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diff --git a/39539-0.txt b/39539-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..be3e69f --- /dev/null +++ b/39539-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6963 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Cambrian Sketch-Book, by R. Rice Davies + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Cambrian Sketch-Book + Tales, Scenes, and Legends of Wild Wales + + +Author: R. Rice Davies + + + +Release Date: April 26, 2012 [eBook #39539] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMBRIAN SKETCH-BOOK*** + + +This ebook was transcribed by Les Bowler + + [Picture: Snowdon] + + + + + + THE + CAMBRIAN SKETCH-BOOK. + + + _TALES_, _SCENES_, + _AND LEGENDS OF WILD WALES_. + + * * * * * + + BY + R. RICE DAVIES. + + _Author of_ “_The Handy Book on Tax Laws_,” “_Havelock_,” + “_Essay on Recreation Grounds for Swansea_,” _etc._ + + * * * * * + + London: + SIMPKIN, MARSHALL & CO. + + Swansea: + THE CAMBRIAN WELSH AND ENGLISH BOOK + PUBLISHING COMPANY + + + + +To the Right Honourable +THE LADY LLANOVER. + + +MADAM, + +Among the illustrious men and women of Cambria it would be difficult to +select one to whom this book could be so appropriately inscribed as your +ladyship. You are, and ever have been, the warm and sincere friend of my +country; you are profoundly versed in her historic, poetic, literary, and +legendary annals; you are a liberal and munificent contributor to almost +every great movement designed to promote the social and intellectual, the +moral and religious, welfare of the people of our ancient Principality; +and you have attained a high and imperishable fame as a graceful and +eloquent writer. In these pages your ladyship will find depicted scenes +connected with the past history of the land; tales of years that are +gone, which roll before us with their dark or splendid deeds, and +specimens of the wild but graceful legends which have shed a poetic charm +upon almost every nook and corner of Wales. I cherish the hope that +their perusal will afford your ladyship delight and pleasure, while their +contents, possibly, may help to increase your ladyship’s interest in and +attachment to the land you so much love. + + I am, Madam, + Very respectfully, + Your ladyship’s obedient Servant, + R. RICE DAVIES. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The history of the Cambrian race is interesting not only to the +antiquarian, but also to all real lovers of traditional and legendary +lore. It is a race which had its origin in the mythical age, in the far +back and remote past, in that period of the world’s history when +intellectual and moral darkness covered the earth, and when gross +darkness, like a black pall, enveloped the minds of the people. The +country which this race originally occupied is simply a matter of +conjecture—an unascertained fact; while the period when the Cambrian +people first left their own native soil, the land of their love and their +fondest affection, and wandered over hill and plain, over mountain and +dismal swamp, through woods and primeval forests, wading through mighty +fordable rivers, and crossing stormy seas, until they reached the pebbled +strand of this our sea-girt isle, is still a matter of uncertainty—one of +the mysteries of this mysterious world. That they occupied this island, +and were in undisturbed possession of it many hundred years before the +appearance in our world of Him who is the true Light of humanity, there +exists abundance of evidence; and it is not unlikely, but on the contrary +highly probable, that sections of this ancient people were _then_ +engaged, as _now_, in developing the mineral wealth of the country. + +Coming down to a later date, a less remote period, we have actual +descriptive accounts of the Welsh people, of their manners and customs, +their habits and mode of life, their religious rites and form of worship; +and considering the then state of the world, we are astonished at the +comparative high state of civilization to which this ancient race had at +that time attained. But to trace the history of their civilization down +through the ages is foreign to my present purpose, however tempting the +theme. The object I had in view in preparing this work for the press, +was not to place before the reader a consecutive narrative, but to select +topics with a view to illustrate some of the traits of character of this +ancient, singular, and extremely interesting people—a people who, in +spite of oppression, injustice, and isolation, have nobly clung to the +old faith; who have ever as citizens been loyal, patriotic, and virtuous; +and who, moreover, in the face of very serious disadvantages, have +obtained a position of intellectual and moral manhood, which cannot fail +to inspire us with admiration and wonder. Let me say here, that if this +work deepens the Welshman’s love of country, and induces the English +reader to regard us in a more favourable light than that adopted by a +class of Saxon critics, I shall consider I have not laboured in vain. + +As regards the tales and sketches of this volume, they are not ideal +pictures of Cambrian life and character, but are for the most part +founded on fact. For example, the ascent of Snowdon was undertaken +alone, some ten years ago, and by the most difficult, tedious, and +hazardous route. I often wonder at my want of prudence in ascending from +Capel Curig, that glorious old Alpine height, on a cold, dank, and misty +autumnal morning, without a guide or a friendly hand to point the way. +Alone I accomplished the journey, without experiencing much difficulty, +or meeting a single mishap. The story of Dunraven Castle is founded on a +historical fact. It is one of the most painful of the many painful +incidents of those terrible times. Parson Jones is not an ideal but a +real character painted from life. His fame as a charmer, a conjuror, and +magician, was celebrated far and wide. I well remember farmers’ wives +and others visiting him in order to secure his assistance in driving away +evil spirits from their dwellings. A wonderful man was Parson Jones! An +able divine, a true preacher of the cross, a lovable and childlike man +was he. When his body was consigned to the tomb, the people felt that +they had lost one of their best earthly friends. As to the legends of +Lake Savathan and Elidorus, they have been handed down in written +history. The tale of Cadwgan is a real picture of Cambrian life. The +story of Saint Winifred is founded on an old Welsh legend. A marvellous +work has recently been written by one of England’s greatest novelists; it +is not impossible that the idea of the “Coming Race” had its origin in +the tale of Elidorus. + +In this work I have avoided the literary paths trodden by previous +Cambrian authors: writers who, in their own sphere of literature, have +left behind them imperishable names. I believe that the mine of wealth I +have endeavoured to explore is new, while virgin is the soil. Deeply +interesting are the legends which have been handed down from a people, +who, alas! alas! no longer tread the sacred ground of wild Wales. In the +selection of topics, I have only discovered for the theme of my pen a few +precious gems, having culled here and there a few fair and fragrant +flowers, thus leaving for future literary labours, many others of tints +equally beautiful and sweets equally delicious. Almost every dell and +hamlet, every sylvan glade and mountain side of wild Wales abounds with +legends and tales, stories of real life which are too interesting to be +lost, and too important in the lessons they afford to remain hid in the +bosom of members of our ancient race. + +It is possible that exception will be taken to the ideal +pictures—creations of the author’s fancy—of the fairies and fairy land, +which form rather a prominent feature of this work. For introducing to +the reader the people of the fairy kingdom beneath the bay of Swansea, I +have no apology to make. In the thoughts they breathe and in the +opinions they express they are very human, while the land in which they +dwell bears witness to the presence of the energizing power and infinite +benevolence of the Supreme. From our childhood we have been accustomed +to listen to the wonderful tales relating to Lilliputian races, in which +the narrators described their sayings and doings, their gambols and +frolics, their pranks and merry-making, their sweet music and dulcet +notes; and in our wanderings, we have often gazed on the green rings +wherein they danced on mead and meadow. And are we not ready to confess +that those fairy stories possessed a special charm—an interest which even +reality itself hardly awakens? I am aware that belief in the existence +of those aërial forms, those ghostly, impalpable, and ambiguous beings, +has been regarded as an evidence of mental blindness, and the absence of +high culture and civilization. This charge cannot be maintained. The +peoples of all European nations believe in the existence of those +wonderful people, and, personally, I should regret to see their faith +undermined. Fairies are associated with the spiritual and super-human; +with virtue and purity; thus they help us to look upward to the +spirit-world, where flesh and blood, where materialism and its unhallowed +fruits have not, and can never have, even a temporary lodgment. + +Should this work meet with the approval of my fellow-countrymen, I shall +in the early part of next spring issue a second volume of the Cambrian +Sketch-Book. I shall include in that volume: Sir Rice ap Thomas, a +historical romance, already written; and The Lost Son Found, a tale of +the Lowland Hundred. A beautiful country was Cantref-y-Gwaelod, where +now roll the waters of the Atlantic—a magnificent plain with fortified +cities, and co-extensive with Cardigan Bay. Several other legends and +tales of North and South Wales will also appear in the intended volume. + +It now only remains for me to express my hearty thanks to Charles Bath, +Esq., of Fynone, for his kindness in placing at my service a very old +view of Swansea, a faithful transcript of which has been made by the +artist for the present volume. I make this public acknowledgment to our +townsman for the reason that he is always ready to aid all efforts having +in view the publication and circulation of works relating to dear old +Cambria. + + R. RICE DAVIES. + + SWANSEA, _July_, 1875. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + PAGE +ASCENT OF SNOWDON 3 +A STORY OF DUNRAVEN CASTLE IN THE OLDEN TIMES 21 +PARSON JONES 79 +CADWGAN WYNN 121 +TRADITIONS OF LLYN SAVATHAN 227 +TREFFYNON; OR, LEGENDS OF SAINT WINIFRED 243 +THE VISIT OF ELIDORUS TO THE FAIRY KINGDOM BENEATH THE BAY 269 +CEFN-Y-BEDD 319 + + + + +ASCENT OF SNOWDON. + + + “How high and swift flits the thin rack along, + Skirted with rainbow dyes; now deep below— + While the fierce sun strikes the illumined top, + Slow sails the gloomy storm, and all beneath, + By vaporous exhalation hid, is lost + In darkness: save at once where drifted mists, + Cut by strong gusts of eddying winds, expose + The transitory scene. + Now swift on either side the gathered clouds, + As by a sudden touch of magic, wide + Recede, and the fair face of heaven and earth + Appears. Amid the vast horizon’s stretch, + In restless gaze the eye of wonder darts + O’er the expanse,—mountains on mountains piled, + And winding bays and promontories huge, + And lakes and wandering rivers from their source + Traced to the distant ocean.” + + BINGLEY’S TOUR. + +It was a bright and glorious August morning, in the year 18—, when, +having a few weeks’ freedom from the busy toils of official labour, I +resolved to have an “out,” as they call it in the north of England, where +I then resided—a brief tour of pleasure. Never in these northern +latitudes had I witnessed a more lovely morning. The sun shone brightly, +and with a dazzling splendour only surpassed by the gorgeous brilliancy +of an Eastern clime. When we looked upwards, not a cloud could be seen +in the concave hemisphere above. Far, far away, the most distant objects +could be plainly and distinctly seen. In the forest not a spray moved, +nor was there a sweet kiss of the leaves on that breezeless morn. +Neither on river nor lake could there be discerned a single ripple. +Everywhere, except in the adjacent grove, did quietude and stillness +reign. There, however, the birds sent forth their merry and joyous +notes, and the tone of their voices, and the songs they sung, told of +joys, and proclaimed the existence of happy feelings, which but few among +the sons of men are permitted to realize. Oh, how calm and how still was +the scene around! Indeed, all nature, except the winged songsters of the +grove, appeared to repose quietly and peacefully on the bosom of its God. + +A grand morning this, said I, for starting on an “out;” but the pressing +question was, whither should I go. During my brief preparation, I +fancied I heard the voice of the eagle, and the voice said, “Come to me. +Come and behold the high mountain whereon I dwell, and the great rocks in +which I build my nest. Come and see, from my high elevation and Alpine +heights, the magnificent lochs whose waters spread far and wide in the +broad and expansive valleys. Oh, come, and behold the land of the brave +and heroic Wallace.” + +A moment before deciding whether or not I should accept the invitation of +the king of birds, there was wafted on the gentle breeze that had just +sprung up, the voice of a little bird which inhabits the far west; and +the little bird said, “Come and visit the land in which I dwell. In this +land you will behold some of the greatest wonders of the world. Were you +to visit the North or the South, the East or the West, the sunny +fountains of Africa, the coral strands of India, or the icy regions of +the frigid zone, yet in no part of the wide world could you discover +objects so grand and majestic as our Giant’s Causeway; while Killarney is +unrivalled for sublime and beautiful scenery.” Well, little bird, said +I, I love your nation; your people have warm hearts and generous +sympathies. Just, however, as I was about saying “aye” to the invitation +of the little bird of the Green Isle, there came from the south—o’er +moorland valley, o’er mighty rivers and hills, o’er cities, towns, and +villages, the charming and enchanting voice of the lark, and its tones +were so winning and so sweet, that I was almost moved to shed tears of +joy. But what was the purport of her song? The burden of her song was +Cambria! the beautiful and the blest; the land of Poetry and the Ideal. +“Come,” carolled the lark, “and behold some of the beauties of Wild +Wales. In no land are glades so verdant, are rocks so rugged and bold, +are cwms and dells so exquisitely beautiful and lovely as are to be seen +here. Nowhere but here can you behold hill after hill, and mountain +after mountain, rise above each other, presenting a picture so awfully +wild, so grand, and so majestically sublime. Besides,” said the lark, +“this is your own land. It is the place of your birth. It is the home +of your father’s sepulchre. Oh! come here, for here are generous hearts, +ready to bid you welcome. In the border land is many an old friend who +will rejoice and kill the fatted calf when he sees you approach his +dwelling.” I could no longer resist the irresistible voice, and replied +to her, Oh, sweet songster of the moorland, thither will I go, and +to-morrow I will listen to your heavenly strains among your own hills. + +I need not describe the journey from the