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WILLY BURKE ;
OR,
THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA.
BY
MRS. J. SADLIER.
id) 0
" Let not ambition mock their tisefal toil, Their homely joys, and destiny obscure; Nor grandeur hear with a disdainful smile, The short and simple annals of the poor."
■Gray.
BOSTON: THOMAS B. NOONAK & CO.
1
PEEFAOE.
nnms little work was written for the express -L purpose of being usefUl to the young sons of my native land, in their arduous struggle with the tempter, whose nefarious desig>' of bearing them from the faith of their fathers .^ so artfully con- cealed under every possible disguise. The most plausible pretence is, that men make their way better in this money-seeking world, by becoming Protestants ; and the fallacy of this saying I have endeavored to show, by proving that a man may be a good Catholic, a sincere Christian, — and yet obtain both wealth and honor even here below. If my young countrymen would all take Willy Burke for their model — humble as he is — I will venture to promise that the Irish in America would soon become wealthy, esteemed, and respected ; for we are told by our Divine Master, that if we ♦• seek first the kingdom of God and His justice, "all things else shall be added thereto." The exiled children of Ireland have a noble part to play over all the earth, — that of spreading the true faith ; and they should never forget that this glorious prerogative
(Ui)
^ 4
iv
PREFACE.
V
has been earner? f^r. *k
«n<. persecution which tTeir'^^' "^^ "' ''^"^"S for the sake of conscience and ',"' ""'' *'"'"«'' Irish Catholic who is thll ^''^°''- !■«' every
jvide waste, remember ttol" T'^''" theworlc^s t™th, and practise tie lessrr„'H'"r"-'"P<"^'"« ^pretending pages. °" "^ "« '^"""d in these
Montreal, ^Member, im.
\
\
WILLY BURKE,
CHAPTER I.
THE DEPARTURE FROM IRELAND, AND DEATH
AT SEA.
TT was a sorrowful day in a certain parish of -^ the. county Tipperary, when Andy Burke, one of the principal farmers of the district, set out with his numerous family for " the land of the Far West." In their day of prosperity, Andy Burke and his worthy helpmate had been public benefactors — the comforts by which they were surrounded were liberally shared with their poorer neighbors, and their house had ever afforded a shelter for the house- less wanderer. Like Goldsmith's curate, " the long remember'd beggar was their guest " year after j-ear, and the warmest nook in the wide kitchen was ever reserved for the poor way- farer. Their children had grown up amid the prayers and blessings of the poor, and now when the hand of misfortune weighed heavily on them all — when the good farmer found it
I
WILLY BURKE ; OR,
icTr2tT'^'''''' ^'* ^^^ '•'"""y to Amer.
calaZvTn ;i;ich /hp"* ,T '■'°'"-"«' "« « shared/ U those dav, f °'' f %hborhood
iie or she who «<af ^„^ ^ i , "^ ^®' ^'i<^'
first be paid" thf ^"^ penalty - which must country ^;l'^a,?^,7°Jt''" '■~'" ''^"'^ »»<» e-g/rated infeouths o'/rS"^!"? "^
B>ake it an „„dS„- o/ *r::t%MTr'' *? much daneer and iri r, f pifflc'ilty and
but few S^s for iiJ^" b"* T " ^^^' *' ^ad The latter eZciallvh^ ^"*^ °'" '"« ^i^. givings as%:Te"efuIt of S'""'.,'''*' ™'^-
about taking, and to he V 'v as? h?7^'"l scarcely brins her<iplf Z i -T 2 ^"'' "O''^
hope. It was the %.?;., ^ '"""^ ^'"'^"''^ ^vith departure 7hm fit "J^"^"""'"^ l^^fo™ their toletherlnmlTanS:,:!^ ?„S -* ''-» nwtter so often discussed befOTeT""^ "'"' "'^
THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA.
" Well, after all, Andy," said his wife, " I can't help thinkin' that it would have been as well, ay, an' better, for us to stay at home, where, if we came to trouble or desolation, we'd have the old neighbors and friends about us to comfort us."
"An' sure there's ne'er a one knows that better than myself, Biddy, asthore machree,'* said Andy, as he took the pipe from his mouth and laid it on the hob (i. e. back-stone) beside him, " but then, as I often told you before, this poor old country's growin' every day worse an* worse, an' where's the prospect for » large family risin' up about us ? Sure, as it is now, it's just all we can do to pay the landlord and the tithe-proctor, and all the rest, so that we're only workin' the skin off our bones for them that doesn't thank us ; and when the boys an* the girls are grown up, what have they before them here but a life of hard labor, an' nothin' for it — that's the worst of all. No, no, agra ! for their sakes we must go to the strange coun- try, while we have a little money in our hands ; for if we waited some time longer it 'id slip through our fingers, and leave us without the means of goin' anywhere."
