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

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THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA. 187
that of Wilson, on whose instigation they had solely
acted. Willy Burke was forthwith placed in the situa-
tion left vacant by Wilson's departure, and so far all
went well.
Next evening Willy went to see his sisters, and give
Mrs. Williams an account of what had happened on the
preceding day, concealing, however, the name of the delinquent.
The little girls cried bitterly when they heard
of the sore trial their brother had undergone, while Mrs.
Williams could only raise her hands and eyes towards
heaven in silent thankfulness ; for her heart was full of
joy and gratitude on hearing the beautiful morality of
the religion she loved so fully vindicated and so triumphantly
proved. Willy had studiously avoided taking
any merit to himself, giving to God, as a Christian should,
all the merit and all the praise, yet Mrs. Williams extended
her hand to him when he had concluded, and
said, while the glow of genuine feeling lit up her faded
cheek
" May the Lord bless you, my child—and bless you he
will—for you make it your chief care to do his holy will,
as in duty bound. Go on as you are going, and be assured
that you will pass unscathed through the fire of this
world's temptations and allurements ; they cannot harm
those who are strong in faith and humble in heart".
16 Ah but, Mrs. Williams", said Willy, with a sudden
change of manner, " what is to become of poor, unfortunate
Peter ? I 'm afraid what I heard is too true, for he
hinted it to me plainly enough after we left here on that
Sunday evening when we last called to see you. I wish",
he added with a sigh, " that Father Pitzherbert was come
back ; maybe he could do something with him, for Father