North to Conway, as it is +familiar to most travellers. Nor shall I refer to the beautiful Menai, +or the magnificent ruins and historic renown of the good old town of +Carnarvon. Nor shall I refer, with a view to depict the scene, to many +other deeply-interesting spots, some of which I could not but gaze upon +with feelings of profound reverence, the rather as they told the tales of +other times, which rolled before me with their deeds. As I looked upon +and contemplated these scenes, I was deeply affected, while my vision was +dimmed by the tears that welled up from my heart. Moreover, as I still +gazed upon the historic fields of blood and battle, I thought I saw the +shadow of my country’s martyrs and heroes passing before my eyes—the +shadows of the great and heroic men who, strong in the righteousness of +their cause, fought for the liberty of our brave, courageous, and +lion-hearted ancestors, and for the independence and the freedom of the +land of my love and my sympathies. Since the days of that long and +sanguinary struggle, time and the disposition of men and nations have +immeasurably changed for the better. Happily for us, we have now a ruler +who loves her subjects, whose sway is the very opposite of that despotic +tyrant’s rule, who loved to imbrue his hands in the blood of contemporary +princes. Edward, however, has gone to his _place_. Oh that his memory +and his deeds of blood had perished with him! As I looked upon the scene +around Conway, and viewed it in relation to and in connection with the +dark deeds of Edward, the following lines of the poet Gray came to my +remembrance:— + + “Hark how each giant oak and desert cave + Sighs to the torrent’s awful voice beneath! + O’er thee, O King, their hundred arms they wave, + Revenge on thee in hoarser murmurs breathe, + Vocal no more.” + +From Conway I proceeded to Llanrwst, thence to Bettws-y-Coed, which is +situated in a lovely verdant cwm, and is the most charming and the most +exquisitely beautiful spot I have ever beheld. I have seen many an +enchanting scene, but Bettws-y-Coed is incomparably finer, and surpasses, +both in magnificent boldness and soft and quiet grandeur, any other +landscape upon which I have been permitted to gaze. As night was rapidly +approaching, and as I had arranged to ascend Snowdon the following +morning, I had to tear myself away from so enchanting a scene. From +there I proceeded to the Swallow Falls, thence to Capel Curig, a village +which affords some of the most picturesque landscapes which can be met +with in Wales. Of this prospect it might be truly said:— + + “Here hills and vales, the woodland and the plain, + Here earth and water seem to strive again; + Not, chaos-like, together crushed and bruised, + But, as the world, harmoniously confused.” + +However, I lingered not to contemplate the scene, but proceeded on my +journey towards Penygwryd, which I reached just as the great king of day +disappeared behind the Cambrian Alps. + +The next morning, after partaking of an early breakfast of ham and eggs +and coffee, I proceeded to the hotel lawn to see whether the day was +favourable for an ascent of Yr Wyddfa, the “uwch y mynydd uchaf” of +England and Wales. Since the previous day I regretted to find that the +weather had undergone a complete change; the summit of Eryri was now +enveloped in dark clouds, the morning was cold, and the air was dank and +chilly. The moaning of the wind in the great mountain gullies and cwms +rendered the scene both awful and sublime. Meeting mine host on the +lawn, I inquired if I might venture to ascend Snowdon without the service +of a guide. He strongly dissuaded me from attempting an ascent alone, as +it would necessarily be attended with great risk. However, after +debating the matter some time, I resolved to carry out my original design +of going unattended. When I reached the summit I was delighted beyond +measure at having accomplished the ascent, by the longest and most +difficult route, without the aid of a guide. Having wished Mr. Owen a +hearty farewell, I commenced the ascent of Snowdon. Proceeding up the +road towards the Pass of Llanberis so far as Pen-y-Pass, I branched off +to the left, and soon came to Llyn Teyrn, thence taking the trackless +mountain above Cwm Dyli, direct towards Llyn Glaslyn; and thence by a +circuitous and difficult route, which a kind mountain miner showed me, to +the highest point of the Mother of Hills. + +Although I found this route laborious, I was amply recompensed by +beholding “scenes of extraordinary wildness and grandeur, over which +solitude seemed to brood with undisturbed silence, scarcely ever broken +by the wing of bird or the voice of melody.” In every direction +prospects the most magnificent opened to view, and every crag and rock +which I surmounted was furnished with objects of picturesque effect or +deep and absorbing interest. From many a crag I looked down upon the +cwms and deep dells beneath, and I fancied I could pick out here and +there the very dingles to which our heroic ancestors were compelled to +resort for protection, when pursued by numberless hosts of the enemy +after they had sustained defeat. In these cwms they were, however, safe. +Even proud and haughty Edward dared not follow the Britons to their +mountain fastnesses. To them Snowdon had ever proved a kind and guardian +angel: hence the reason why they fled thither in the hour of their +defeat. No wonder, therefore, that they loved the old mountain deeply +and passionately; and no wonder, too, that they composed songs to her +honour and renown. + +When I attained the summit of the mountain, the sight presented to my +view was awfully and majestically wild and grand. The whole circuit of +the Snowdonian range was enveloped in a thick and dark mist, which was so +dense that I fancied I could cut it with the finest edged tool. The +howling of the winds in the cwms and dingles which run down the mountain +on every side was really appalling. Indeed, the prospect was horrible to +contemplate. It gave an idea, says a writer on the subject, of numbers +of abysses concealed by a thick smoke furiously circulating around us. +Now and then, however, a strong gust of wind created an opening in the +mist, which, for a moment, gave me a magnificent prospect of sea and +lake, of deep chasms, and high and lofty mountains, of almost fathomless +dingles and ravines; while towns and hamlets appeared in the distance +like small specks on the surface of the earth. But the prospect was only +momentary. The clouds of mist which were rent asunder by the strong +current of wind would, in the twinkling of an eye, again form and unite, +and thus present a compact and complete whole, leaving me involved in a +darkness that might be felt. In a minute it would again separate into a +thousand parts, and fly in wild eddies up the gullies and dingles, thus +affording me another opportunity of seeing the Isle of Mona, the mountain +of Plynlimmon, Hell’s Mouth, the Iraeth Bach, and that magnificent bay +which once formed the rich and fertile plain of Cantref-y-Gwaelod, with +its sixteen fortified cities and towns, whose inhabitants met with a +watery grave through the drunkenness of Seithenyn, who is styled in the +“Triads” as one of the three notorious drunkards of the isle of Britain. +Contemplating the scene so strange, yet so grand, the following lines of +the poet Rogers struck me as extremely applicable to my then situation:— + + “The morning air + Plays on my cheek, how gently, flinging round + A silvery gleam; and now the purple mists + Rise like a curtain; now the sun looks out, + Filling, o’erflowing with his glorious light, + This noble amphitheatre of hills.” + +After spending nearly two hours on the summit in gazing upon the wild, +yet the grand and majestic scene presented to my view, I felt, as I had +to walk to Pont Aberglaslyn, and back to Penygwryd, a distance of nearly +twenty miles, that I dare not delay my departure longer; hence I made +instant preparation to descend. I, however, left this Alpine top, and +bade farewell to old Snowdon, with feelings of deep sorrow and poignant +grief. On leaving this most prominent historic spot in the past history +of my country, I could not but enter into the deep feeling of reverence +with which my forefathers regarded this mountain and its adjacent hills, +valleys, and plains. Thought I to myself, was it a wonder that they +almost worshipped Yr Wyddfa? Indeed they had every reason for paying +honour and homage to it. To them it had ever been a never-failing +friend—a sure and safe retreat when they suffered and sustained defeat in +battle. To them it afforded a rich and never-failing refuge, in which +they lodged the young and the feeble and the non-combatants when they +went forth to fight the common foe—the implacable enemies of their dear +fatherland—foes and enemies, too, who were strangers to generosity, but +who loved conquest for the sake of conquest, and who were alike +indifferent to the sacrifice of human blood as they were to English +treasures. When they followed our brave and heroic countrymen into the +mountain fastnesses of Snowdon, they generally suffered terrible +slaughter, and repented having left those fortresses and plains where +they so much loved to dwell. Considering the many and the terrible +disasters which befell their marches in its fastnesses, no wonder they +preferred residing at some distance removed from so impregnable a refuge. +To the Welsh warriors it had been a natural guardian angel: hence the +reason why they loved it so deeply, so ardently, and with the whole +passion of the soul. + +After I had descended some distance towards Beddgelert, I turned in order +to take a parting farewell-look of this the mother of Cambrian mountains; +and in viewing its high and lofty summit, now almost wholly enveloped in +mist, I was forcibly struck with the wild, dreary, and boundless scene. +From the point on which I stood this ancient hill appeared to be +untrodden by human foot, and tenanted only by wandering sheep and goats, +except the hoarse-croaking ravens. It was, indeed, sublime to stand, as +I stood then, on that spot, and commune with solitude around—to gaze upon +Snowdon and her manifold adjacent hills, slumbering calmly beneath me. +With me there was no form, no human being, no living thing; but I +rejoiced that there, amid this stupendous scene, I could commune freely +and uninterruptedly with nature and nature’s God, and with the spirits of +my brave and heroic forefathers, whose bones lie buried in that wild and +dreary scene; and, as I finally parted from the scene, I sang the +following well-known lines, and so my voice re-echoed through the dales +and caverns:— + + “Rest, ye brave dead, ’midst the hills of your sires. + Oh, who would not slumber when Freedom expires? + Lonely and voiceless your halls must remain, + The children of song may not breathe in the chain.” + + + + +A STORY OF DUNRAVEN CASTLE IN THE OLDEN TIMES; +OR, +GOD’S JUDGMENT AGAINST WRECKERS. + + +THE PROEM. + + +On the southern coast of the county of Glamorgan, and situate at the back +of a high rocky promontory commanding a magnificent view of the Bristol +Channel, and just opposite the little sea-bathing village of +Southerndown, which appears desolate amid its desolation, stands the +modern Castle of Dunraven, which was built by the late Mr. Thomas +Wyndham. This castle is erected on the site of a very ancient structure, +which, in the olden times, was called Dindryfan. The old castle is in +some respects the most interesting in the Principality. It was there one +of Cambria’s greatest warriors and one of her purest patriots lived and +reigned. Dunraven was the centre of those wonderful military movements +which gained for their author wide-spread fame and imperishable renown. +It was there that the great commander and war-tactician delivered those +eloquent harangues, which not only inspired confidence in so great and +skilful a leader, but also nerved the patriot’s arm, enabling his trusty +followers to go forth to meet the foe fearlessly, courageously, and with +a resolute resolve to conquer or to die for their country’s welfare and +the independence of their fatherland. Caractacus, or as he is generally +called by Cambrian writers, Caraddwg, was a great man and an illustrious +warrior, celebrated no less for his heroism than for his many other +virtues. Hence, when one visits Dunraven, the scenes of his childhood +and riper years, one seems to imbibe his spirit, to be inspired with the +highest admiration for his genius, and to feel the profoundest reverence +for the man who, though vanquished in his encounter with the +well-disciplined forces of Octavius yet was not ashamed—rather in it did +he glory—after many years of exile from the land of his birth, of his +love, and of his deepest and fondest affection, to return to the very +scenes of his childhood and princely rule, in order to proclaim the good +news of the gospel, the truths and glories of which he had learned and +realized during his residence in the far-famed city of Rome. + +Subsequent to the death of Caraddwg, Dunraven continued to be the seat of +the Reguli of Glamorgan until the Norman Conquest. When Robert +Fitz-Hamon divided the country he and his armies had conquered, he +assigned this castle and manor to William de Londres, who, in consequence +of their worthless value, gave them to his butler, afterwards Sir Arnold +Butler. When the male issue of the Butler family became extinct, the +castle and manor fell to Walter Vaughan, who was a descendant of the +female branch of the Butlers. It is to this person our story relates. +Oh that his crimes had never been recorded by the pen of the historian! +Oh that his life and its deeds of horror and loathing, which, when we +contemplate, makes one’s blood run cold, had remained unwritten! As, +however, these have been handed down to this distant age, I will +endeavour to depict the scene, though I can form but a very dim and hazy +conception of the barbarities and cruelties practised by that evil man in +those distant times. + + + +CHAPTER I. +_THE LOVERS_. + + +It was a lovely autumn evening, when a young man and young woman might +have been seen walking hand in hand along the carriage drive which led +from the village of St. Bride’s to Dunraven Castle. The young man was in +his usual buoyant and cheerful mood, happy and joyous, but his companion +was pensive and sad. From childhood John ap William and Myfanwy +Gwenllian had been companions. In childhood they had pledged themselves +to be true to each other. In childhood they had walked together, day +after day, either on the rocky headland below the village of +Southerndown, or on the sands of Dunraven Bay, picking off the rocks +flowers of various tints and hues, or gathering in the little haven or +bay beautiful stones or pebbles, or seaweeds and shells. Besides, during +those childish excursions they were often seen gazing on the ocean +surges, or on the bright blue waves, now almost quiet and still, now +dashing up in awful and appalling fury against the high and stupendous +rocks surrounding the bay. Often, too, might they have been seen +watching the ships as they sailed up and down the channel. John +especially, loved the sea and its pebbly shore. He was never so happy as +when, with his beloved Myfanwy, he was watching the tidal eddies, or +viewing the frail barques as they rode so majestically o’er the briny +waves, carrying in their laps, as it were, the merchandise and the wealth +of the world—the products of the earth’s richest blessings from shore