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

WILLY BTJKKE; OK,
which a few simple words had effected. But he speedily
arrived at the conclusion, that their marvellous success
was owing to the excellent training which had implanted
the divine truths of religion in the fervid soul of the boy,
and fostered therein the liveliest remembrance of God.
Peter Burke was not yet returned from the country,
and Willy delivered his message to Mrs. Watkins, earnestly
imploring that his brother might be sent for. " An"
if you '11 only have the goodness to tell me the way,
ma'am", said, he, " I '11 thry an' make out the place myself,
with God's help".
Mrs. Watkins, to do her justice, was shocked to hear
of Mrs. Burke's alarming illness ; and as she thought of
her emaciated features and woe-begone looks during their
last interview, and remembered the deadly faintness which
had come over her, the inward monitor of all mankind
spoke out fearfully loud within her soul, charging her with
the unwarrantable part which" she had acted towards the
poor, unprotected widow. An ashy paleness overspread
.her face, as she said in tremulous accents, " No, Willy,
but go home
now, and to-morrow morning, by the first light of day, I
shall send for your brother, and have him go to his mother
at once.
late
Nay, I may even send to-night, it is not yet too
!"
" Thank you, ma'am", said Willy, with a low bow, and
he hastened away, being anxious to relieve the priest from
his watch beside the sick-bed of his mother. On entering
the room, he found there Mrs. 0' Grady, the landlady, who
had kindly volunteered to take care of her lodger during
her illness. The good woman had a grown-up daughter,
who, as she said to Father Fitzherbert, could keep house
^you could never make your way there alone ;