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

THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA. 11
when the comfortable homestead of Andy Burke was left
to utter loneliness, when the family that had for so many
years nestled in peace and love beneath its well-smoked
roof-tree, set forth as wanderers for a distant, and to
them unknown country, carrying with them little but the
hoarded faith of their fathers, and the love and respect
of their humble neighbours. Yet these were blessings
— great and consoling, and so did Andy Burke and his
wife regard them. Like the dove, sent out from the
shelter of the ark, they went forth over the world's waste,
unknowing where they might find a resting place ; but
their souls were in peace amid all their sorrow, for they
were filled with an humble yet lively confidence in God.
Some of the convoy (as those processions are called)
being on foot, went but a few miles of the journey, and
then returned home, with many a fervent blessing on the
heads of the travellers. Others, who were variously
mounted, some on horseback and others on the wheeled
cars of the country, accompanied the Burkes to the town
whence they were to embark for Liverpool, and it was
already noon-day when they all stopped before the steamboat
office.
At length the final moment came, and it was one of
severe trial. The friendship of years was rent asunder,
as though by death, and they who had grown up side by
side—whose childhood, and youth, and maturity, had
passed together, were now parted, as they sadly felt, " to
meet no more on earth". But here again came in the
consoling aid of their common faith ; and with the parting
grasp of the hand were spoken such touching
assurances as these