" Well, I know it's all true enough, Andy, dear," replied Biddy with a heavy sigh, " an' I'm not the one to gainsay what I know is God's truth, but then wouldn't it be better to live in poverty here, where we have our chapel an' our priest within a mile of us — an' where
\i
8
^ILLV BURKE ; OR,
a strange country, wherp IL "'*'" «" grand in I'e have to travel hrnd>t^^''^'.'''-^J'°» 'J "ay-
°f their souls? Js^il't C kV"'?^''^^^ the"Z' the happiness of Hvin' ?„ ^'^'T'"' *>' God, an'
t's ye«elf rf X^,'^^"^;- true enough, an' sure -"ekterV'tr "A- tC a^' '^^
'^hich stood so hio^h j„ ??''«=tion with a fam^Iv now drawing towfrd " t' «?"«ation. ft ^^{ another the leiXrs I?"'^^' ''"^ one after «ntl.r saluting the priLf ^'■^''' ^"ch one wver a friendly wofd o^ f^Tl 'r'ired f^^K '-''"^" mend was seated, ifno^J^i ^ ^''ere some B"rte fami,,., wh^ were of !.' "''"' ^"""^ of the of all attention. ArZJiu^'""'^^ the objects
te ^ ^'-'o «°nti tJof'Z''^^ ^«arthC Jlurke and his wife an,7 f "" P'^'est, Andv the older ne,^h}^ll Ti ^""^ ten or tw^lt „^
sexes. The
re-
*l
THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA. 9
mainder of the large kitchen was crowded with young people— boys and girls, men and wo- men—while here and there amongst them might be seen the young sons and daughters of the house, each forming the centre of a little group. And the children, amazed at finding themselves suddenly so important, waxed for- ward and loquacious, and chatted away more flippantly than they had ever done before. About nightfall a stir was visible about the door, giving reason to suppose that some dis- tmguished arrival had taken place, and a voice was heard, saying, "Arrah, then, Tommy Cooney, will you just take your long legs out o' the master's road? Mrs. Burke, ma'am, here's Master Dogherty, but the sorra bit o* him can get in, at alFat all ! " A way was in- stantly made for the honored guest, and Biddy herself came forward with both hands out- stretched, and a cordial "God save j^ou, mas- ter ! " " God save you kindly, Mrs. Burke ! " was the old man's quick reply, as she led him up to a seat beside the priest ; " sure I came to see the last of the boys and girls, and to give ye all an old man's blessing — where are the little ones ? "
" Here, master,"— and *' here "— and " here " — and before the worthy pedagogue could find time to make a suitable reply to Father Ma- loney's friendly salutation, he found himself surrounded by the younger children, four in number, while the two elder, a boy and a girl,
10
WILLY BURKE ; OR,
knows, this famih- is a Stn .1 ^T'' " ^od for old and youn Jof thPm 1 *^ ''■''°''' P''"*. all -sure Imavst-ul^'^ "" "-^'"np'^ '<> away from 2X17,1 l,Sn f fh i-f" *'"'-^'''« going dreu in my 4ooi "Vf d"^' °^ these chil? ther Malonev I In™/? k *'*'''"'«' *» you, Fa- own flesh and blood " " "' '^ ^ey^er; my
Wolned^he^Uesf.' .'^nd Vt' ''" ^"^"^-'^V' part, to wish that thev ml ""I? °'''^'' *■<"■ ™V a foreign land, as gZd an^dod '""'' '''^"°-^" I have ever found them 'r^?K "^, •>"°'' "nd to pray that 0^1^; soL J' '?k^ ^' '^''^^ worthy parents." ^ '^^ *° ^''e'n their
hert^ while "ill'' vS'"'".r''' faster Do.- "ana hoS J:^„^°':^*'«d with emotioS,
that taught /e how tr> .^^1 *''® P"""" "W man -an' that ye'U rememW h?'°"' P^^^'-books -an' never be aXmtd .^ '° ^'°"'' P^''^'^^ they say some grow to^eh,^,^'""'' """""^'i' »« of being born i^Twor oM T^ f'''7^ ^ P^-ond was, ay,''and it is? the IslL'^^^^^"".' ^^^^^^ " above all, children ve'll h„ "'^^amts ; — and
" '•engion that ye learned here at
THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA.
