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

138 WILLY BURKE; OR,
" Why, Willy ! how in the world do you think of such
nice little plans ?" asked the elder. " I 'm sure you 're
always thinkin' of something good. Oh, then, Bridget,
won't that be the fine thing all out ?"
" Yes, but, Alice ", said Mrs. Williams, who had been
an unwitting listener from the beginning, and now
entered from the next room— " yes, but when you and
Bridget put your money to such use as that, you must
have a little more to give. Here is another half dollar
for them, Willy : that will make their half dollar a whole
one. And now, children, as I know you are all anxious
to see Father Fitzherbert, you can go at once ; be sure,
Willy, you come back with the girls to tea ; I want you
liere every Sunday evening that you can come ". And so
saying, herself put on the little girls' bonnets, and
laughingly pushed them from the room, saying— " There
now, you want very badly to thank ' good Mrs. Williams'
but another time will do. Clear out, all of you !"
Willy then took his sisters to bid " good bye" to the
priest, and receive his parting benediction. The tears
stood in his eyes when Father Fitzherbert asked for
Peter. Willy could scarcely command his voice to tell
that he wasn 't in when he called for him ; and the priest
shook his head, for he saw that the boy was too sensible
of his brother's danger. Before leaving, Willy asked
whether he might not come again the next evening, after
school. " For ", said he, " I have a book belonging to
your reverence ; it is the history of the Church, sir,
and I didn't bring it with me, because I wanted to see
your reverence again before you go". Having received
a kind and cordial consent, Willy made his best bow,
and his sisters their lowest curtsey, and all three retired.
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