to +shore and from clime to clime. John contemplated this scene as a +Christian philosopher. He looked upon commerce between nation and nation +and between peoples and peoples as one of the greatest agents in +advancing the world’s civilization, as it necessarily carried to distant +lands those products of industry which so much contribute towards the +comfort and the material happiness and the general welfare of the race. +But while he looked upon commercial enterprise as a channel through which +material blessings might be conveyed, he moreover regarded it as tending +directly to unite nation with nation, to realize and cement in the bonds +of a holy brotherhood different races and separate nations and kingdoms; +thus rendering war almost impossible. Happy would it be if the statesmen +of the world would act up to these high principles! + +Besides, though John had never been from home—Bridgend being the furthest +extent within the range of his geographical knowledge—nevertheless, from +his reflection on the beneficial results flowing from commercial +enterprise, and his strong passion for a roving life, and being, +moreover, desirous to follow his father’s profession, who was commander +of a merchant vessel, he had resolved, in his early years, to go to sea +when he grew old enough, if a favourable opportunity offered itself. +Myfanwy, however, used all her powers of argument and suasion with a view +to prevent him from following so hazardous a calling; but without +success. Upon a seafaring life he was resolved. To visit distant lands, +and to behold strange peoples and countries, was the all-prevailing and +the constant desire of his heart’s deepest emotion. Hence on attaining +his thirteenth year, he was apprenticed to his father. When, however, +the day arrived for leaving home, and for bidding adieu to his beloved +mother and his darling Myfanwy, the grief he felt on parting with those +he so deeply and tenderly loved, almost broke his heart. At last he tore +himself from their embraces and fond caresses, and on the following day +he joined his father’s ship at Bristol, which was even then a city of +considerable commercial importance. + +As young ap William was a joyous and spirited boy, always full of fun and +joviality, and was never so well pleased as when he collected around him +a number of the sailors, and told them tales of other times, especially +tales connected with the lives of the great warriors and heroes of his +country he, in consequence, became a great favourite with his father’s +crew, who loved him for his own and his father’s sake. During this time +he did not, however, neglect his studies; nor was he lacking in acquiring +a thorough knowledge of his profession. He studied navigation, paid +great attention to charts; while in a short time he gained such an +intimate acquaintance with the management of the vessel, that before two +years elapsed the chief mate pronounced him to be the best and ablest +sailor on board. + +Before he attained his eighteenth year he could steer and manage a vessel +with any captain in the mercantile marine; and as the first mate then +retired from the service, John was appointed, by the owners of the ship, +as his successor, with a promise that on the first vacancy he should have +the command of one of their largest vessels. During those years John had +saved several hundred pounds. This sum his father invested in the +purchase of a small freehold estate in his native parish, to which John +intended to retire after he had saved enough to secure a sufficient +competency for himself and his beloved Myfanwy. To that day he looked +forward with feelings of longing anticipation. On that day he had often +said he would forget the past, would recall to his mind neither sorrow +nor human woes; but would for once live a day wholly devoted to pleasure +and to joy, looking on from then to a still more bright and happy future. +Alas! alas! how different often are results from our expectations. +Weeping cometh in the morning as well as at night. When we are most bent +on pleasure, when we fancy we are about to realize, according to our +anticipations, its fullest fruition, a dark cloud, charged with mournful +tidings, bursts on our head. The day on which he led Myfanwy to the +altar was the day on which he himself became an orphan. Indeed, he had +not left the churchyard before being apprised of the sad intelligence +that a father whom he loved so much was now a mangled corpse. He went +home to weep and to grieve, though he did not sorrow as one who had no +hope. + + + +CHAPTER II. +_A NOBLE RESOLVE NOBLY CARRIED OUT_. + + +It was morning. Walter Vaughan and his heir were partaking of an early +meal before going to the chase. Just previous to their departure, +“faithful Evan,” as he was called by the neighbours, entered the hall, +and handed his master a letter, which he received with a trembling hand. +Mr. Vaughan hastily broke the seal, and commenced perusing its contents, +but before he had concluded its perusal, he became as pale as death, he +shook like an aspen leaf, and his hand trembled violently. The young +lord, seeing his father’s distress and mental agony, became seriously +alarmed, and, in a paroxysm of anguish and grief, exclaimed in weeping +tones:— + +“Oh, father, my dear and fond parent! what is the matter? Are you ill?” + +“My boy,” replied the lord, “I am a ruined man!” + +“Ruined, did you say?” + +“Yes, completely and, I fear, irretrievably ruined.” + +“How, and by what means has so great a calamity befallen you?” + +“This I will explain in a few words. Some time ago I placed my affairs +in the hands of an attorney, whom I then believed to be an honest man. +He has, however, proved himself to be a faithless friend and an arrant +rogue. This is his letter, in which he informs me that the lawsuit has +been decided in favour of my opponent, who is my bitterest foe. This +vagabond lawyer further tells me, that the costs are so enormous that I +shall be compelled to sell my estates in order to meet the liability. He +even doubts whether the castle and manor of Dunraven will realize +sufficient, over and above the present encumbrance, to meet the debt.” + +“But you need not, dear father, dispose of the estate to satisfy the +claims of these lawyers. There is the twenty thousand pounds my uncle +left me in the bank. I will send an authority to the manager to pay you +that sum. Surely, that will be sufficient to meet all claims.” + +“My dear and noble-hearted boy, it almost breaks my heart to be obliged +to tell you that your money, even to the last shilling, has already been +spent.” + +“Surely, you have not raised the whole of that sum?” + +“Yes, every penny has gone; and now, dear Walter, your patrimony in a few +weeks will, I fear, become the possession of others.” + +“This is sad news, my father,” replied Walter junior. “It is, indeed, a +terrible disaster. But don’t grieve. What’s done can’t be undone. I am +resolved yet to redeem it, if time be granted me. I am now penniless; +but I will make my own fortune. I will yet gain for myself a name and a +rank which shall be equal to, if it does not surpass, that of my +illustrious ancestors. Now being bereft of all, the poorest of the poor, +and dependent upon my own powers and will, I will repair the ruin.” + +“By what means will you accomplish this, Walter?” inquired the father. + +“Oh, father, by means which are honourable; and by pursuits which lead to +fortune. By work, by labour, by industry, by indomitable plodding, and +by engaging in the calling of men who have thereby accumulated untold +wealth, and are possessed of unbounded riches.” + +“I do not, my son, understand you. To what pursuit do you refer?” + +“To be plain, then, this is my resolve: to engage at once in commercial +undertakings, thus following in the footsteps of my late lamented uncle.” + +“But, considering the position we occupy in society as the lords of +Dunraven, for you to enter upon such an undertaking would be a +degradation.” + +“But, father, is it not a greater degradation to be poor—to see our lands +in the possession of others, to be provided with bread by the toil and +labour of others—in short, to see men work, while we refuse to lift up a +hand to help them, when we are dependent upon their industry?” + +“It is hard to do this, my noble boy; but to me it is still more painful +to part with you.” + +“You, dear father, have ever been kind and indulgent to me. Believe me, +for I speak from my heart of hearts, that to leave you, though it be but +for a season, is to me a matter of deep sorrow. It is, however, a stern +necessity that compels my departure. I shall, nevertheless, leave you, +though with sadness, yet with a buoyant hope, destined, I doubt not to be +realised, to return to the home of my fathers laden with gold. The +prospect of that day will cheer me in my labour, will nerve my arm, and +help me to surmount any difficulties which may pass athwart my path.” + +“God grant you success, my son, for which I will pray fervently during +your forced absence. But whither will you go?” + +“I think, dear father, that I can secure immediate employment—an +employment, too, which will in no way be degrading to me as your heir. +Yesterday I received a letter from my old friend and companion, Mr. +Jones, of Marseilles, who is one of the greatest merchants of that famous +city, in which he has asked me to look out for a gentleman to act as +confidential clerk. He further says, that if the right man secures the +appointment, and proves to be one who can be trusted, with business +habits, tact, and energy, he holds out the prospect of an advantageous +partnership. As he is in immediate want of a young man possessing those +qualities, which I fancy I possess, I will write him offering my +services, which, considering my altered circumstances, I think he will +only feel too proud to accept.” + +Young Walter was indeed just the kind of youth Mr. Jones wanted. He had +received the best education which the Oxford of those times afforded. He +had the bump of order largely developed. He was persevering, +painstaking, energetic, and an indomitable plodder; whatever his hand +found to do, he did it with all his might. Anything he undertook he +would not give up until he had thoroughly mastered it. Moreover, he was +thoroughly conscientious. In this virtue he followed his mother’s rather +than his father’s family. Indeed, the old lord was regarded, and was +justly considered, as an unprincipled, grasping, and unscrupulous man; +and it was his greedy love of gold, and his insatiable thirst for larger +possessions, which he sought to secure by unjust means and foul play, +that had, in consequence of non-success, brought about his ruin. He had +set up a claim to the heirship of another gentleman’s estate, though its +owner’s ancestors were in its possession and enjoyment when Vaughan’s +forefathers were menials. The court, happily, decided the suit in favour +of the rightful owner, and to mark their sense of the wrong the lord of +Dunraven intended doing, ordered him to pay the costs of ten years’ +litigation. It was this final decision of which his lawyer had apprised +him in the letter previously alluded to. His son, on the other hand, was +an upright and an honourable man, who would rather suffer wrong than do +an unjust act. Mr. Jones was well aware of these noble qualities with +which young Walter was endowed; hence, on the receipt of the letter +offering his services, he wrote him a note full of kindly feeling and +sympathy, and further pressing his old friend and correspondent to join +him in London the following week, as he should be over in England for a +few days on important matters connected with his business. On the +receipt of this communication from Mr. Jones, young Walter commenced +preparing for leaving home. At last the day arrived for his departure, +and bidding his father an affectionate adieu, he went forth into the +broad world, either to be carried on the tide which leads to fortune, or +to sink beneath its devouring crests. + +On Walter’s arrival in London, his old friend and earliest companion was +waiting at his hotel ready to receive him. His reception was most +cordial on the part of Mr. Jones. After spending a few days in town, +they took ship for Marseilles. On arriving at their destination, the +heir of Dunraven was at once installed in office; and before a week had +elapsed, his employer saw that he had secured a valuable acquisition to +his establishment. + +After Mr. Vaughan had been in the establishment about six months, Mr. +Jones came to the office one morning earlier than usual. Though none of +the hands had arrived, he found to his surprise and joy his new clerk at +the desk. “I am glad,” addressing Walter, “you are here, for I want to +consult you on a matter of great importance. I have been debating with +my junior partner,” continued Mr. Jones, “as to the wisdom or unwisdom of +sending to the London market a new kind of silk, which a manufacturer has +just introduced. He strongly opposes its purchase, while I, on the other +hand, am convinced it is just the thing that will take. You are a good +judge of quality and beauty, so give me your candid opinion as to whether +it is wise or not to make a large or any purchase of this class of +goods.” + +“I presume you will not require an immediate answer,” replied Walter. +“If you will kindly give me an hour to think over it, I will then offer +my opinion.” + +During that hour the young clerk was busily engaged in carefully +examining the material with the aid of a powerful magnifying glass, and +was struck with both the fineness of the texture and the beauty of its +design. On the return of his principal, he said that, in his opinion, +the silk was just the kind of goods which would command a ready sale in +the London market, and strongly recommended that the whole stock should +be bought up, and immediately shipped. Mr. Jones acted on the opinion, +which turned out to be the most fortunate speculation in which he had +ever engaged. The sum actually realized was £20,000, of this sum he +presented the young clerk with £5000, and in addition offered—an offer +which was gladly and gratefully accepted—a partnership in the business. +After this, the house of Jones & Company rose higher and higher in the +commercial world, and the annual profits of the business were so great, +that at the expiration of the seven years of partnership the young lord +of Dunraven had at his command a sufficient sum to pay off the +incumbrance of the estate. To that effect he wrote his father, and on +the receipt of the money, he called his creditors together and paid them +their demands. The lord of Dunraven thus became once more a free and +independent man; but, alas! he did not give up his calling, but, with new +life and renewed energy pursued the mission of the Evil One: being +constantly at the post of mischief, and with eager eyes and a longing +heart, looking out on the stormy wavy channel for treasures which, by +foul play, he was resolved to bring into his meshes. Prosper thou, lord +of Dunraven, but in thy prosperity remember that the sword of justice is +hovering over thy head, and in the midst of thy prosperity it will strike +thee down. The day of vengeance tarries; but it will come, and when it +arrives, oh, how terrible will be thy doom! + + + +CHAPTER III. +_THE ALLIANCE OF THE LORD OF DUNRAVEN WITH MAC THE DEVIL_, _AND SOME +OFITS RESULTS_. + + +It was about three years subsequent to the departure of the son and heir +of Dunraven, that the old lord resolved to take into his