Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-03-17

Lacia, you shall be E,igario. See. with
this sword and belt you will look like \
man and you must love me passiopately
and be killed and shall 20 mad and
rave over your dead body"
Then the two curious little lassies wer,
instructed in the art of killing and dying
with stage directions for entrees and exits,
while the little Adelina unbond the
glossy, long braids of her blue-black
hair, and went "mad and raved" over
her lover with the tin sword and belt who
lay dying before her.
Many years after, when the famous
prima donna, then but mere girl, made
her debut at the Philadelphia Academy OF
Music, the opera was "Lucia de Lamin.r.
moor" but the Edgardo of the play-room
sat among the audience-noi in tin
sword and belt, and wondered if there
came recollection to the diva of her
childhood's performance in the old play
room.
But to go back to my story. That
afternoon was all too short, nOtwithstand-
ing full repertoire of operas was gone
through, with brilliant effect and when
the summons came for the little Adelina
concert, she was unwilling to obey, pro-
testing forcibly in her pretty, half-brokcn
English, and emphasizing her dislike
with shrugs and stamps, and naughty
sounding French and Italian words, which
made the lassies open their blue eyes,
quite shocked at their diva's temper.
Maurice" who was very good -natured,
listened laughingly to the TRADE, and then
compromised by allowing his mistress to
take back with her to the hotel her
beloved little friends, to see her dressed
for the concert,
Oh, the wonder of it To see the little
pink silk robe, with its graduated bands
of black velvet and lace, spread out upon
the bed, not by mothers careful touch,
but by a fathers hand the tiny boots
laced up neatly, and the tumbled locks
braided, looped around the little ears,
adorned with velvet rosettes. and
diamonds hung therein then pair of
kid gloves coaxed on the dark, 1.-THE
hands, and by degrees, before their eyes,
the lassies beheid their little, frowzy care
less romp of the play room transformed
into wonderful young lady in silk and
jewels-a prima donna.
"Now, be sure to sit in the very trontest
seats, so can see you the whole time, and
wait for me after the concert is over, so
can kiss you good night won't you "
she coaxed, as the lassies were hurried
away to be dressed for the evening.
Was it "Addie," they wondered, when
there was handed out upon the stage, to a
round of rapturous applause, little, self
possessed, low-courtesying damsel, who
scanned the House with indolent, naughty
eyes, until they fell upon the "frontest'
seats, and then-ought it to be told OF
her actually winked her recognition as
the bright eyes discovered her playmates
of the day, looking up in alteration at the
marvellous creature before them.
Then, pause, a prelude, and-was ii
lark or nightingale 80 Luce de
Quest Anima," Carnival de Venice, y
"Casta Diva" gushed out of the little
merited applause. 1t was exquisite,
knows now.
The concert over, low, sweeping bow
Il bright smile, and quick little nod
toward the front row of seats, and pres
entity whirl Of rose-colored silk came
rushing down the aisle, and hall OF the
crowd remaining behind, beheld a
pathetic little tableau.
"We are going away tonight, now, and
| never knew it % cried the child. throw
ing her arms around her two little friends.
"And Maurice says must say goodbye,
and | shall never see you again. Promise
me you will never forget me - and with
Il passion of embraces and tears, she re-
peated over and over: "Promise me you
will never, never forget me!'
"Npver Never!'' came back the sob
bing replies. Then II long clinging oI
dark arms to two white little necks, q
hurried snatching away of the tear
stained, tragic little creature, and the
carriage whirled away-far away upon
tine "ilood of years''--the much beloved
and never-torgotten little child priina
donna.