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

186 WILLY BURKE; OR,
blacken and defame that virtuous lad ; and the result of
your machinations has been to establish his character on
a firmer basis than ever, so that our opinion of him cannot
be again changed; while you are dismissed from
your situation, which you had filled for two years before
we knew him, and go forth suspected, so that nothing
could induce us to recommend you to any office of trust.
Take my word for it, Wilson, that the safest road, even
in a worldly point of view, is the way of God's commandments.
The way of sin and error will never bring you
to true happiness, even limiting the expression to the
happiness of this life".
" At any rate", was the answer, " I don't want to be
schooled by any one. I guess I 'm quite able to care of
myself, and to judge for myself too. I, at least, Mr.
Talbot, will never submit my judgment to that of any other
—I leave that to Papists who i hear the Church', As
for losing my situation, I don't care a straw about it
the loss ain't much". Mr. Talbot only smiled—it was a
smile of pity—but Mr. Weimar raised his head from the
desk where he had been writing, and angrily ordered him
to quit the place instantly.
" If you speak anoder word here", he said sternly, " I '11
have de porters kick you out. How dare you speak so
to Mr. Talbot, after we let you off so easy widout making
everybody know what great scoundrel you are? Go
off, I sayj or you '11 not be glad for staying".
u
I will go, old ginger-face", said Wilson, his face pale
with the intensity of his passion ; " but be sure that I '11
cherish the remembrance of your parting words".
At the special request of Mr. Talbot, the other two
lads were kept, as their guilt had been much less than
—