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

70 WILLY BUKKE; OE,
much. There 's some clothes there in the tub, belongin' to
a lady down town, an' she paid me beforehand for doin'
them too—God bless her kind heart. Now, if you 'd be
so good as to get one o' the girls to wash an' iron them, so
that Willy could take them home, it 'id be a great relief
to my mind, an' I '11 pay yon, plase God, what I got myself
for doin' them—that 's half a dollar !"
" Ah, then, if that 's all that 's troublin' you, Mrs.
Burke, dear ! you may make your mind aisy ; for my Anne
there did them up an' ironed them this mornin', an' now
they 're aired an' all, ready to send home, but I didn't
know where to send them. Willy can go with them as
soon as yon like ; an' as to payment, aroon! I '11 not take
a penny. So don't let me hear a word more about it ; if
God spares you life and health, you '11 do as much for me
when I 'm in a pinch !"
" Well, God reward you— for I 'm sure I never can ;
that 's all I can say !" was Mrs. Burke's reply ; and her
faint, tremulous tones alarmed her nurse so much that she
would not suffer her to say another word.
CHAPTER V.
a mother's death-bed.
IBOUT half an hour had passed, Willy was
gone home with the basket of clothes, and
his mother had fallen into a light slumber,
when she was suddenly awoke by a
low whispering at the door, and starting,
she said : " Isn't that Pether's voice I
hear ? Are you there, Pether ?"
44 1 am then, mother dear !" cried Peter, darting for-