11
home ; for ye may be sure that if ye forget it, or let j'ourselves be drawn awaj' from it, ye have iiQ chance for happiness in the worki to come. Think of this, an* remember what 3'e have often heard his reverence here say from the altar, that " there is but the one thing neces- sary.'* Each of ye has but one soul, an* if you lose it what will become of you?"
The children listened . with downcast eyes, while not only their parents, but all the imme- diate auditors, were affected even to tears bj^ the touching solemnity of the old man's ac- cents. Meanwhile there was a running fire of question and answer going on at the lower end of the kitchen. Many stories were told of wonderful fortunes made in a short time in America, and of marvellous adventures which there befell sundry persons mentioned. Ex- cited by these narratives, jaany of the young people were heard to wish that they had the means of going. " An* it isn't the money, either, that *id keep me at home,*' said one 3'oung fellow, " for, with God's help, I could raise as much an 'id take me, but then the old mother yonder 'id never hear of my goin*, and troth, if it wasn*t for her I*d be off with the Burkes."
" An' me too, Ned," cried Larry Gallagher, his friend and neighbor, " only my father wouldn't hear tell of it — he saj^s it's an unnat- ural thing to leave poor old Ireland, where we were bred an' born, an' our generations afore
^'^
12
>^ILLY burke; OB,
n
-T'fl have mv shn™^- *i. •* 'P'' America,' -_ an' What- bold rwouli"' ^°'''' °'" ^'^ '^""'^ fo"
packed up ; a^nd ttongTthevTa A'*'' '^T '^'l with genuine Irish larmS .""^ ''"en solicited
selves for the niX on"! • ^'''*'^ *<^'n- '^ors,yet they Sined thT„r' °^ *••« "^igh" Beck repose ih^Tm'^^"^.'' '^^''^''^ short. It was, however .Zt ""I" «° ^""-y younger children shouH SZ'^^ **•"* "-e house and accord.W thev ^ '" *'^« "«-^* to bed, -not, however W^ *r '*"* e^^y g'ven his blessing to7hl wwV''''.,P"'^^* ^ad nine o'clock. Father IVfX'f '^'"''^'- About «te leave of tho e S ^^^h*""''-^" ««'«««°n- all probability to meerno m/'""' '"^ '^^^ '» the grave, and it was oh„l T "" *'"" ^'''e hi8 hand over the h^ad of tTif^' .^' ""^ ''^^ed breathed an inwarrtaver V?'"''^'^"*'' ""d by the motion of his Mn? th«f k^ Perceptible when he raised them to h!!o *"' "««<* eyes, tears. When he tSnl f" "' ""^'^ *'''» with that all present werTln*",-^" '^"^^^ ^^ found of his blessing; and as hf^ '" expectation madethesienoffh^-.- ■ P^^^ed along he
bcnediction^on tLe'e C™;r'"^'°S '^'> "^ne tians-so sublime in thpT.^'!'- ^"'^^'I Chris- Sf their devotion""^ HetiT"? .^"".e^tness
-- w.en Andy Burke'sTecondTol^raXy of'
THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA.
13
eleven or twelve years old, was clinging to his
coat.
" I want yoif to bless me again, Father Maloney," and the tears were chasing each other over the child's rosy cheeks. *' An' I hope you'll pray for me, and daddy, and mam- my, and all of us," he added, " when we're far away from 3"OU."
" God bless you, my boy ! God bless you, and mark you with grace ! — you have always been a good, dutiful child, and may you con- tinue to be a consolation to your poor parents in the strange land whither they and j-ou are going! Be assured, Willy, that if my poor prayers can obtain favor for you all from Al- mighty God, they shall not be wanting." The good man spoke in a thick, husky voice, and he hastened away, evidently desirous to hide his emotion.
