Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-21
SINGING FOR HER BREAD.
The Passengers OF n Ferry-boat 1Oyed
OTears-A Young Mothers BIighted

The Passengers OF n Ferry-boaf HOved
10 Tears-A Young Mothers BIighted
Life.
From the New York Graphic.
A little Italian woman, with a child
IN her arms, hurried through the gate
of the Roosevelt street ferry-house last
evening, andamomentla later was scarcely
discernible In the dark shadow of the
corner In which she sought shelter. She
was lily clad, and the major portion of
the thin, bright-colored shawl that COW
cred her head and shoulders was wrap
lovingly about the babe in her arms.
Her dress of calico was worn, faded,
and patchedin places until the original
pattern was little more than a patch
itself; yet there were no tattered ends,
no rags. The child nestled close to the
mother and babbled din subdued manner
scarcely audible few feet away. When
the boat entered the slip the mother was
the first to go on board. Well-dressed
men and women, and children clothed
In garments of rich warm texture, filed
the cabins, and the little Italian woman
attracted no attention, but remained
crouched in the further corner of the
forward cabin, probably unseen by
more than the two or three persons i'm
mediately surrounding her. Hardly
had the boat left the slip when the
chatter incident TO a public conveys
ance was arrested by the singing of the
first lines of the ballad, kathleen
Mavourneen" A moment later men
ceased reading their papers and
listened. All eyes were turned to the
insignificant figure in the dark corner.
When the last words had been sung, a
perfect storm of applause was given,
and In return the woman sang one of
her own native airs, ballad plaintive
and touching, of one whose home and
friends were far away, while she, the
child-widow, mournfully called on the
sea to give back her dead. Her voice
was marvellously sweet and clear, and
the air. rendered as it was with sub
dUed stress, was very effective. Sew
women sobbed aloud, while there were
not few men present who coughed
suspiciously and turned their faces
aside for a moment, using their
handkerchiefs very theoretically.
That woman left the cabin rich
er by a score of dollars,
for as she glided through the
crowd with outstretched palm bank
notes and loose change were pressed
into her hand In lieu of the pennies
usually cast to mendicants, for she was
but beggar. She related her story
subsequently to gentleman, who made
inquiry into her life. She was educated
for a public singer in her native city,
Genoa. Her father was chorister of
popular church. Four years ago she
fell in love with an American who was
visiting Genoa. Her father opposed
the attentions of the tourist, who he
said was dissipated. 1t was the old
story from that point. She fled with
her lover, and a few months later he
deserted her. By selling her jewelry
she paid an emigrant passage to New
York. Her baby was born on board
ship. She had searched the streets for
the man she believed was her husband
until she had no hope left. Even if she
found him he might repulse her. Her
baby was sick, and in devoting herself
to It's care she had lost her work. Now
she was a beggar. No, she would not
give her name; her friends should never
know her fate.