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

THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA. 105
isn't his evenin' to visit us ", and again he sighed heavily :
for he had a misgiving that his brother was again rushing
into danger. Just then they reached the schoolhouse,
and conversation was, for that time, at an end.
On the following morning Willy Burke was up and
dressed by the light of the early dawn. " Will you come
to Mass, Peter ?" he said, awakening his brother from a
heavy slumber; "the morning is very fine, and we can
be back in time for breakfast ".
" Can 't you go off alone, as you do every mornin' ",
said Peter peevishly, " an' let me sleep a little longer ?
I wish you 'd mind your own business, an* not be botherin'
me ; when a body 's tired after their day's work, its the
least they may sleep as long as they can. God knows
we have to be up an' at work early enough !"
" Well, Peter, I 'm sorry you '11 not come this mornin',
for I 'm afeard you have a temptation before you, an' you
stand in need of double grace. That 's just the reason I
asked you to come with me now ".
But Peter grumbled and turned lazily on his bed, as
though desirous of sleeping again ; so his brother was
fain to leave him, being fearful of losing the six o'clock
Mass, at which he could alone be present, as breakfast
was generally over by seven.
When supper was over that evening, Willy went alone
to school, while his brother proceeded to pay his promised
visit to Mrs. Watkins. On leaving the school-house,
Willy was agreeably surprised to find Peter waiting for
him at the first corner.
" Why, Peter ", he said, " you 're earlier than I
thought you 'd be. I was afraid you might be stayin' at
Mrs. Watkins till I 'd have to go home alone ; an' Mrs*