Willy Burke, or, The Irish orphan in America - Digital Repository ...

6 WILLY BURKE; OK,
set out in the mornin' ". Here some of the children ran
in to say that Father Maloney was coming up the boreen,
whereupon there was a general move, and all went to the
door to receive the priest, who had come on purpose to
pay a farewell visit, and leave his benediction with a
family which stood so high in his estimation. It was how
drawing towards evening, and one after another the
neighbours entered, each one reverently saluting the
priest ; and having received a friendly word or smile,
retired to where some friend was seated, if possible near
some of the Burke family, who were, of course, the objects
of all attention. Around the wide hearth was drawn
a circle, consisting of the priest, Andy Burke, and his
wife, and some ten or twelve of the older neighbours, of
both sexes. The remainder of the large kitchen was
crowded with young people—boys and girls, men and
women—while here and there amongst them might be
seen the young sons and daughters of the house, each
forming the centre of a little group. And the children,
amazed at finding themselves suddenly so important,
waxed forward and loquacious, and chatted away more
flippantly than they had ever done before. About night-
fall a stir was visible about the door, giving reason to
suppose that some distinguished arrival had taken place,
and a voice was heard saying : u Arrah, then, Tommy
Cooney, will you jist take your long legs out o' the mas-
ter's road ? Mrs. Burke, ma'am, here's master Dogherty ;
but the sorra bit o' him can get in at all, at all !" A way
was instantly made for the honoured guest, and Biddy
herself came forward, with both hands outstretched, and
a cordial " God save you, masther". " God save you
kindly, Mrs. Burke", was the old man's quick reply, as