The rest of the company declared their in- tention of remaining over-night, so as to ac- company the Burkes some miles of the way on the following morning, and the night-hours passed away in sad but friendly conversation. About the middle of the night the Rosary was said, being read aloud by Master Dogherty, and responded to by all present, young and old. It was, and still is, the pious custom of our people to approach the sacraments imme- diately before their departure from Ireland ; and this consoling duty had been faithfully performed by the family in question, who had
ir~'Tf '
14
WILLT BURKE ; OR,
holycommunion nn\? ? ^'^ receiver! the
less lovely it is whtn » P"™*'""- — and not and fortiftunV thdr sn,l* ^"'^ ". strengthening the foreign la^Ki'V!.''"'* "^T"' t^^Ptation iS
scoffers of the world Av «fX/''« half-infidel are then its divhTo lin<..^ ' *'.'" """"^ ''adiant ness-its humil?v 'r^^^.^n's - "s truthful- brought iLrn'/st ^Uh tt Z'T'' ""«» doubting spirit of the age - SironM^''''"^'''''' cal age m which we livft' lt*t,ri-'„ '^^P"' on that Mondav mr.Z;^ ' u ^^ ^'"'^ ^lark,
able homestead^ AndT'^fl" *" ''°'»«'^*^ utter loneliness - when th? ft -.''^l'"" *" for so many long ^ar? nifi^™'^' *''** ''ad
lovebeneath itr^Ck?;" ,/" P^^*=" »<1
as wanderers for a Snt^'^'- rtht* ' '°'^'' known connfrx- «o«« • ' . ' ^^ tnem, un-
tbe hoarrd"&;?SfXs*'nT>"' and respect of their humWe ne^V) 'l '^' '^^ these were blessings -Zat and ^^*
and so did AnH„ n.. ,»™at and ..^joiiug —
thea. Like t"'L^r'l!_!"'^ ."^^ ^'^ re|ard
THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA,
15
►ungest child, received the •able Sunday I the revered lutiful is the ious piety of iftil when at
'sorrow;'*
poverty, and i» — and not ;rengthening Jmptation in it is treated i half-infidel 'ore radiant its truthful- ness, when i, arrogant, old, scepti- still dark, le comfort- vas left to ' that had peace and e, set forth them, un- i little but d the love 'C^^a. Yet
^oOiiiig —
ie regard the shel-
ter of the ark, they wont forth over the world's waste, unknowing whei they should find a resting-i)lace ; !!ut their souls were in peace amid all their sorrow, for they were filled with an humble yet lively confidence in God. Some of the convoy (as these processions are called) boin2 on foot, went but a few miles of the jour- iioyj'and then returned home, with many a fer- \ ent blessing on the heads of the travellers. Others who were variously mounted, some on horseback, and others on the wheeled cars of the country, accompanied the Burkes to the town whence they were to embark for Liver- pool, and it was already noon-day when they all stopped before the steamboat oflftce.
At length the final moment came, and it was one of severe trial. The friendship of years TV as rent asunder, as though by death; and they who had giown up side by side — whose childhood and youth and maturity had passed together — were now parted, as they sadly felt, " to meet no more on earth." But here again came in the consoling aid of their common faith, and with the parting grasp of the hand were spoken such touching assurances as these : '<• Well ! God be with ye all ! — an' sure, when ye are all far away, w^e'U never let ye out of our minds nor our hearts. With God's help we'll never forget to offer up the Pater and Ave night an' mornin', for your welfare, an'
•nrVtnm -nra^-^a. aatrin* +V>0 "Rnaarv ITl thft ChaDel
TTULCLX TT -_ if urirj Hi vis-.- ^»....~.-j 1 ■
above, sure everybody 'ill keep ye in mind.
,;*■•"- *"'
16
WILLY BURKE J OR,
P^^Zatt.^:^y^^^^ an' BMd„ a.' the glory of heaven T" ^ *" "'*^' ^"''n in
" for sure it's rerZvtl'thl ^ "^"^'"S voice : an' llvin' or dKj ye tlv'r' ^fi'"' «'«« one of us alive to offer m>^!^ ' '^'"''^ 'J'^fe's >t, from our hearts out '^r.Tff''' ^^'" '"'^e •Jren ! and make 1^1 1 ho '^ ^'•'"^ y«> chU- an- the world to come n?P^^ ^'•'^ '^orid, sight to many aTe to^S°"'\"'' *''« ""ack an' the old walls left bare a„.r ^,^^^ '■"'ned, he sees that. SiretS ''"'«'>'- an' God miss ye sore, an' whe„%r"^''''''^^'"^«'" '^ouse, they'U be offerTn' 1 fh? '* P**"""' <*« for them that ns^ to havp if '"'''>'^'" *° ^od
"ferc?V"'-p'-*'^^^^^^^^ the Bu?K"m aC vf '^^^ ''^ '-' o-r, and barked, -the father C°^' ^^ ^'"^'^ «"- «ad, as their tearfd Z^ Zl^T ^«^« and receding shores of that kl °" *^^ ^'^'t
to their aching hearts * IZ """^ Painfully deai- nally losing sight of th!^ ^"""^ People grad-
eltyofeverUrgl^tT'ThT' '» '''« "o^" the lighthouse, the °tLmJ^®^'''''*''«<'oast,
dreds of strange fecef It w"*' ."'"^ ">« hun- waters, had all and each tl^.' °"^ °^«' ^^^ their young minds from Ih ^^^'^ of weaning
and it was only "tefX vW*' ^'' ^''''n^^^l
boat hfi<„n *„ ... ™" *?<' violent motion «<•♦(.„'
-=~ .. =..Ken uiem, that they couId'be°
THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA.*
17
prevailed upon to leave the deck, and go below. Even the passage of that narrow sea, though alread}' effected by steam, was by no means so rapid as it now is, and the Burkes found it of all but endless duration ; for it chanced that a heavy sea was sweeping through the channel, and its violent hea^dngs affected all, more or less. The sight of Liverpool, (dirty, smoky town that it is,) was a welcome one to them ; and it was with grateful hearts, and a sense of relief, that they found themselves again on the dry, firm land, although it was the land of England.
