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

26 WILLY BUKKE; OR,
and happier, for he had several respectable-looking
volumes, neatly strapped up, and in each of these he was
to learn an allotted lesson. When her washing was done,
she hastened to get her sewing and sit down beside Willy
where he was studying his lessons, and she was beyond
measure gratified to hear the fine descriptions of far-off
lands and seas ; and even the grammar, though it was all
Greek to her, was listened to with a gratified ear— for
wasn't it all " fine larnin' " for her boy ? The lessons
were at last learned, and supper being over and the rosary
said, Willy and his little sisters went to bed. But it was
long before their mother sought that repose which her
day of toil rendered so necessary ; for over and above the
full half- hour which she nightly devoted to her prayers,
she sat for some time on the night in question musing
over the past and present, and indulging in many a bright
thought of her children's future.
For about a week matters went on thus. Willy, after
coming from school, went about and did all the little jobs
that his mother required, went her errands for the next
day, and saw that he had left nothing undone, then
eagerly applied himself to his books, and was soon absorbed
in the delightful task of conning over his lessons.
But one evening towards the end of the week he suddenly
stopped short in the middle of a phrase, and his mother
asked in alarm : " What is the matter !" " Why, mo*
ther, isn't this odd ?" said the boy in reply.
" What is it, dear ?"
u Jist listen to this, mother" ;
and he went on to read
aloud a passage in his next day's lesson of geography,
wherein, accordi g to the custom of modern geographers
who write for Protestant schools, the religion of Catho-