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

188 WILLY bukke; or,
O'Hara doesn't know him at all. At any rate, I think
I '11 go this very night and ask his advice".
" Do, Will", said Mrs. Williams, " and I 'd have you
go, too, and try to see poor Peter. I wish you could get
him to come often er here, so that we might reason with
him, and try to make him understand the danger he 's in.
Alas ! it was an evil day for him— poor, misguided boy—
when he went back to those people". 1
" You may say that, Mrs. Williams", said Willy,
mournfully ; " for if God hasn 9
t forbid it, they '11 rob
him of what little faith he has. Poor fellow, he never
could be got to read any books that would have instructed
him in religious matters ; neither would he go to hear
sermons ; and how could he know much about his own
religion ? So they know that very well—these people
that he 's got in with—and they 're the very set that can
take advantage of his ignorance. Oh, girls", he added,
addressing his young sisters, with a burst of tender emotion
that brought tears to his eyes— " oh, girls, if your
poor mother or father was alive, and see their son on the
way of turning his back on the holy Church of God—but
its well they 're not living to see that, for I 'm sure it
would break their hearts. Pray for him, Bridget and
Alice", he said, as he arose and took his cap, wiping the
tears from his eyes at the same time, " and you, Mrs.
Williams ; you '11 be mindful of him in your prayers—
know you will".
" Indeed, I will, Willy dear ; may the Lord in mercy
hear our prayers".
" And Willy", said Alice, running after her brother to
the door, " don 't forget to tell Peter that Bridget and I
are praying for him to the Blessed Virgin— our mother
I