service MacLean, +_alias_ Mac the Devil. He knew that this man was a desperate character +and a thorough daredevil, who neither feared God nor regarded man; in +short, that for money and Scotch whisky, he would do the devil’s work +according to his satanic majesty’s own special plan. There was no crime +of which Mac was not guilty, but, by reason of the stealthy way in which +he carried out his doings of iniquity, he always succeeded in avoiding +detection. Though blood was on his hands, though he had robbed the +fatherless, and murdered, for the sake of pelf, the innocent, yet he +walked the earth with head erect as a guiltless person, little dreaming +of the terrible doom awaiting him. However, his cup of iniquity was not +yet full, though daily it was nearing the brim. He was in the act of +planning some new crime when he received a message from the lord of +Dunraven to attend him at the castle. Mac, with trembling hands and a +sinking heart, at once attended to the commands of Mr. Vaughan, though, +on his way there, he had many misgivings as to the prudence of the step +he was taking. He, however, soon convinced himself that were he to +disobey the summons he must quit for ever the neighbourhood, as he dare +not confront the lord of Dunraven if guilty of disobedience to his +lordship’s commands. To the castle, therefore, he repaired, and on his +arrival he was ushered by the faithful Evan into the library, where Mr. +Vaughan was awaiting him. On Mac’s entering he was requested to take a +seat, when Mr. Vaughan, with a degree of sternness he seldom manifested, +reproached him for leading a life so fraught with danger. + +“I do not, my lord,” said Mac, touching his head, “understand your +meaning.” + +“Oh, you don’t, don’t you? If then I say you are deeply steeped in +crime, that you are a murderer, a thief, a rogue, and a villain, should I +not speak the truth, and would you not understand my charge?” + +“Saying so, and proving its truth, are, I ken, two very different things, +my lord. You can’t prove that I am otherwise than an innocent man.” + +“Don’t you be too sure of that, Mac. Indeed, I already possess evidence, +which, if necessary, can at any moment be produced, completely +substantiating my charge; and, Mac, I have a great mind to produce that +evidence to the authorities.” + +“You dare not do that, my lord,” replied Mac. + +“You scoundrel! dare you threaten me in my own castle? If you say +another word, and use that language to me, I’ll send for the bum-bailiff +at once, and, as a magistrate, order you into his custody.” + +“I say again, my lord, that you daren’t carry out your threat.” + +“Why daren’t I, I should be glad to know?” + +“Because if you were to do so I’d peach.” + +“You would do what, Mac?” + +“I’d peach; that is, I’d tell all about your lordship’s doings.” + +“Be d—d, you would?” + +“Yes.” + +“But who would believe you, you scoundrel?” + +“Me they may not, my lord of Dunraven; but they’d believe the evidence of +others.” + +“But can you or your friends, you vagabond, bear any evil testimony +against me? I live in my own castle, and never mix with the world. It +is well known to all around, that my life and my time is devoted to +study, to the practice of virtue, and to acts of piety. Me they know as +a model citizen and a Christian man and a gentleman. Therefore, my +character would be proof against insinuations, or charges patched up by +you or your hellish crew. You and your criminal companions might say, +and even swear—you are capable of anything bad—you saw me in the act of +committing a crime, but neither your word nor your oath would have any +weight with those who know you, were the life of a dog only involved.” + +“Dinna you be too sure of that, my lord,” rejoined Mac; “I ken, and +Squire Jones knows too, the sad fate of the ship _Bristol_, of the +_Elizabeth_ of Swansea, and of the _City of Paris_. He and I know also +by whose hands the false light was hung out on Dunraven Head, and by +whose hands the captains and the crews were murdered—who afterwards +seized the wrecks, who sent them to market to be sold, and who received +the money. If I may be so bold, I could tell further that, within this +castle, and in a cell beneath this room, there is a poor unfortunate man, +who was put into an iron cage, and locked there by you,—the lord of +Dunraven castle,—and that he is daily fed by crumbs from your table. If +this man were free, he could tell a tale at which humanity would shudder. +You, my lord, think I sleep with my eyes shut, that I tremble at sight of +the sea, that I’m afraid of the darkness and the tempests; and you knew +not that when those vessels went down, and when all the hands on board +perished, except this poor man in the cage, I was near you, my lord,—even +close by your side, though unperceived. Knowing these facts, I now dare +you, my lord, to molest me or breathe a word injurious to my character. +If you do so, I’ll peach, and I’ll take care that the lord of Dunraven +shall be my fellow-prisoner. You have called me a scoundrel. Doesn’t +that foul term apply equally to you, my lord? But your sin will yet find +you out.” + +For these terrible revelations Mr. Vaughan was wholly unprepared. During +their recital he shook as a man having the palsy. He uttered, too, the +most awful imprecations, and cursed and swore like a man possessed of the +devil. These, however, had no influence over the mind of the hard-headed +and hard-hearted Scotchman, who continued his tale heedless of the +foaming rage of Mr. Vaughan. _He_ never dreamt that his crimes were +known to mortal, beyond the circle of his demoniac companions. He had so +cautiously arranged his plans, and had carried them out so stealthily, +that he fancied the knowledge of his rascality was confined to those +desperadoes whom he had specially hired to carry out his nefarious +designs. Now, however, his deeds were known not only to Mac, but to his +great enemy, Squire Jones; thus the man whom he sought to rob of his +rightful possessions was also cognizant of those deeds. Mr. Vaughan’s +first thought, when Mac had finished his tale, was to take away, there +and then, either his life or his liberty. But a moment’s reflection +compelled him to hesitate in adopting so dangerous a course, as it was +known in the village of Southerndown that Mac had been summoned to the +castle. Considering the matter more seriously, he came to the conclusion +that there was only one course open to him: namely, to take Mac into his +service, and make him captain of the crew. By pursuing this course, he +would completely shut the mouths of Mac’s friends, and by securing the +services of so skilful and so daring a wrecker, richer and more abundant +harvests might yet be reaped. Drawing himself to his full height, he +said to his defiant visitor,— + +“I do not, Mac, admit your charges, and I say further that they are +incapable of proof; but as I sustained so heavy a loss by law, and as +drowning men will not stand on ceremony, but will accept the assistance +of their bitterest foe when they feel themselves sinking beneath the +devouring waves, I am therefore prepared to take you into my employ, and +if you prove faithful to my interests and obedient to my orders, you may +rise to wealth and to honour.” + +“But in what way, my lord, do you intend me to serve you?” + +“You know, Mac, your special calling, and not wholly unknown to me,—don’t +be alarmed,—is the success which has followed your labours. Being under +my protection, by being in my service, you may well look forward to still +greater results. I need not say you are well aware that your present +position is fraught with danger, and that one word from me would put a +stop to your career. If your words be true, _our_ interests clash. +Besides, Mac, the stealthy and criminal vagabond, prowling about in +search of prey, is in a very different position to Mac, the servant of +the lord of Dunraven. With that sentiment you agree, do you not?” + +“I must admit, my lord, you have put the case very clearly, and your +reasons in favour of my accepting your offer are strong. I can’t +withstand them, so I’ll say Aye to your proposal.” + +“You have acted like a man of sense, Mac, as I always took you to be. +To-night, work will have to be done; so go home and tell Molly, your +wife, of your engagement, and don’t fail to meet me at the Watch Tower at +four o’clock.” + +No sooner had Mac left the castle to pay a visit to his wife, with a view +to apprise her of his engagement, than Mr. Vaughan also took his +departure, and immediately afterwards joined the watcher at the Tower, +which was situate on the highest point of the promontory. On entering +the observatory, he inquired for the result of the day’s observations, +which, on being put into his hand, made him remark that matters did not +look very bright. + +“When things are at the worst,” replied the watcher, “they generally +mend. I think we shall have some work to do before to-morrow morning.” + +“Your reason for that opinion, my faithful Duncan.” + +“You see yonder flag hoisted on St. Donat’s Watch Tower? That flag has +never yet deceived me. Depend upon it, it is the harbinger of good news. +The wind, too, blows hard from the south, and, if I’m not mistaken, there +will be a fearful gale before midnight, and the ships coming down channel +must necessarily be driven towards our coast.” + +“Your information, my Duncan, is cheering: I, too, am bearer of good news +to you. I have just engaged Mac the Devil, and shall appoint him to the +office of captain of the beach and boatmen.” + +“I’m so glad you’ve taken my cousin into your service. Mac is a smart +man, he is well up in the trade, he is fearless, and, what is still more +important, will not stick at trifles in obtaining his end.” + +“You approve then, Duncan, of my arrangement?” + +“Most certainly, sir. In our line of business Mac has no equal. He has +the strength of a giant, while he is a stranger to fear, and fortunately +has no conscience. I never heard of his failure in accomplishing his +object by fair means or foul. When he fails to thrash a dozen sailors +with his fists, and to pitch them into the sea, he resorts to the pistol, +which, in his hand, never misses in its aim. In our calling, my lord, I +yield to none but Mac. He is my superior in everything, except in this +observatory. Oh, were he here to-night! We shall want a man of his +metal.” + +“This time your wish will be gratified. I expect Mac here every moment. +Look, he’s coming down the road from Southerndown, in our direction. * +* * Call up the men from the beach, Duncan; I wish them to be present +when Mac arrives, so as to inform them of the appointment.” + +The men were duly summoned by the head watcher. On arriving at the +tower, they stood in a row, in front of the entrance, to await their +master’s commands. Presently he appeared, accompanied by Duncan and Mac, +and, addressing his men, spoke of their fidelity to his interest, called +their attention to the many splendid victories achieved over the enemy, +of the rich laurels already reaped from wrecks, and, further, that there +was the strongest ground for hoping that their past gains were but as a +drop of the bucket to those they might expect to realize hereafter. “But +your success,” said Mr. Vaughan, “will depend wholly upon yourselves. +You must be united, there must be harmony in your ranks, hearty +co-operation; while all must cheerfully bow to the order of the +commander-in-chief. To that office I have selected a man after your own +heart. You who are in favour of having Mac for your captain, hold up +your hands.” + +To this request every hand was held up, whereupon Mac took his post at +the head of the wreckers. They were then regaled with a liberal supply +of whisky, and when each one had taken his fill they repaired again to +the beach. No sooner, however, had they departed than there were seen +coming down the channel two fine vessels. The wind now blew a frightful +gale, raising up the waters into waves like mountains, on whose crests +the ships were carried at their mercy. Everything appeared favourable to +the wreckers. In the west the sun had declined. The shades of night +were falling fast. Every minute the darkness thickened. The tempest +increased in fury, while the roar of the ocean and the winds howling in +the rocks and caverns around Dunraven Head, were most appalling. +Notwithstanding the tempest, neither Mr. Vaughan nor Duncan moved from +the spot of observation. As the vessels neared the point, the fatal +light was placed in the tower. The captains of both ships now fully +realised their danger: that there was no hope of saving either their +ships or their own lives. The crews, too, were well aware of being on +the enemy’s ground, and, informing their commanders of their +apprehension, at once unanimously resolved, if they must perish by +treachery so base and devilish, that others should also perish at their +hands. On their ships being driven into the bay they heroically prepared +themselves for the combat. Each one armed himself with a cutlass, and +when the vessels were dashed against the rocks of Dunraven Head, they, as +one man, leaped into the boiling surge, and swam for the shore. But in +this heroic attempt to save their lives, several received severe +injuries, while others sank to rise no more. However, the greater +portion of them arrived safely on the beach, but no sooner had they +landed than they saw, creeping along the shore, under the shelter of the +rocks, a strong body of men well armed. The sailors, however, were in no +way alarmed at the appearance of the enemy. Before quitting their +vessels they were well aware that the lord of Dunraven was on the alert. +Of this the light on the Watch Tower was a sufficient proof. Hence, when +they saw the wreckers approaching they placed themselves on the +defensive, and patiently awaited the attack. They had not long to wait, +for the Dunraven men immediately came up and called upon the sailors to +surrender. To that call, however, they paid no heed, but drawing out +their daggers, fell with terrible force upon the wreckers, who, however, +stood their ground manfully. The battle was a desperate one, while the +slaughter was most appalling to witness. Many a brave man on both sides +fell, mortally wounded. For a time the sailors had the best of the fray. +Their arms were nerved, too, by the consideration that, if beaten, death +would be the lot of each. Just, however, when they thought their victory +was sure, there came up to the rescue of the wreckers their captain, who, +with his own hand, killed six of the sailors. The work of butchery now +commenced in earnest. One after another of the sailors fell, never to +rise again. Indeed not one single man of their number survived to tell +the tale. When the work of slaughter was completed, the captain ordered +all the bodies to be carried to the adjoining cavern, where they were +buried in a large chasm in the rock. After interring the dead, Mac and +the survivors returned to the beach, and watched there for the morning +dawn. During the night both vessels were broken to atoms by the fury of +the waves, and as daylight appeared, the shore, for half a mile, was +literally covered with articles of great value, which on being sold, +realised a large sum. + +The deeds of that terrible night spread far and wide. The owners of the +vessels and merchants pressed the Government to send down a special +commission of inquiry. For several weeks these commissioners carried on +their investigations; but, while collecting a large amount of evidence, +yet