Next day our emigrants embarked for New York, on board the good ship Dublin; and it appeared as though they set out under favor- able auspices, for the weather was fair and tolerably mild, and the long swell of the ocean' wave was but slightly broken by the breeze. Wind and tide were favorable, and the hopes of passengers and crew ran high, in anticipa- tion of a quick and pleasant voyage. There were, however, two individuals on board who looked on the animated scene, without and within the vessel, without catching even the smallest particle of the invigorating spirit which seemed to actuate all around. These were Andy Burke and his wife — the former of whom seemed weighed down by some dark, hidden feeling, which wore him away A&y by Cia}' ; and the latter by fears, newly awakened fears, for her husband's health. To all others,
^LLY burke; or,
he seemed as well «« 7.^ k i there was a flush o^ M '' ^^? ■"=«"'• f"" light in his hoHow eve \LZ^\f^'^' ""^ « scrutinizing g aL of „ff T''' "°* P»«» th" Biddy felt her hp?rt • ,*^*'*'°" ! »°<1 Poor the^time'osrC^I- '^.? ^Tf "* f^r become of us all if a"^ ™ ~ "^hat would For some da™ shf k& V"'"" '■™™ »«? " f eading lest injeSsfou ^:?'!,'« •^^T"'' be injurious to her hn^band h,./ }^ ""^^^ could contain herself nn^^ ' "' ""* '*'"«*'' she to ask, "Andv^ nlL onger, and ventured With y^, at all.' fc. ^f^^f^ the,.matter same man since w l.i t • '°°'' ^^^ the grievin' ye are for W^n' ^'^^P""' •' W it's there's no useinleU^^.^''T' ?""■«' «''<"'»•' helped, an' onlA ^* '"g^^;"* J^^^^* can't be be on the shauo/irnZ n.- t^' ^^ '^°'^^^'i't for that reasorwe must ™ J'v"'^^'' ^^'' " «<>. an' not murmu;, for fear God" *''t^^* "^ " more and more ! '• '^ °"S''* "fflct «s
a««Aore/»"rerrn!dr„ Tl* *" ''°°'^. Biddv .re the trutrSTnce^wf^':''" ^"^' *«" something over Z, Z"l d^n'f kn^"' ^^'''''^ IS — I think I'm as wpII . '"?^ '^'■"t it
somehow or another th^^e'e^iL!?! ^ '"''' "^"^ on my heart — an' nt«.f* "^^^^^ weight
tl«t I'm as much de,d?'',?* '^'^''^ «« so
the reason of," But ,1*k^^-"''''*«^«'s
thinkin' that I'll' „«,"' see th^°Tl. ^'"». "'^^^^
sure. Ond i.„i., .:. . .."■^ ®ee the other side : /n-
. — ■ ....H .uu i mat same wouldn't troubie
THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA.
19
me much, only for you an' the children, poor things ! "
'' Tut, tut, man ! " said his wife, affecting a tone of remonstrance, though she found it difficult to restrain her tears, on hearing her own secret forebodings echoed back from her husband's heart. " Sure, it's a shame to hear a sensible man talkin' that way. It's the black grief, I tell you, that's makin' you so down-hearted, an' it doesn't become a God- fearm' man to be so easy cast down. With the help of God, we'll both live to see the children well settled in America, an' then it's no matter how soon we're taken home, for, God knows, there's no great pleasure to be expected in this world. Keep up your heart, then, Andy ! for the love o' God, do ! not tj speak o' myself an' the poor creatures that's dependm on you ! " A sorrowful shake of the head was Andy's reply ; and, as some of the children drew near at the moment, the subiect was dropped for that time.
