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

172 WILLY BURKE ; OR,
" Why, vat de deevil is dis ?" cried Weimar, as lie held
the crucifix aloft, amid the tittering of the young men,
with the single exception of Dawson. " Vat dis ting dat
he carry in his pocket ? Oh, dis some Papist idol—
forget de name : vat you call it, eh, Talbot ?"
*' That is a crucifix", replied Talbot, calmly ; " but you
make a mistake, my friend, in calling it an idol—it is
merely a representation of our Lord's passion and death".
" Yes, yes", said the other quickly, " but vat's de use,
eh ? Vat good dis—vat you call it— dis presentation,
eh?"
" Eepresentation", said Talbot again.
u Ay, dat 's a long word ; veil vat good in dis ting ?
Why he carry it in his pocket ?"
" Eeally I do not know", rejoined Talbot.
I
" The first
part of your question I could easily answer ; but why
Willy Burke carries it about so, I cannot tell you ; for it
is by no means usual with us Catholics to have crucifixes
of that size upon our person. Answer Mr. Weimar's
question, Willy", he added, and his voice had almost all
its usual softness, for he became more and more convinced
that Willy had been wronged.
" Well, sir", said Willy, " I just put it in my pocket
when I was going to see my brother this evening ; and,
to tell you the truth, it was for it I came into the house
after I left the warehouse. I don't carry it with me any
other time, for it hangs on that nail at the head of my
bed".
" And vat you bring it out dis evening for ?"
" I wanted to show it to my brother, sir", and for the
first time Willy Burke hung his head, while his forehead
assumed a crimson hue.