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

44 WILLY BURKE; OR,
" And you seem, my poor woman", said the priest in
a faltering voice, " as though a little money, silver or
gold, would be very acceptable".
A slight flush mounted to poor Biddy's cheek as she
replied, with downcast eyes, " Why, sir, there 's many
better off than I am, an' some worse ;
but sure whatever
way I 'm in, me an' mine, it 's the will o' God, an' welcome
be it, for ever and ever".
More and more interested, the priest went on to inquire
into her actual circumstances, and gradually drew
from her a confession that three children were altogether
depending on her daily labour, while her health was rapidly
on the decline, though, as she said, she strove to
conceal it from them.
" Well, my poor child", said the priest, and the tear of
pity trickled unheeded down his cheek, " I will not say
that you have done anything but your duty in giving up
this money ; for no Christian, at least worthy of tho
name, could have appropriated all or any of it to his or
her own use without sinning grievously against the law
of God ;
yet I will own that, situated as you are, it must
have been a sore temptation to you".
" Why then it wasn't, your reverence", said the widow,
with the touching simplicity of truth ; " for though I 'd
be thankful to the good God if He 'd be plased to give
me or my children a means of earnin' that we could depend
on, yet, somehow or another, I wasn't much tempted
to keep this money, thanks be to God for that, for I 'm a
poor, frail woman, an' I mightn't have been able to overcome
the temptation".
" Why, this unlearned, simple woman", said the priest
to himself, " is a pattern of true and unassuming piety".