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

222 WILLY BTJBKE ; OR
to the house of mourning. Death was there, it is true,
for poor Barney O'Grady had departed in the course of
the previous night ; but they gladdened the hearts of the
desolate widow and her children by a gift which raised
them for that time above want—enabled them to bury
their dead in a respectable manner, and, as Mrs. O'Grady
said— " It '11 leave something in our hands, besides, to
commence some little business when we get settled. May
the great God reward you, Willy Burke and Peter, for all
that you 've done for me and mine. An' he will : you
may be sure he will. An* sure isn't he givin'you now the
reward of your mother's good works ? Glory be to his
holy name !"
" It is very true, Peter", said "Willy to his brother,
when they had quitted the house— " it is very true what
poor Mrs. O'Grady says—the great blessings that we
have received and are receiving, are, I doubt not, the
hundredfold reward which the Christian virtues of our
parents induced the Lord to bestow, even on us, their
unworthy children".
Before they went home they purchased a handsome
present for good Mrs. Malcolm, " who stood my friend",
said Willy, " when, except Dawson, there was not one to
speak for me". It was a piece of rich silk for a dress,
and never was a young queen newly crowned prouder of
her jewelled diadem than was the worthy Scotchwoman
of her dress,
" For", said she, "it is na the value o' the thing that
I haud account of—na, na, its the gratitude o' the laddie
that mak's me set sae muckle store by his present. You
see, laddies", addressing the other young men, " that