in consequence of the absence of one witness, whose evidence was +essential to bring the charge home to the lord of Dunraven, they failed +in substantiating the case against Mr. Vaughan. A week subsequent to the +departure of the commissioners, that witness was found; but he could tell +no tale, being a mangled corpse. The body had been washed ashore near +Porthcawl. The remains were those of Captain ap William, the father of +John. The news of this discovery was at once carried to his widow, who +was busily engaged in preparing her son’s wedding dinner when the +messenger arrived. After breaking the fatal news to Mrs. ap William, the +messenger continued his journey to the little village of St. Bride’s, +and, going up to the church, he met at the porch the newly-married pair. +To Captain John, as he was generally called, the messenger told his sad +tale. Both John and his wife were deeply affected on being apprised of +their bereavement. They returned to their home to weep and to mourn; so +John’s bridal day, which he hoped would be a day of unclouded joy, proved +to be one of sadness, of sorrow, and of death. He thus fully realized, +by personal experience, the truth of the inspired saying, that we know +not what a day may bring forth. + + + +CHAPTER IV. +_THE TERRIBLE DOOM_. + + +During the progress of the inquiry into the circumstances connected with +the wreck, every effort was made by the authorities to discover the +whereabouts of those who were believed to be engaged in the affair; but +those inquiries were, unfortunately, unattended with success. The usual +haunts of the wreckers were repeatedly searched, their dwellings were +watched, and even guarded night and day. The villages and the +neighbouring hamlets were visited on several consecutive days, yet they +failed to find a single individual able to afford any intelligence or +information as to the hiding-place of the desperadoes. The non-success +of these inquiries was considered as most singular, no less than +inexplicable. On the morning following the sad occurrence, several of +the wreckers, including Mac the Devil, had been seen on the beach below +Dunraven Castle, but it appeared that no sooner had they completed the +packing and loading of the treasures collected, than they all disappeared +in a most sudden manner from view, and that disappearance was effected in +a most unaccountable way. Whither they went, or how they left the beach, +no one could tell. They were distinctly seen, and in a moment afterwards +they were lost to view, as if the earth had opened and swallowed them up. + +Owing to their non-discovery, speculation was rife as to their probable +hiding-place. Some thought it most likely that they were hidden in the +cellars under Dunraven Castle; others contended that Mr. Vaughan was too +shrewd a man to place them there, especially as he himself was suspected +of participating in the battle, and that that suspicion might lead to an +inquiry which might be followed up by a personal search. Others +concluded that they had quitted the neighbourhood, and were hiding in the +woods about Margam, or up the Ogmore Valley. There was one old gentleman +who treated all these opinions with contempt. Every village and parish +has its wise man, to whom, in an emergency, an appeal is made, and the +old gentleman alluded to was the then wise man of Southerndown, as Hopkin +Llewelyn is in our day. He gave it as his opinion, that the wreckers +were neither in the woods of Ogmore Valley nor Margam, nor would they be +found in the Dunraven cellars, but were still in the neighbourhood, and +within the sound of their voices; in short, that they were hid in some +subterraneous cavern in the bay, which had hitherto remained +undiscovered, and hence was known only to the wreckers. He further +predicted that as soon as the storm should blow over, by the departure of +the commissioners, and the usual quietude of the locality assume its +general aspect, the wreckers would again return to their old haunts, +having Mac at their head; and would be then found wandering from point to +point, having no special occupation, nor ostensible means of livelihood. +The prediction of the village seer was verified to the letter. No sooner +had the commissioners left than the wreckers did return, and they +appeared at their place of rendezvous, the Cups, as if nothing had +happened. Here they spent the morning of each day in drinking beer and +whisky; and here they spent their money with as much prodigality as if +they were the owners of gold mines. The landlord of the Cups received +their money without even asking whether they came to it by honest or +lawless means. When asked how he could be so lost to every sense of +right as to accept money from men who certainly had earned it by being +engaged in a nefarious calling, he replied that he was perfectly +indifferent, and that it was no concern of his how they came by their +silver and gold, so long as they paid him for what they drank. In this +reply we recognise the true philosophy of the trade. Landlords, as a +rule, care but little for the sorrows, the poverty, and the wants of +their drinking clients and their families. They want to sell drink, and +hence never for a moment reflect whether or not their customers can +afford to spend a shilling, or as to the manner by means of which it was +earned. He, of the Cups, was, in money matters, true to his calling; but +we cannot commend the wisdom, or rather unwisdom, of the wreckers in +spending their money at the old house, when the children of some of them +wanted bread. + +On the morning following one of these carouses, Mac paid a visit to the +tower to see his cousin Duncan. Though they had met several times since +the day on which they came from their hiding-places, yet they had not +been fortunate enough to secure an uninterrupted and unobserved +conversation. To this both had anxiously looked forward. Fortunately, +when Mac entered, ho found his cousin in the observatory alone. Placing +his books and instruments on the table, Duncan turned his chair to the +fire, and requested his visitor to be seated on the opposite side of the +fire. As the kettle was boiling on the hob, the host prepared two pints +of excellent whisky toddy, one of which he handed Mac, who, on sipping +the mixture remarked that it was “capital stuff,” and moreover inquired +of Duncan where he obtained it. + +“It came, Mac, from the old country; imported direct from the distiller. +This is just the beverage for a stormy night, is it not, Mac?” + +“On _that night_ I’d have given a pound for a pint of toddy like this.” + +“By the bye, Mac,” said Duncan, “you did the thing very neatly that +night.” + +“I’m obliged to you, cousin, for your good opinion. What did Mr. Vaughan +say about our doings? He saw the whole scene.” + +“My lord said to me, that unless you had been present, all would have +been lost, as the sailors up to the time you came up had the best of the +battle.” + +“Mr. Vaughan was right there, Duncan. Had I not come up at the moment I +did, every wrecker would have been a dead man.” + +“So my lord, who was on the rock above you, said.” + +“Oh, Duncan, it was a sad sight! I hope, cousin, I shall never be +compelled to witness a similar scene. + +“It is a sickening and a degrading calling, this of ours, in which +victory has no honour, and triumph no glory. While it is a merry life +and profitable to those engaged in it, it is surrounded with scenes which +are shocking to behold.” + +“As our master has such a large estate, Duncan, why does he carry on so +hazardous and so dangerous a calling?” + +“The secret is this, he loves gold, and his heart is set on attaining +riches; and to secure them he’ll take away any man’s life if it stands +between him and the prize he covets.” + +“I should think he shook in his shoes when those men were down here. Was +he not alarmed, Duncan?” + +“Our master was, Mac, certainly alarmed; but, take my word, he’ll go on +just in the same way. He is just like the little animal which, when once +it tastes the blood of its victim, never gives up pursuit until it has +secured the prey. The lord of Dunraven will, in my opinion, continue +wrecking until some great calamity befalls his house or his family.” + +The subsequent doings of Mr. Vaughan fully established the opinion of +Duncan. Although he had been in imminent danger of having his crime +discovered, yet, when those who conducted the inquiry had left the +vicinity, the lord of Dunraven, with renewed energy and more resolute +determination, carried on his nefarious calling. In each succeeding +winter, vessels were wrecked in Dunraven Bay which had been decoyed +thither by the false lights he had caused to be placed in the tower. +From these wrecks he realized large sums. Had he been permitted to +pursue his satanic designs for a few years longer, he would have become +the richest man in the vale of Glamorgan. + +In consequence of the great losses ship-owners had sustained by reason of +these wrecks, and the terror which the scenes of Dunraven had inspired, +both owners and masters of vessels trading up and down the Bristol +Channel were alarmed, and were in constant apprehensions lest they should +experience the same disaster which had unhappily befallen so many of +their brethren. Captain ap William, however, was not deterred from +pursuing his seafaring calling by these disasters, though his wife, +previously to his starting on every voyage, warned him of the danger of +following so hazardous a pursuit. Yet, in spite of those warnings, and +the urgent solicitations of his wife to remain at home, he continued +going to sea. + +It was after one of these wrecks, when more than ordinary violence had +been used by the men of Dunraven, that the captain and his wife were +walking from St. Bride’s along the carriage way to Dunraven. This was +their favourite walk, and it was, moreover, associated with many a happy +scene in days of yore. After pursuing their walk for some time in +silence, Mrs. ap William began to weep. + +“Why those tears, Myfanwy?” asked her husband. + +“I weep, John,” she replied, “in thought of the prospect of our +separation. Oh, you will not leave me again, will you?” + +“Indeed, wife, I must.” + +“But where is the necessity for you to risk your life again? We have +enough to keep us in independence and comfort.” + +“I have promised my employers to go on this one voyage.” + +“Can’t they get another captain to take charge of the ship?” + +“Doubtless they could, but they won’t trust every man with my vessel.” + +“Oh, I wish you would stay at home! Indeed, indeed, I fear, if you leave +me, I shall never see you again. Last night I dreamt, and in my dream I +fancied I saw your body being taken from the sea, your hair clotted, and +your face covered with blood. Oh, I do fear, if you again leave me, I +shall never see you alive!” + +“Do not be alarmed for my safety, Myfanwy. Life is as safe on the ocean +as on the land. The same Providence watches over the seaman as the +landsman. He being at the helm, He controlling and guiding the destiny +of us all, will be my friend, even should danger threaten me. So cheer +up, thou treasure of my heart, and since you are so urgent that I should +give up my calling, I now promise that on my return from this one voyage +I will remain at home.” + +“I can urge you no further, John. During your absence I’ll pray for your +safe return.” + +The following morning Captain John ap William took his departure. He +joined his ship at Bristol, and from that port he sailed for the city of +Lisbon with a cargo of West of England goods. From thence he sailed to +London, thence to Hamburg, and after several voyages between the two +last-mentioned cities, chartered his ship to the Mediterranean, and took +a valuable cargo at Marseilles for Bristol. + +During her husband’s absence, Myfanwy felt constant anxiety on his +behalf, an anxiety intensified owing to the sad havoc among shipping at +Dunraven Bay. As it was now winter, her feeling of apprehension +increased in intensity, as she daily expected his return. October had +come and gone, but he had not returned, nor had she received, for several +weeks, a letter from him. November had come in more than usually stormy. +All over the country trees had been uprooted, houses were blown down, and +on the rocks above Dunraven Bay, and below Southerndown, the winds were +so terrible that persons were in the imminent risk of being blown over if +they went within even fifty yards of the precipice. On Friday morning +the hurricane increased in its fury. As the evening approached, the +storm became fearful, while the tumultuous waves increased in violence, +foaming, then wildly raving, then receding in circling eddies for awhile, +into their gloomy bosom; then, again, returning with renewed force and +augmented fury. Upon their tumultuous and angry surges a large vessel, +heavily laden, was being driven towards the bay of Dunraven by the fierce +tempest. If that fine ship, which bore on her bosom the rich merchandise +of continental skill and industry, be dashed against the desperate +assemblage of rocks, crags, and shoals surrounding the bay—imagination +with its utmost stretch could form but a very imperfect idea of so +direful and so appalling a spectacle. As the villagers gazed upon the +tumultuous billows, they saw the ship, which had battled many a stormy +breeze, uplifted on the briny surge, then plunging headlong down the +repelling rock. In that terrible collision, a hole nearly three feet +square, was made in the bottom, through which the sea rushed in with +terrible force, on which she began to sink. When this was discovered, +the crew, in wild despair, called to the men on the beach to come and +help them. They, however, moved not, but waited the issue with the most +stolid indifference. Amid that cry of despairing anguish the sea rolled +in with increased violence and fury, the waves dashing over the +fast-sinking ship, and carrying along with them the unfortunate crew. +Presently there was seen clinging to a frail board a young man, comely in +form and handsomely dressed. Having fastened himself to this, the +wreckers heard him beseeching them, in most piteous cries to come and +help him. However, to that cry no attention was paid. Seeing this, he, +with a voice which moved even the hard hearts of the wreckers, called +out, “Oh, my father, my father! if you love your son, who has been a +dutiful and a faithful son to you—if there be in your bosom any affection +for him who has only lived to promote your welfare and interest; who, in +your declining years, has laboured and striven, and thereby has succeeded +in redeeming the manor of Dunraven from its heavy incumbrance—send the +men to save me from a watery grave!” That cry the lord of Dunraven +heard. It pierced his very soul. His countenance was marked with +anguish, blended with despair. All he could say was, “It is my own son +Walter, and I have caused his death!” He then fell down in a fit. When +the wreckers heard their master’s exclamation they, as one man, took to +the sea. Towards the drowning man they pressed forward with great +energy, and at last succeeded in touching the frail board. At that +moment there was a terrible sea, which, in receding, carried away the +young lord of Dunraven and the whole of the wreckers, except Mac the +Devil, who succeeded in gaining the shore. The Lord of Dunraven, when he +recovered from the swoon, learned all that had happened, even of his +son’s death. From that night Mr. Vaughan was never seen at Dunraven +Castle. He went forth, bowed down