birde,how come you with Bridget! Have
you no parents ~ sr,-
II don't know. only dream l have
Bridget let's me stay with her because !
can sing"
"Sing and what has that to do with
it," ma str,..
"Oh, sir, sing my songs in the great
houses and they give me sixpences and ]
take them 10 Bridget" .r
"Aha. you pay your board, then 3
Well little Lauretta, will you sing for me
now :" . st.f .er.e.
"Yes, indeed" and the little one stands
up in the middle of the rug, and opening
her rosebud mouth, she sings Casta Diva
"Bless my stars, what voice! know
something Of music myself;at least enough
10 know that such voice should be 6
fortune to the one who possesses it! Lit
tle one, where did you learn that I"
''Nurse taught me-"
nNurse. Who is Nurse Z" a
"Nnrse is dead" The dark eyes fiji
with tears, and the ruby lips are culver
ing. oa-
Mr.. Parton walkd up and down tn,
room. His curiosity is excited as vel
as his pity.
"Please sir, shall l have my basket
Bridget will scold if stay so long,"
"No little one l will carry the basket
am going home with you" w
"It's up five flight Of stairs, and Their
is no light in the passage e5 =.
uAll The more reason should 60 will
YOU. Now am ready. Come, my it'll
Singer, you and will be better acquainte,
before long. Don't fall down these ston
steps keep hold OF my hand here WI
are in Broadway. Now where do W
urn---up Prince street, hey?--and nov
down Crosby. What. do you live in thi
alley! Oh, never, fear, little Casta Diva
I shall tread safely enough while this littl
hand leads me. Ugh how many NOR
flights are theyl only two' Well, well
lean climb themif you can. So, is thi
the door?" a,.aag ry j9'." 11
aOch, an is it you, sir, that would b
after coming to see apoor woman at thl
hourl Will you be seated, sir !" sal
Bridget, wiping wooden chair with he
apron. "Your shirts were not ironed I
be sui,ing ye, maybe I" haaa-1 'b
"Shiris all right, Bridget. Icame
bring home your little girl, and to as
something about her. She has bee
singing to me. Will you tell me lwher
she came from ?"Wla soigsgI % aao,
"Ye takes q deal Of trouble for Ion
bit Of child, indeed, sir; but her story
not so very long. She lived with furri
woman, in the room below, name
Theresa. The woman said she was
waiting maid in Lautetts's' family,
Italy somewhere, and while she was o.
with the child, then only two years OF
for the sake Of ;he air. there came b
row in the city, and the child's father WI
in the midst Of it, and got kilt; and wht
she reached the house, all in fright, sui
twas all on fire and the mother Oft gon
and niyer was she able to find her at a
So she kept the child and comes
America withit; for she heard tell he
the streets were paved With gold; al
wher, she came and found nary gold n
food but for the workiu, she had to 60
work as all we poor crayther's do; a
she took in washing in the one roc
down stairs; but niver bit would s
let this child do for itself, but waited
like slave, and only taught j 70 e.