The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-03-17
cAsTA DIVA.
A Nice Little Story Of Love and Charity.

alonep and he drew his easy chair
close to the FIRE and ensconsed him.
self therein, wrapping his tri-colored
dressing gown about him. :" / wish l
were married. l know a lady-boards
in the same house, too, and I believe
she'd have me, if were to ask her.
I mean the pretty music teacher. She
is young, delicate and amiable; only
there seems to be something melan-
choly about her, as though she had
known sorrow; besides she is wild
ow. / like her, though, and I believe
she likes me. I'll think this over. /
have plenty Of money, and nobody to
spend it upon. Yes. l think l will
ask pretty Madame Victor to marry
me-"
Rap. tap, tap. "Come in-who's
thereg'
"Please, sir, its your clean clothes. "
"Clean clothes! and pray who are
you, you little cherub, and where do
you come from
"I am Lauretta. sir, and live with
Bridget, who washes your clothes, and
she sent me with basket tonight.
Eyes, ! should think she had. you
little duokling; and the basket is big.
ger than yourself! Come and sit down
in this chair by the fire and warm your
toes-there now! l want to talk with
you. Are you Bridget's child 2"
"Oh, no, sir" n look of care passed
over the little face.
"No, thought not. Well, birdie,
how came you with Bridget? Have
you no parents =
"I don't know. I only dream
have. Bridget lets me stay with her
because ! can sing"
"Sing! And what has that to do
with it?"
"Oh. scr, I sing my songs in the
great house, and they give me six
pences, and / take them to Bridget .
"Aha! You pay your board. then?
Well. little Lauretta, will you sing for
me now?'
"Yes, indeed" aud the little one
stands up in the middle of the rug and
opening her little rosebud mouth, she
sings ''Casta Diva"
BLESS my stars, what voice! j
know something of music myself-at
least enough to know that such Il voice
should be fortune to the one who
possesses it. Little one, where did
you learn that Z"
Nurse that taught me-"
Nurse! who is nurse z"
Nurse is dead" The dark eyes
filled with tears and the ruby liDs are
quivering.
Mr.. Parton walks up and down the
room. His curiosity was excited al
well as his pity.
"Please sir, shall leave my basket:
Bridget would scold il stay so long.
"No, little one, will carry the bas-
ket; / am going home with you"
Its up five flights of stairs. sir.
and there is no light in the passage"
"All the more reason should go
with you. Now i am ready. Come,
my little singer, you and / will be bet
ter acquainted before long. Don't
fall down these stone steps; keep held
of my hand. Here we are in Broad
way. Now where do we turn? Down
Prince street, hey! and now down
Crosby. What, do you live in this al
ley? Oh. never fear, little Casta Diva
! shall tread safely enough while this
little haLd leads me- Ugh! how many
more flights are there ?-only two
Well, we'll. I can climb them if you
can. So, this is the door?"
"Oh, and is it you, sir, that would
be after coming to see poor woman
ut this hour? Will you be seated
sir ?" said Bridget. wiping wooden
chair with her apron. "Your shirts
were not ironed to be suiting you,
maybe"
"Shirts all right, Bridget, I came to
bring home your little girl, and to ask
you something about her. She has
been with me. VIII you tell me where
she came from ?"
eye takes Lit O. trouble for lone
bit of a child, indeed, sir; but he,
story is not so very long. She lived
with furrin woman il the room be.
low, named Theresa. The woman
said she was waiting maid in Lauretta's
family, in Italy somewhere, and while
she was out with the child, then orr,
two years old, there came big row i.
the CITY, and the child's father was il
the middle of it, and got kilt; an,
when she reached the house ELL in
fright, sure it was all on fire, and th
mother of it was gone, and never wa
she able to find her at all. So sh
kept the child and comes to Americ
with it; for she heard it told how th
streets were paved with gold; an,
when she come and found nary gol,
but fol- working, she had to 60 to wor
as we poor creatures do; and she too
to washing in the one room dow
stairs, but never bit would she lie
the child do for herself, but waite
upon her like slave, and only taugh
her to sing, "as its mother did befor
it," she said; and last year There's
died. This poor little creature too
on so bad that I took her myself, onl
I'll be bringing her up different er
tirely; I'll teach her to earn her brea
as any rate; and so I sinds her OF
livery day to sing to the great folks
land makes her to help me carr
laround the clothes; and that is al
sir"
sIt was very good in you, Bridge
to take the little orphan. You hav
saved her from sad fate. You wi
| be rewarded, you may depend"
l Bridget raised her eyebrows an
dropped courtesy, while Casta Divi
las Mr.. Parton then and ever since ha
LIZ L. II 4 . =.