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

THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA. 217
surprised, Peter", he said, addressing trie latter, "surprised
to hear such language from my mouth, but don't
be surprised ; under God, I am indebted for my conversion
to the Blessed Virgin ; for when I was yet only
seeking the truth, groping about in the dark, as it were,
your brother there prevailed upon me to invoke her aid ;
and I can solemnly assure you that I was not slow in experiencing
the effects of her intercession. I am now
a Catholic, thanks be to God for all his mercies, and I
can truly say what I heard Mr. Weimar say in his last
moments—viz., that I owe my conversion, in a great
degree, to your brother's example, so beautifully illustra-
ting Catholic faith and Catholic morality",
Peter could not speak ; for the second time that evening
his heart was too full for words ; but he turned and
took his brother's hand, and pressed it between his own
in silent admiration. When he could speak, his exclamation
was— " My brother ! you are, indeed, the worthy
son of our pious parents ; henceforward, with God's
assistance, I will endeavour to imitate their example and
yours. Oh, sir", he said, addressing the priest, " you
don't know how far gone I was in wickedness ;
it fright-
ens me now to look back to where I stood two hours ago,
when my dear, dear brother, like the good shepherd, came
after me and brought me home. Surely, he has saved
me from the wild beasts that were lying in wait for me.
Would your reverence lend me a pen and ink for a
moment?"
He got a pen and ink, and in a few moments he handed
the following note to his brother to read
" Mrs. Watkins,
" Peter Burke— that i silly fellow 9
—
that i
is not worth