Alas ! these gloomy presentiments were all too soon realized, for Andy visibly declined, and day after day saw him grow paler and thinner, and more dejected. At length he was forced to keep his bed, and a hectic fever set in, which very soon exhausted his remainino- strength, and left not a shadow of hope fo? his^ recovery. Even poor Biddy, though she ., " ^/"f-'^'J struggled against despair while the slightest possibility existed that her hus-
^bn.' ''
V
20
^'I-LY BURKE ; OR,
dreadful tidingr Her ••""'' *°'^' '^«e choking sobs, but her ^^.r "'^ ""^ '"•oken br «low in catching he 2al?^ a«'itors were not knowing, as the^ did tfcP • ""l"^ her words was very, very 111 ""'Fro^ *''«'': f^Wed father' nestled around his bed „•♦? ' Moment thev ness, each vyine lifh t^'*'' "••"doubled fond^
»ifstertohii;?„tTtd /nr*^''' ^^° ^houM Yet they had been wCed ^ "I'r*" '''^ '^'«''«« W ^^L""^' show of m"ef • L , -f '"°*«^ not y sight to see the seffi^ ^''j'^asatouch- exercsed h consequence T^?' ^'"«'' ^ey elder boys, who were res "r ',""*"' ^^en the eleven, found it iZoS ?'^' ^'^'^een and tears, they would stZTwavf^" refrain fro« of their dying father, and sittf^*"^ *" ''"'dside S^de in some remote corned 1?^ ''"'^n side by
Zlirf *° *''«r so^Tw 'tL'^''""''' «'^« would from time tn ^iZ 7^ young ones
pother, With stealth; caulL'^'"^. »««? th4 her ear, "j think daddv^»l?.' ""'^ 'whisper in you see how red ht chLks ""v^'^f^'-don^ tears was the only aasww • fo, n- 1. ^ ^"^t of tjiat death was ranidlv rff^'^'.'l''^' «'ell knew that^the glow on ttt.adatfd'^' '"''^' ^iid
P-nnd.aSc^^n^IvtXt^-i'"-
THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA. 21
retarded in her progress by strong western gales, so that, though she had no very great storm to encounter, yet the voyage was a rough and tedious one. For seven long weeks was she kept buffeting about on the wide ocean, without making any considerable progress, and eight weeks had passed since "the last glimpse of Erm " had disappeared from the eyes of the emigrants, when one morning, just as the shades of night were vanishing from sky and sea, iiiddy Burke awoke her younger children from their sleep, and made a sign for them to rise— she could not speak. Hastily donning their little garments, the wondering children followed their mother — it was but a few paces — to their father's bed, where they found their two brother's kneeling, with their faces hid between their hands. A scream burst forth from the little ones as they looked at the bed, for their lather lay still, as though he were dead, and the gnastly paleness of his face was fearful to see. He was not dead, however, though his hour was just then come, and the voice of his children woke him from his lethargic slumber " Kneel down, all of ye !" he said, in a feeble voice, "till I give ye my blessin' — God help ye, poor children, I haven't much else to^leave ye I When the whole sorrowful group knelt before him, the mother as well as the children the dying man raised his clasped hands to heaven, and breathed an inward prayer that the God of the widow and the orphan might
r
22
^LLY BURKE J OR,
hand, he made the S of tt ^^ """ '^'^ ''S^t heads, murmuring "^Thp ,.i "T" "'"'' their
Trinity -Pather,%o J an' S o' the Holy upon ye all anH ™„ '*,, "°'y Ghost — be
God bring „; an toZLi'" «?"<' ""<* "ercifat
children, for the last Hmi *" y*""" father,
able to say much bu've-rj"?^' ^'"^ »" ye- 1 trust in God ye iS ""i?" J^'^"' ^ ^11 Jn' an' sobbin' now for a ,>fi uS ^""^ "^y- have time enouoTforth.i^t '"'"«• *"'"' yeUl There was, in a moment « ''^"^ ^'"^ ^""e-" and the dj'ing cCs«an ' Lf °'^"°<' ««e°ce,
frequently obliged tostonfiPf " "««°- though ness. s u lo stop irom excessive weak-
