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

THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA. 211
remain of that thousand, I want for some purposes that
I '11 tell you at another time, and the four thousand I 'm
going to divide with you—that will be two for each of
us. I think it will be best for us to leave it in the bank
till we 're a few years older, and then we '11 have it to
commence some business. Don't you think that 's the
best thing to do, Peter ?"
But Peter could not speak for some moments. This
generosity on the part of his brother touched his heart,
and opened it to better feelings. During the few minutes
that he remained silent, his memory rapidly ran over the
numberless instances wherein, during the last few years,
he had outraged and afflicted his brother ; he thought
how he had treated his fraternal counsels with scorn and
contempt, and how he had trampled on the love of their
early years ; and, above all, how he had deserted the
Church that Willy loved so well, and ranged himself
with her enemies, at least he had all but done this ; and
now, to see that brother—so wronged, so disgraced, so
outraged—bestow upon him, in return, the half of his
little fortune ; truly, it was more than Peter could bear :
the long buried affection of early youth burst forth again,
and when he clasped his brother's hand, and murmured,,
M God bless you, Willy ! God bless you !" that brother
felt that a change—a mighty change—had passed over
his spirit, and he said within himself—
" I thank thee, God ! I thank and bless thee ; thy
gift has, indeed, regained for me the long- lost affection
of my brother. Now, sweet Virgin Mother ! that I have
succeeded so far, I know thou wilt help me in the yet
more important attempt to be made!"
" Well ! now that you find that I 'm not ' too proud to