children, wh^J'yl^SXlL ? **™°Sre country, through as best ye can a ^.^"'^ J'*""- way will that ye'U have no iatht .* W '*'« ^'>^^ watch over ye, still heleavl ve ? *^-^'"'°^t° ? wise au' lovin' mothpr I-,-' ' '" ^" ™ercy, 18, that next to God -h "^ ''^'"' «''^*ce honor A«n Never d„ amrh' ^'' "• '"^^ «»<! consent, or without consi& ''"'•°"* her ye'U be sure to do well 4 . ^*'"' ^"'^ thpp. the same char™ thif ^" """^ I'" give re ">« With his dJin'X'"' Brf •f.'^T f^-« to 1" i°- ->4 hii'SlV ch i^''^?;'J° God,
THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA
23
to come ! Now, God's blessin' an' mine be about ye all. Bidd}^, asthore ! " he said, after a pause, but he spoke so low that she was obliged to bend down to catch his words, " it would give me great consolation if I could only re- ceive the rites o* the church ; but God sees all things, an' he sees how it grieves me that I can't have that happiness. But when you get to New York, Biddy, dear, ye'll not forget to have some Masses offered up for me, that God may have mercy on my poor soul ! — don't cry, agra macJire ! I see you can't speak, — but I know you'll do as I say ; there now, put that little crucifix in m}^ hand, — that'll do, ahagur. Christ Jesus have merc3^ on me, — Mother of Jesus praj'^ for me, — sweet Lord, take me home to my eternal rest." There was a dead silence for some minutes, — not even the 3-oung- est child was heard to utter a sound. Many of the passengers knelt around, but all were silent. Biddy bent down over the d^ing man, and held in her breath to listen, but all was still ; suddenly one deep, convulsive sigh is- sued from the half-closed lips, — a shiver ran through the whole body, so that even the bed- clothes were seen to quiver, and then all was over. " May the Lord have merc3^ on your soul, for now it's gone before the judgment- seat ! " cried the poor bereaved wife, as her tears, long suppressed, now burst forth, and fell like rain on the pale, shrunken face of the ^ead. Then, as her children echoed her cry,
24
WILLY BURKE ; OR,
turb hto no^o -™V m'' .r ^''" "°^ *-
»U do ns no eood rf^i, '^'■^'"■««'-«<?or/ but
«ouI that's gonr^^-iji'^"""* ^/^^ ^ack the
"l^e said, suddenly faHinc !; \"' ^.''«"' ^t all ? "
«?> I about, that^I'ffl^of »r«'"'.''?^«« ; " '^hat
h'm before the Judo^ fi/- T," '^' '>!'». an'
all! an'Jetusoffernpour" ^ ' ?°°'' P^ople
Though her voice was f,?r^"<""^ ^"'^ Wm •' " she nevertheless ZZJ^^'^'^S at every ^ord up her prayers witHrvor 5^!;°?' «"'' "ffered children, and all the svmLfi •^■''^''<'"°'' ! her JO-ned in the per^a^eZf t L^"^ spectators, Dunngthe day and nlht ?h V""^** '^"^S' ■Burke was waked Tf ^ "^''* Poor Andv alleviated the ^o^o'w of tC^'^'F ^'"Idlavi made desolate, it surehf w„ ^ '"'°"' ^s death those who had nfvl.^ "^ °°' wanting • for «nthey„eron"b::^«th: °»e f *''« ^^^S to them by so great a ,,,-!^'' ''^'^ ^'^^^ tha the pfaee aS eircums «""'^'' ""'' '^M al° testify their deep and ^ f^^ Permitted to But though the^pZ^.wr'^'* empathy? gratefhl for so mwb Jf?'' ^«« sincerely - yp it could not draw Tr f^'T ^'"<J»4 of woe. Hour after L. i- " ^"^ 'etharffv ieaf rocking to a^,^°C tfth 1, ^'^^ *<>« b^^- mot.on so expressive o7hr ^ *'''" Peculiar
""•"" """-'-'»- «'-Pcd han'ds «sti^^':
THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA.
25
her knees, and her tearless e3'es fixed on the rigid features of the dead. All the elder children seemed nearlj- as much afflicted as their mother; but however touching was the silent sorrow of the group, it was not half so much so as the all but unconsciousness of the two 3'oungest, who, though somewhat subdued b}' the sight of so much grief, yet ran about as usual, and ate whatever was offered them with just as good a relish. At times they would peep in between the others, where they sat around the bed, and for the moment they would seem sensible that their father was indeed dead ; but once out of sight of that mournful spectacle, the impression was speed- ily eflfaced.
That long, melancholy night was at length past, and the hour arrived when the mortal remains of poor Andy Burke were to be com- mitted to the deep. Weak and worn as Biddy was, she could not be persuaded from helping to prepare the corpse for burial. Herself put on the shroud prepared for him ; but when the sailors came to sew up the corpse in its cam ^ coffin, she resigned her place with shrinking horror, for the operation appeared an unnatural one to her. She had previously called her children to take their final leave of the dead, herself giving the example by imprinting a long, last kiss on the blue, ice-cold lips. This sorrowful ceremony over, the De ProfundiSy and the usual prayers, were read aloud by
26
^II-LY BURKE ; OR,
a young ecclesiastic wHa »,
Joard, (on his wav tn h^ J'Wened to be on
^ody was carried Soft th Z^'^'^'P'"' tbe deceased following cfosei;. „ !. ^^'""^- «f tlie greater number omepatiC^ "««; them the ful procession having reaoh^f i'^ ^'"^ "own- ;vere ">rownaround1he"&''' ''"™> '"P^b to lower it from the shin't •^^'^ ''<""P«e in order parting forward S C^% '"" ">« ^Wc v' ''e«<Je it, and implored fh^ "" ^<»- J^nfCiJ moment. The l^^Zu^"" *<> wait yet a
°y«r her heaS! sofhaf her'f '"^'^ ^^« t'^^^n <listmethseen • l.nt^ , ^^"^ could not ho
that «heU^;,^",*; K ^"^ y'«''"« t^ «how her ^ves were s»oUe„ wl^^w "'?''"' ^"^ '^aT no'^ <iry and tearless 'Tot, a'"?^"^' *hough she murmured in a Ir.» '•.'^"'^^ ' Andyi" little we thouo^hi wL„ ' '^^'"''g ^ne, " U's that this 'id be the way^rh'^^'f '«'»-'''' home heart would not be hair«A "' ' A°' «">e my ye were a-buryin' 1„ tl ° ,r'i «<"'»*^«/ if home, where /our forefaLi ,P''"'-«hyard at w,rra, wirral to see v™. fu^'^'-hut och ' the deep ocean, instead o" T '^°'''°' <>»t in?o consecrated ground .I ''?i°*»''ered "P in natural ! But then '-r"-*'*'''' 'ts unnatural .,n ollecting herseft mL'^'^'^' ^'^d'^^y rZ foling whisper, "but A^ ""T ^'th its eon. hody, after in? an' stl ^'''7'^''" " the poor
at the last day as hri I?'"' ''"n raise ye „„ .Ve had h»o„ :■^:.'^^hr^ght and beantifi./.. "?
'""" ""^^"^ '" the quiet eartt f fJl
THE IRISH ORPHAN IN AMERICA.
27
well, then, till we meet again ! an' I hope, in the mercy o' God, that it 'ill be before his tlirone, to live in his blessed kingdom forever an' ever. Amen ! " This last word of her simple prayer was echoed from hundreds of hearts : the children gathered close around their mother, and the corpse was raised aloft ; a wild cry broke from the bereaved ones as it was lowered into the deep, — poor Biddy covering her eyes to shut out the horrid sight, — one heavy splash was heard, the body of poor Andy Burke was far down amid the waters, and the vessel was moving rapidly on her course. The widow was almost carried down the gangway steps, (b}'- some whose tear- ful e^'es attested their sincere sj-mpathj-,) for she was literally more dead than alive, being entirely exhausted by long watching and heart-wearing affliction. Her children followed close behind, helping each other along as best they could.
29
WtLr BUBKE ; OB,
I! 'III!
CHAPTER II.
POVERTT AND TEMPTATION.
New York ; months o/wal'lT ^'' '""•J"" i" had been, for the desolatpV-f «^ ^o^ow they hard to support her S "^"'T "^"d found it means, ancrunfr£lea f '".. ''"'' ^"^ ™«U nought in ;ain for sit f' r^' '^^ had M'ght enable her to keen hp^7-«^'"«'°' that ■•eserve. Sickness and death *7*"g /"""s in husy amongst her little «!', *°°' ''"d been youngest children ha " one^^ ^"^ ^''' t'^" pined away and dip/!^ ^ *^*"' the other "the qui^t