with age and with sin, a wandering +ghost, seeking rest but finding none. No one ever heard that he was +sorry on account of the crimes he had committed against heaven and earth. +In a few years afterwards news came to Wales that in an encounter with a +highwayman, in the North of England, the once great lord of Dunraven was +slain, and his body was thrown over the rocks into the sea. In his +pockets were found papers which led to his identification. As his money +had been taken by the robber, he was buried at the expense of the parish +in which his body was found. Such was the life and such the end of a man +who sought riches by robbery, and gold by the sacrifice of human life. +Indeed, he lived a miserable life, and died a miserable death. + +As regards the other persons of this history but little remains to be +told. Mac, on that night, disappeared from the scene. But every nook +and corner of the coast was watched and carefully guarded night and day. +The people of the neighbourhood expressed their confidence that Mac was +still in the locality, in his old hiding-place. After watching for a +fortnight, during which there were no signs of his appearance, they were +almost persuaded to give up the affair. However, they resolved still to +continue guarding the coast for another week. The day before that week +expired, one of the watchers saw in the sea, coming out from between two +rocks, a man diving. Evidently he had come from some subterranean +cavern, with an outlet under the water. This man was Mac the Devil. He +was there and then taken, and lodged in gaol. At the following assizes +he was found guilty of murder and was condemned to die. Before his death +he confessed all, and left behind him a record of his exploits, and a +detailed account of his connection with the lord of Dunraven. Before +that record was read, Mr. Vaughan had breathed his last. + +But what became of Captain John? It was his vessel that went down, and +it was young Vaughan’s cargo with which she was laden. On the morning +subsequent to the wreck he was found on the seashore in Dunraven Bay, +with his body much bruised, and his face covered with blood. He was, +however, still alive, and thanks to the careful nursing of his wife and +medical skill, he soon recovered, and gave up going to sea. Ever +afterwards he lived at home. He became an excellent farmer, and saved +money. He lived to a good old age, and left behind a numerous family, +who were as distinguished for their virtue as they were for their +industry. In this world he moreover lived as he wished to die, leaving +behind him a pattern of religiousness which his children, and their +children after them, followed. Thus, while the end of the good captain +was happy and peaceful, that of the lord of Dunraven was full of anguish, +while he met with a doom which it is terrible to contemplate. + + + + +PARSON JONES, +AND HIS CONQUESTS OVER THE ARCH-FIEND OF PANDEMONIUM. + + +[The following strange stories of Cambrian life contain not an _ideal_ +but a _real_ picture of society in days of yore. For obvious reasons, +some of the names of the _dramatis personæ_ are not given, but the family +of Jones being so large, _the man_ will not be recognised by the +retention of the name he actually bore. Further, it is believed that the +whole of his relations are dead. He had two nieces that survived him, +who on his death were by no means _young ladies_. They then quitted +Wales, never more to return. One more word only need be added, namely, +that Mr. Jones’s fame as a preacher was universal, and the belief that he +had power over Satan was firmly entertained by all, though he himself +repudiated the possession of such power. Mr. Jones lived to nearly a +hundred years of age, and died about thirty years ago.] + + * * * * * + +Hail! all hail! to thee, thou illustrious dead! Though thy spirit has +long since left the regions of earth, and has passed into the _Gwlad +well_, yet thy memory is fresh and green, and thy deeds of charity, thy +unassuming piety, thy faithful preaching of the Cross, thy example of +saintly resignation, as well as thy holy sanctitude, still live in the +hearts and memories of those who were privileged to listen, sabbath after +sabbath, to the glorious truths which fell from thy lips, and who, +moreover, were permitted to gaze upon and witness the holy ripening of +thy nature for a bright and a glorious immortality. Of thee might it be +truly said, that thy enemies were few, and thy friends and well-wishers +legion. The reason of this was obvious. While others laboured for +earthly honour and a perishable renown, the aspiration and desire of thy +soul was to do the work of Him in whose armour thou wast clothed, and to +be recognised, and honoured, and acknowledged of thy Father at the +Judgment of the Great Day. Thy departure to that better land was to thee +a happy departure. On thy spirit leaving its tabernacle of clay, it took +its flight, amid the songs of angelic choirs, to that world wherein the +Lamb shall ever lead it to perennial springs and fountains of +blessedness, and where every tear shall be wiped away by the Redeemer. +But though the change to thee was a welcome one, oh, how _un_welcome was +it to thy sorrowing children on earth, who were left behind in the +wilderness! Though many, many years have passed away since the day of +thy departure to join the choirs above, during which I have mixed much +with the busy world,—have seen the upheaving of peoples, revolution +following revolution, and have witnessed parts of Europe deluged with the +blood of some of its best and most patriotic sons,—yet I well remember, +as if it were but as yesterday, the sorrowful tidings of thy death, when +all joined in saying, “That a prince and a great man had that day fallen +in Israel.” Nevertheless, amid our pensive sorrow and grief, which +almost rent many a stout heart; all were yet cheered and solaced with the +thought, that though the dark cloud of the future obscured our vision, +preventing our beholding the face of the dear departed, nevertheless he +was reposing joyfully in the eternal sunshine, and reclining on the bosom +of his Lord. + +Now, though Parson Jones was a good and holy man, yet young and old, rich +and poor, the youth in his teens as well as those over whose heads +seventy summers had passed, not only admitted, but actually declared, +that he was a strange mortal. His life and character were to them an +enigma. While the outward—the rational man—was clear and plain, yet the +inner life—the hidden and mysterious workings of the intellectual and +spiritual man—was above their comprehension and beyond their ken. Though +they owned that their beloved pastor held communion with Heaven, yet many +affirmed, and positively believed, that he had constant intercourse with +the Evil One. Though they devoutly entertained the opinion that he held +uninterrupted converse with Him who was the desire of all nations, yet +they clung to the opinion that he had fellowship with him who reigns over +the abode of woe. While they believed that their dear friend possessed +that faith by which mountains are removed, and by means of which the +rolling and angry billows are hushed into calm repose on the bosom of the +vast and mighty deep, nevertheless, the tale went from cottage to +cottage, and from hamlet to hamlet, and was told and retold, with deep +seriousness, in high and in low places, that Parson Jones could raise and +lay the devil. And if legions of ministering angels hovered round his +path, imparting to him comfort, solace, and joy, it was almost +universally believed that he had consultations with the grim spirits of +the nethermost regions. Hence they concluded that he was not only +all-powerful with Heaven, but that Satan himself, with all his servants +and allies, would fly at his bidding. In consequence of this belief, +Parson Jones had, at his parsonage, a constant succession of visitors. +If the busy housewife was unsuccessful in her churning, Parson Jones must +be at once consulted, as he only, in the vicinity, had power to break the +spell, and drive to their place those evil spirits which interfered with +the beneficial operations of mankind. If the farmer found his cattle +ailing, of course the good parson’s advice was at once sought, which in +all case was readily obtained, the belief being that he only in that +neighbourhood could counteract and overcome the evil influence of the +witches, who, by their malevolence and wicked arts, sought to bring +destruction and ruin upon him and his household. Again, if a house in +the locality were haunted, the sleepers being awakened from their +slumbers of the night by unearthly cries, by groans and terrible noises, +we need hardly say the good vicar was sent for; and after one of his +visits, the simple-hearted people of the troubled dwelling believed, and +positively affirmed, that he had put his imperial Satanic majesty in his +snuff-box! And from that night their home was never disturbed by the +presence of a spiritual visitor, and they congratulated themselves on +having permanently got rid of the disturber of their peace and repose, +feeling certain that the possessor of the snuff-box would see to it that +the lid would be kept securely fastened. These acts of Parson Jones were +not done in a corner; hence the news of his victory over the Evil One +spread far and wide; but while a few gave no credence to the tales that +were told, yet the people—the masses, both rich and poor, the wise and +the unlearned—believed in the stories which were told of the good vicar’s +doings. + +As my father’s residence was adjacent to the vicarage, as he and the +worthy parson were sworn friends, and as the latter had a strong personal +liking to me, as also a deep interest in my future welfare and prospects, +I having on several occasions acquainted him with my strong aversion to +my father’s pursuits, and that I intended to seek my fortune in the wide, +wide world—these and other matters brought me into frequent contact with +our common friend, at whose house I was a constant and ever welcome +visitor. There was, however, another reason why I was so often found at +his hospitable dwelling, which, in passing, I will just mention. From my +earliest school days I had imbibed a strong thirst for knowledge, while +the sciences of astronomy, algebra, Euclid, and trigonometry, had for me +peculiar, and I might add, fascinating charms. In pursuing those +studies, however, I often met with difficulties, which, unaided, and +without the assistance of a teacher, I failed to overcome. The good +parson being well informed of my pursuits, and being anxious to render me +all the assistance in his power, arranged that I was to spend every +Monday evening at his residence, where, in his study, he would quietly +explain the problems and calculations I had failed to solve. As a +teacher he was so successful that, after going quietly over my +calculations, and explaining where I had gone wrong, he invariably +managed to make the whole matter as clear to my perception as that two +and two make four. + +Mr. Jones was deeply read in the science of astronomy, and on his +perceiving that I was weekly making considerable progress in a science he +so deeply loved,—a science, too, which he regarded as more sublime than +any other, inasmuch as it proclaimed the power, the wisdom, and the +greatness of Him who binds the sweet influences of the Pleiades and +loosens the bands of Orion, who can bring forth Mazzaroth in his season +and guides Arcturus with his sons,—it was no wonder, considering the +identity of our common feeling and inclination, that I became a nightly +visitor at the parsonage. During those visits I learned much respecting +other branches of knowledge with which, previously, I was but little +acquainted. Thus, wide fields of human knowledge appeared to open before +me, the possession of which was the deep aspiration of my soul. + +But I must own that my visits to the parsonage afforded me an interest +beyond that of scientific and literary pursuits. Night after night there +were other visitors at the good man’s house, who came there to tell tales +about apparitions, ghosts, the doings of the witches, and the various +forms in which his imperial majesty of Pandemonium had appeared to them. +To these marvellous stories I always listened with deep interest, as from +my youngest days I had been taught by my nurse to believe in the +existence of ghosts. The people of the neighbourhood believed that the +parson had power over the evil spirits when they troubled men, hence the +reason of his assistance having been so frequently sought. Many a tale I +have heard in the vicar’s little study; but for the present I shall only +record the following strange stories. + + * * * * * + +It was a stormy night in the month of January, when I was with Mr. Jones +in his study. After sitting there some time, over a problem in the Sixth +Book of Euclid, the door gently opened, and in walked Mrs. Lloyd, the +wife of a neighbouring farmer, who, at the request of Mr. Jones, took a +seat by the fire. When she entered the room I observed that she was +deeply agitated, the cause of which we soon learnt. As soon as she had +warmed herself and dried her garments, my friend and benefactor, in the +kindest possible way, asked the reason of her having come out on so +stormy and so boisterous a night. + +“I’m kum to see yoo, Mr. Jones,” she said, “and to tell yoo the sad +calamity which has happened at our house.” + +“I hope Mr. Lloyd is not ill?” + +“Oh no, parson; leastwise he was well in body when I left whome, but +sorely troubled in mind.” + +“What is the matter, my good friend?” inquired Mr. Jones. + +“Oh, sir! it’s too dreadful. I kunna tell yoo. I s’pose I must, for I’m +kum here on purpose.” + +“Unless you tell me the cause of your trouble, ma’am, I cannot give you +advice.” + +“You know, parson, Moll McGee, of Cwmdu, dunna yoo?” + +“Yes, ma’am; I know that person very well.” + +“Yoo know, dunna yoo, Mr. Jones, that she’s a witch.” + +“She is so reported, Mrs. Lloyd; but you must not believe all you hear.” + +“But, yoo do know very well she’s a real witch, so dunna yoo deny it.” + +“I have no personal knowledge of the fact, ma’am,” replied the good +parson; “I have always found her a harmless and inoffensive woman, though +some persons say she has put her mark on certain families.” + +“I should think she has, indeed; so dunna yoo think she ought to be +hanged and quartered, and her body and bones, and her heart and liver, +burned by the common hangman, for causing so much trouble and loss to +poor and innocent folks?” + +“Surely she has not paid you a visit, has she?” + +“She ha, though; and, what is worse, she has spoiled a beautiful churning +of milk, and killed our pony, which Lloyd was offered thirty pounds for +at last May fair.” + +“I am sorry to hear this of Mrs. McGee,” observed Mr. Jones; “but, my +dear madam, when and how did this happen?” + +“When my daughter Mary was churning on Wednesday morning, who should kum +up to the dairy door but Moll the witch. She sez, sez she, ‘Will you +give me some buttermilk, Mrs. Lloyd?’ + +“‘No,’ sez I; ‘I’ve no buttermilk to spare.’ + +“‘But yoo must,’ sez she, ‘give me some.’ + +“‘I have sed the word, Mrs. McGee, that I’ve none to spare; and if I had, +you shudna have any.’ + +“‘Why?’ sez she. + +“‘Why,’ sez I; ‘because yoo are a bad woman.’ + +“‘You had better give me som,’ sez she agen; ‘for if you won’t it ’ul be +the worse for yoo.’ + +“‘What will yoo do, Mary?’ sez I. + +“‘I’ll mark yore cattle,’ sez she, ‘and I’ll _leave_ the mark there too, +for your hard-heartedness.’ + +“‘Then,’ replied I, ‘I won’t give yoo milk. Yoo’ll witch my things, will +yoo? Do thy worst Moll,’ sez I, ‘for I dunna fear thee.’ + +“‘Then,’ sez she, ‘may yur milk never turn into butter, may yur cows +cease to give yoo milk, and may yoo find some of yur beasts in the black +quarry before another week’s gone, and may the curse of Mary of the Black +Dingle ever follow yoo and yours.’ + +“The old hag, when she finished her curse, turned upon her heel, and in a +moment afterwards my daughter and me saw her going through the gate in +the form of a large black monkey. After she left, we continued to churn +away with all our might and main, but the butter wouldna come, and since +that day the cows have refused to give us any milk.” + +“But what about the pony, Mrs. Lloyd?” + +“Oh, I had almost forgotten to tell yoo about that. Well, last night, as +Lloyd was coming whome from the fields, he saw a black monkey on the back +of the pony. The brute was urging the poor creature forward by sticking +her devilish claws in the pony’s side. And will yoo believe it—God ha’ +mercy upon us! for we live in strange times,—the monkey drove the pony +straight for the quarry. Lloyd saw her fall over the rock, and running +up to the edge of the quarry, saw the poor creature dashed to atoms at +the bottom, and Moll standing by grinning. But p’raps yoo wunna believe +the truth of my story, but it is as true as I’m a Christian woman.” + +“Indeed, Mrs. Lloyd,” replied Mr. Jones with great firmness, “I don’t +believe that Mary McGee, or any mortal, possesses the power which you +evidently believe she does possess. Heaven has not delegated to sinful +mortal, nor even to any of His creatures, power to inflict injury +affecting life or limb upon any of the creatures He has made, and by +whose power and goodness they are sustained.” + +“Yoo are a learned man, and I’m no scholard, tho’ I kun read my Bible, +thank God! and that book tells me that evil spirits did enter into man +and beast; and parson, yoo cunna make me believe that the arch-fiend has +not entered into the heart of that woman.” + +“Oh! don’t, I beseech you, my friend, give too much credence to idle +tales and silly talk; and pray don’t believe that she is the real cause +of, and the instrument by which, this affliction has come upon you. If +you were to sift thoroughly the evidence respecting Mary’s malpractices, +you would discover, in the end, that the whole is based upon hearsay, and +on the inventions of persons who might have fancied it possible for such +things to exist.” + +“Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones,” replied Mrs. Lloyd, “these tales are not idle +invention; I wish they was. But as true as God made Llandegley Rocks, +and I s’pose He made them, my cows wanna give no milk, and the cream +wunna turn to butter, churn as much as we will; and it’s a fact ’bout the +old hag and our pony, as Lloyd witnessed the whole matter. I believe, +and Lloyd believes, and my daughter believes it too, that our calamities +are the result of the evil influences of this witch, who has been +practising upon our creatures her infernal and malignant arts. I have +now told you my tale, parson, and I want your advice.” + +“What do you wish me to do, Mrs. Lloyd?” + +“Oh, sir! there is only one thing yoo can do.” + +“What is that, my friend?” + +“What is that, yoo ask? Ye know very well. Why, break the spell, to be +sure. Until that’s done we shall neither have butter nor milk, and then +how shall we be able to pay our rent?” + +“Indeed, ma’am, I don’t see how I can assist you. Oh, I do wish you +would not place any faith in this woman’s power.” + +“I cunna help it, Mr. Jones. But I do believe this, that yoo can master +her, and yoo only. I know yoo have power over these evil spirits and +witches, but especially over Moll McGee.” + +“Why do you think so, ma’am?” + +“Oh,” replied Mrs. Lloyd, “she’s afeared of yoo. Indeed, she said she +was afeared of yoo; and no wonder, for we know very well that yoo can +master her master—the great fiend himself.” + +“Pray, Mrs. Lloyd,” remarked the vicar, “don’t for a moment entertain the +belief that such power belongeth to man, nor that I, one of the most +sinful of God’s creatures, have authority over the ruler of darkness. +However, as your cattle are afflicted, I will step up in the morning, and +examine them.” + +“I’m so thankful to yoo, Misther Jones, for your kindness. I shall now +go whome with a lighter heart than I came, for I know you will break the +witch’s spell.” + +I thought Mr. Jones would give her a lecture about her faith in his +power. However, for this she waited not; for on securing his promise she +rose from her chair, and took her departure, wishing us both a hearty +good-night. + +In about a quarter of an hour after Mrs. Lloyd had left, who should walk +into the study but Mrs. McGee, who took possession of Mrs. Lloyd’s seat +without any invitation from the vicar. When she had made herself +comfortable before the blazing fire of wood on the hearth, Mr. Jones +addressed her:— + +“Why are you out so late to-night, Molly?” + +“I’ve come to speak with you on business.” + +“But it is rather late for business now. Why did you not come earlier?” + +“I couldn’t do so.” + +“Why?” + +“Because Mrs. Lloyd had not visited you till to-night.” + +“But what had her visit to do with you?” + +“Everything; ’cause she come to tell you a tale ’bout me.” + +“I fear, Molly, she has a very just cause of complaint, against you +especially, if reports be true.” + +“Bad luck to her, and all she has, Mr. Jones!” + +“Withdraw that word this moment, Molly; or,” his piercing eye being fixed +on the woman, which appeared to enter her soul, “I must use my power—that +is, I must request you to leave my house this instant.” + +“But don’t you think she was a hard-hearted woman not to give a poor body +a dhrop of buttermilk?” + +“I can’t say that, Molly; but if she be hard-hearted, there is no reason +why any one should wish her ill. I must, therefore, insist on your +withdrawing your wish.” + +“If I do so, Mister Jones, it wonnot be for her, but for your sake, who +has always been kind to me.” + +“You have spoken like a sensible woman, Molly. I have one more request +to make, Mrs. McGee; that is, promise me you won’t go near Mrs. Lloyd +again.” + +“Dear-a-me, you are a strange mon, parson. Between you an’ me and the +post, I’ve no wish to go near the likes of her, as she has no pity on a +poor starving woman.” + +“As you have now promised me not to go near Mrs. Lloyd, just go into the +kitchen and get some supper, and make haste home, for it is getting +late.” + +When Mrs. McGee left us, I also left to depart. On the ensuing afternoon +I was informed, that before daylight next morning, Mr. Jones, before the +family were up, had paid a visit to Mrs. Lloyd’s cow-house, and had given +to each beast a small ball made up of herbs. When these were swallowed +the cattle appeared scarcely able to contain themselves for delight. Mr. +Jones saw by their appearance that his medicine (?) had proved +successful; so calling up the family, he informed them that the spell was +broken. The cows no longer refused to give milk, and Mrs. Lloyd even +declared that it was superior in quality to what she previously had. +Subsequently, she experienced no difficulty in her churning operations. +The fame of Mr. Jones spread, in consequence, far and wide, and, +unfortunately for his own peace and comfort, applications to him for +assistance, when the witches had afflicted man or beast, became +incessant. + + + +PARSON JONES’S TALE OF NAT THE SMITH AND THE THREE WISHES. + + +It was a dreary night in the month of December when there sat in the +chimney-corner of the Jolly Fiddler—which, as you know, is the chief +public-house in the little village of Nantglyn—Nat the smith. Nat, as +you are aware, is a real good fellow, and a hard-working man, but, +unfortunately, he is terribly fond of his beer. I have been told that he +has spent a little fortune at the Jolly Fiddler, and I can well believe +it, for he pays nightly visits to the house, which he never leaves until +he has had two quarts of ale; and I fear that latterly he has not +confined himself to that quantity. However, I am anticipating this part +of my story, and must first narrate, as succinctly as possible, the +incidents of Nat’s life during the past seven years. Besides, I am +anxious to finish telling you the story to-night, though I am not sure I +can complete it, as there is a gap in the history of my friend Nat which +has not yet been made up. With the above remarks by way of introduction, +we will now go back to the dreary night of December already alluded to. + +After Nat had sat for some time in the chimney-corner at the Jolly +Fiddler, he called out to the landlord,— + +“Another quart, Bill; and mind it’s from the barrel in the corner.” + +“All right, Nat,” replied the landlord; “you shall ha’ a quart of the +best.” + +“Here’s the sixpence, Bill,” said Nat, when the ale was placed before him +on the table; “and, upon my soul, I’ve not another copper left.” + +“Never mind about the money, Nat; I’ll trust you for as much as you like +to drink.” + +“Thee knows, Will, I never allow scoring for beer. Ready money or no +ale, is my motto.” + +“And a good motto it is, Nat. Oh, I wish all my customers was like you; +for if they was, I should have no fear of being marched off to Lunnun +(London) to be whitewashed.” (A provincialism implying the passing the +Bankruptcy Court.) + +“There is no danger of me going up there, Will,” rejoined Nat. “’Cause +why, no one will trust me.” + +“Dunna thee say that, Nat; for thee knows very well that I’ll trust +thee.” + +“Trust or no trust, Will, here goes,” and putting the jug of foaming ale +to his mouth he drank a good draught; and then smacking his lips, said, +“Upon my word, this is the real ‘cwrw da.’ A quart of this is worth a +gallon of the last brewing.” + +“So it ought to be, Nat; for I put four bushels of best malt to this +barrel in the corner.” + +“There’s no mistake, Bill, about its strength; and between us, as old +friends, my only fear is that I shall not be able to get my fair +allowance of it.” + +“Oh! of that you need not be afraid, Nat; ’cause why, I only give this +beer to my constant and my very best customers, and—” + +“Of which I am one, I s’pose you was going to say.” + +“And if I had said so, Nat, I should ha’ spoken the literal truth.” + +During the above conversation a gentleman, unperceived by the landlord +and his best customer, entered the kitchen of the Jolly Fiddler. He was +clad in a suit of black, over which he wore a long cloak of invisible +green, the bottom of which trailed on the ground. He had on his head a +felt wideawake, which was so inclined in front that his eyes were not +perceptible, while the rest of his face was shut from view by an immense +quantity of long, smooth, glossy hair, which descended over and below his +shoulders. He had entered the kitchen of the Jolly Fiddler silently, and +taking up a position between the door and chimney-corner in which the +smith was sitting, and at the landlord’s back, his presence was +unperceived by both. On that spot he had stood during the conversation +between Nat and Bill, to which he had listened with great attention. +When the landlord turned away from his friend Nat, to attend to the +duties of his house, he was astonished to find the presence of the +stranger, whose strange appearance struck him with awe, and his tongue +clove to the roof of his mouth. However he summoned up his courage, and +taking a slanting direction, he escaped through a side door into the +little back parlour of the inn. + +Nat was not a spectator of this scene. When Will left him, he took his +quart of ale in his hand, and composing himself in the chimney corner, he +sat there, intently watching the glowing wood-fire before him. There he +sat, now and then sipping his ale, as professed wine-drinkers sip their +port, remarking to himself, after each succeeding draught, “This is +capital stuff! it warms the cockles of one’s heart as it goes down; but, +poor me! when, oh when, shall I have sixpence in my pocket to buy another +quart? Oh, it’s a sad thing to be poor in this rich land of plenty! +It’s not right for me and my class to starve for good ale, when our +wealthy neighbours have their cellars full, and plenty of gold to buy +more. If I was rich, the poor man should never want for a pint or a jug +of the real ‘cwrw da.’ Ah, me! I sha’ never be rich. I’m born to be +poor, and to labour as them sparks fly up the chimney. It’s sad, very +sad, and heart-breaking, to have an empty pocket when one’s soul is +thirsty.” + +Nat sat thus musing and talking to himself for nearly half an hour. At +last he finished his ale, and then, taking his stick in his hand, rose to +go home. There was no one in the kitchen now. Nat thought this very +strange, as Bill was generally about; but he fancied, as he rose to +depart, that he saw the shadow of a human form on the wall. Of this he +took no particular notice at the time; but, on listening to Will’s story +the following day, Nat felt that the supposed shadow was a terrible +reality. + +Nat left the inn with a heavy heart. It is true he had had his quart of +good ale, but he thought that, as work was slack, he would have +considerable difficulty “in raising the wind” for several days, and this +affliction had a depressing influence on his spirits. At last he reached +the little wicket gate leading from the highway to his cottage; but on +his opening it, he was awe-struck on seeing coming from his house along +the garden-path, a gentleman clad in deep mourning. As there was +something in the appearance of the gentleman Nat did not like, he +attempted to avoid him by leaving the path free; but when Nat turned out +of the path the figure turned too, and came up, meeting the smith face to +face, and addressed him thus:— + +“You are rather late to-night, Mr. Smith.” + +“If I be late, sir,” retorted Nat, “I do not see it’s any business of +yours.” + +“Don’t be angry with me, friend, I meant no harm, for my object in +meeting you here is to afford you help and counsel.” + +“I need, sir, no man’s help,” replied Nat; “and when I require advice +I’ll seek it at the house of a friend.” + +“But, friend Vulcan, I can give you the help which no _man_ can.” + +“Give it then, sir, to those who seek; as for me I desire it not.” + +“You are poor, friend, and penniless.” + +“But is poverty, sir, a crime?” + +“Oh no, friend, poverty is not a crime; but you must own, Mr. Smith, that +an empty pocket is very inconvenient for a thirsty soul.” + +“How do you know, sir, that my pocket’s empty?” + +“My knowledge of the fact, friend, is derived from your own confession.” + +“But, sir, I never confessed to you, ’cause why, I never saw you before.” + +“You speak truly on that point, friend Vulcan; nevertheless, I must tell +you I heard your confession to-night at the Jolly Fiddler.” + +“I did not see you there, sir.” + +“Perhaps not. I was there, notwithstanding; and I heard you declaring to +Will, the landlord, that you then parted with the last sixpence.” + +“If I’ve spent all, sir, I can work and earn more.” + +“Oh, sir, you can work: but I know you do not like work; and if you will +comply with my wishes, you shall have all you require without working +another hour.” + +“What is your wish, sir, and the nature of your service?” + +“I will tell you, Mr. Vulcan, in a few words. But, first, let me say +that I take a deep interest in you, and am supremely anxious to promote +your welfare. Now, if you will consent to become my son, at the +expiration of seven years from this hour, I will grant you any three +things you might desire, whatever they may be.” + +“You’ll do what, sir?” + +“I’ll grant you any three things—riches, wealth, possessions, or anything +else.” + +“And for these benefits, what do you require from me?” + +“All I require, Mr. Nat, is that, at the expiration of seven years, you +will acknowledge me as your master.” + +“Indeed, sir,—that is, I don’t know what to say to your proposal. Now +I’m a free man, and I’d rather be my own master than be the slave of +another.” + +“But, friend, when you have plenty of money you will be your own master, +and besides, with a full pocket you can drink as much as you like of +Will’s best beer. I shall guarantee in the bond your pockets shall be +always full.” + +“To-morrow night, if you will meet me, I will give you an answer.” + +“To-morrow, friend, it will be too late. Your decision must be now or +never. If you desire a merry and a jolly life, having a full pocket and +plenty of good ale, sign this bond, which read for yourself.” + +Nat took the document from the hand of the stranger, which he carefully +read twice over. When completing its second perusal, he remarked that it +appeared all right, though not wholly satisfactory as it contained no +sentence _securing the blessings_ for which he had to wish _during the +seven years_. + +“Will it be satisfactory to you then, friend, if words to that effect are +added?” + +“Yes, sir,” replied Nat. + +The stranger then wrote upon the bond the words Nat desired should be +added, and presenting it to the smith, he at once signed the document, +when, on its being done, the stranger vanished out of his sight, leaving +Nat there in darkness and alone. However, he ultimately found the door +of his cottage, and, on entering, went at once to bed. + +It was noon on the succeeding morning before Nat awoke. He had, like all +beer and spirit drinkers, slept himself sober. When he was aroused from +his slumbers, he began to think over the previous night’s scene, and, +step by step, he was at last able to trace the whole of his doings from +the time he left home until his return, and then he fully realized his +present position. The sad fact that he had sold himself body and soul to +the arch-fiend was now a terrible reality. “I have been a fool, and no +mistake,” said he to himself; “but what’s done can’t be helped. Here is +the bond, the conditions of which I’m bound to carry out.” He then got +up, and dressed himself, and going downstairs, he found his dinner, which +consisted of potatoes and milk, on the table. After partaking of a +portion of the dinner his too-indulgent wife had prepared for him, +addressing his faithful Betsy he unconsciously exclaimed: + +“I wish, old girl, we had fried bacon with the potatoes.” + +No sooner had the words escaped his lips than there appeared before him +on the little round table a plateful of savoury bacon, on which he was so +enraged with his own want of prudence, that he wished it and its contents +under the grate, when it was removed thither by some invisible hand. +Nat, on witnessing this, foamed with passion, and danced and cursed and +swore like one possessed with the evil one. He carried on his ravings +for some time to the astonishment of his wife, as she could not divine +the cause of his strange conduct; and amid one of his fits of rage he +exclaimed, “Oh, that I had a jug of Will’s best beer, for my mouth and my +tongue are on fire!” In a moment the foaming ale was placed on the +table, and Nat swallowed it at a single draught. When he placed the +empty jug on the table, he said, addressing his wife: + +“O Betsy! what a fool I’ve been. I was promised riches, possessions, and +honours, if I’d do a particular thing, but my only reward is a jug of +ale.” + +From that day Nat was an altered man. He ceased his visits to the Jolly +Fiddler. Occasionally he was to be found in his shop, but more +frequently he might be seen walking up and down the mountain-side alone, +with an air of pensive sadness on his brow. As years rolled on he became +more dejected and depressed in spirits, the cause of which was known to +no mortal. He did not even tell his wife the terrible secret of his +unhappiness. Years and years passed on with this heavy load on his +heart. At last it came to the very day but one when he had to fulfil the +condition of the bond. Why or wherefore I do not know, but the thought +struck him about me, and thinking, perhaps, that I could afford him some +little aid, he started off yesterday morning, and he spent several hours +with me here last night. He told me the whole of his tale, and when he +had completed its recital, I said to him very kindly, but firmly,— + +“You have done, my friend, a very wicked thing.” + +“O sir, I know I have; but my heart is so depressed, pray do not, +therefore, upbraid me now, but try and afford me some assistance.” + +“I really can’t see my way to help you, especially as your enemy is so +subtle.” + +“But, my dear pastor, I think you can break the net in which he has +caught me.” + +“There is only one way of defeating him, Nat; that way is, by prayer and +supplication for Divine help and guidance when the hour of your doom +comes.” + +“O sir, I have poured out my whole soul to my Redeemer, but I’ve received +no answer to my prayer.” + +“Relief, Nat, may yet come. Oh, don’t cease in your petitions to the +throne of mercy.” + +“I’m terribly afraid, sir, that my sins are so black, there is no hope +for me.” + +“While there is life, friend, there is hope; and even yet, at the +eleventh hour, a way of escape may be opened to you.” + +“Heaven be praised if there be, sir; but this bond is too explicit in +terms, and he who holds the counterpart is too exacting, for me to hope +for an escape.” + +“You have the bond, then, Nat?” + +“Yes, sir! here it is.” + +“Have you received the benefits of its conditions?” + +“The only benefit I received was one jug of beer. As for the bacon, that +was devoured by the flames.” + +“There is a line, which appears as an afterthought, added to the bond, +namely, guaranteeing the security of the blessings wished for during a +period of seven years. Do you now say, Nat, that you have not +participated in the benefits of the wishes during the seven years?” + +“I declare, sir, in the most solemn manner, that the only benefit I had +was the jug of ale already referred to.” + +“Now, Nat, I think I can help you out of your difficulty, and I will pray +Heaven to succour and assist you in the terrible encounter awaiting you. +But to insure success you must observe to the letter my directions. Will +you promise me?” + +“Most solemnly I promise to obey you to the letter.” + +“You must fulfil your engagement with the enemy, and if he insists on +your carrying out the condition of the bond, then tell him to his face +that you will not do so, unless he will first carry out _his_ conditions +about the seven years. If he refuses, then demand another wish, and as +you have received no benefit from the previous ones, he will, I think, +concede the point. If so, then let your wish be that something terrible +might happen to him.” + +Now, said the parson to me, I can proceed no further with my tale. Every +moment I am anxiously waiting news, or the return of Nat. If he comes +you shall hear the rest of the story from his own lips,—whereupon Nat +entered, and throwing up his hat to the top of the room, cried out, “He +is conquered! he is conquered! Hurrah for Parson Jones! Hurrah for the +good Vicar of Llan! before whom both witches and devils flee.” At last +Nat became calm and composed, when he proceeded to complete the tale, +which I tell in his own words:— + +“I met the old chap at the appointed time and place, when he produced the +bond, and asked me if I was ready to accompany him. + +“I said, said I, ‘Not yet, my lord.’ + +“‘Why?’ said he. + +“‘Because,’ said I, ‘you have not fulfilled the conditions of the bond.’ + +“‘In what have I failed?’ asked he. + +“‘In this,’ said I, ‘I was, by the bond, to enjoy the blessings for seven +years, and I’ve had only one jug of beer.’ + +“‘But that was your fault,’ said he. + +“‘Whether it be my fault or not,’ said I, ‘I will not come with you +unless you fulfil your conditions.’ + +“‘I will not wait for you another seven years,’ said he; ‘but I will +permit your having one more wish.’ + +“‘You’ll do what?’ said I. + +“‘I will grant you the privilege of one more wish.’ + +“‘You really will?’ said I. + +“‘Yes; but, mind, my only reason for granting it,’ said he, ‘is that you +appear to feel that I have taken an advantage of you.’ + +“‘Well, then,’ said I, ‘I wish you on the back of your fiery dragon; and, +then, that the dragon carry you straight to Llynfan, and that you both be +drowned in that lake, and never appear to disturb me more.’ + +“When I had finished my wish there was a terrible clap of thunder, which +shook the earth beneath me to its very foundation, and it was followed by +a vivid flash of lightning which lit up the whole mountain; and, looking +across the valley, I then saw both the dragon and its rider disappear in +that fathomless llyn. When I saw this I dropped down upon the cold +ground, and then poured forth my heart’s thanksgivings to Him who had +wrought me, through you, my dear pastor, so great, so glorious a +victory.” + + [Picture: Pont Aberglaslyn] + + + + +CADWGAN WYNN; +OR THE +LOST INHERITANCE REGAINED. + + + Fled are the fairy views of hill and dale; + Sublimely throned on the steep mountain brow. + Stern nature frowns: her desolating rage + Driving the whirlwind, or swoln flood, or blast + Of fiery air imprisoned, from their base + Has wildly hurled the uplifted rocks around + The gloomy pass, where Aberglaslyn’s arch + Yawns o’er the torrent. The disjointed crags + O’er the steep precipice in fragments vast + Impending, to the astonished mind recall + The fabled horrors by demoniac force + Of Lapland wizards wrought; who, borne upon + The whirlwind’s wing, what time the vexèd sea + Dashed ’gainst Norwegia’s cliffs, to solid mass + Turned the swoln billows, and the o’erhanging waves + Fixed e’er they fell. + + + +CHAPTER I. +_SHADE AND LIGHT—SORROW—BUT HOPE IN SORROW_. + + +In the enchanting vale below Pont Aberglaslyn there stood, many many +years ago, a small villa, which at the time of which we write was covered +over with ivy. Surrounding this beautiful rural retreat were gardens and +pleasure grounds, which were designed and laid out with great artistic +taste and skill in the arrangement of walks, shrubs, rose-trees, flowers, +and evergreens. + +At the time our story commences, the villa was occupied by a gentleman +whose family had seen better days; but, through the prodigality of +ancestors and the vast sums they had squandered in horse-racing, +cock-fighting, and gambling, the rent-roll of their estate which +approached £12,000 a year, now scarcely reached a hundredth part of that +sum after the interest had been paid. Indeed, when the then owner came +into possession of his patrimony on the death of his father, his net +income barely reached £6 a week. On discovering his pecuniary position, +he felt he could no longer afford to occupy the family mansion, and like +a wise man he prudently resolved to leave it, and remove to the villa we +have already described. During the residence of the family at the old +Hall, Mrs. Wynn—that being the name of the family—left her household +affairs to her servants, who unfortunately paid but little regard to +domestic economy. However, when she took up her residence in her new +abode she wisely undertook the chief management of her household; while +Mr. Wynn devoted his time to the cultivation of the garden and +superintending the education of his son and daughter. Both proved apt +learners; what they learned they remembered. Whatever book they read, +they retained its contents in their singularly retentive memories. In +pursuing their studies, fortunately they had this great advantage in +their favour,—namely, that their parent was a ripe scholar and an eminent +man of letters, while as a teacher he possessed abilities of the highest +order. Having such an instructor, no wonder his beloved pupils made such +rapid progress. After teaching them thoroughly the rudiments, Mr. Wynn +led on his children step by step to higher grounds; but in all his +lessons he sought to instil into their young minds a strong and +passionate desire, a longing thirst, for knowledge, the possession of +which had afforded him some of the happiest and the most pleasurable +hours of his life. Thus occupied, year after year came and rolled by, +and each revolving year brought increased happiness to the little family +of the villa. Truly did they live in each other’s love. + +When their son Cadwgan had attained his fifteenth year, his sister +Gwenfan being two years younger, their father was on one Saturday called +away to the ancient town of Carnarvon, in order to transact some special +business with the family solicitor. When he left home in the morning he +promised to return the same evening, but though his wife and children +waited his return until midnight, he came not. At last, sick and weary +at heart, they retired to rest; but during the remainder of the night +they were not roused by his well-known knock at the hall-door. Early on +the ensuing Sabbath morning, a special messenger arrived at the villa +from Carnarvon, with the sorrowful intelligence that Squire Wynn had been +seized with a virulent attack of small-pox, a disease which was then +fearfully raging in the town and neighbourhood, and the messenger urged +Mrs. Wynn to hasten to the bedside of her husband, if she desired to see +him alive. With an aching heart she kissed and bade adieu to her son and +daughter, and hastened to the bedside of the almost lifeless form of him +who had ever been the light of her eyes and the joy of her heart. She +saw at the first glance that the hour of his departure had come. She +threw herself on the bed by his side, when he tenderly embraced her, +saying, “Heaven bless you, my angel!” and then pointing his finger +upwards, “Meet me there, and bring our dear ones with you.” He then +heaved a deep sigh, and his spirit took its flight to the _gwlad well_ +(the better land). Before that day’s sun had descended into the western +sea, Mrs. Wynn was attacked with the same fatal malady; and before the +dawn of the following morning, her gentle and loving spirit had fled its +earthly tabernacle for the land of eternal and ethereal joy. Thus were +their children bereft of both father and mother in a single day, and +before they were made acquainted with the terrible loss they had +sustained, the forms they loved so well had been placed in the same tomb. + +To the children the Monday and Tuesday following were days of anxious +thought. No tidings had reached them of the sad event that had happened. +It was late on Tuesday evening that a kind friend arrived from the +solicitor bringing the sad intelligence of their parents’ decease. They +were overwhelmed with sorrow on account of their loss. Days and days +elapsed before they could realize their position. At last they were +painfully impressed with the fact that they were alone in the world. No +loving word now, in welcome and joyous voice, greeted them on entering +their home. The arm-chair in which their father sat evening after +evening, when he was used to tell them tales of years that had gone, and +the couch on which their mother reclined before retiring to her bedroom, +were both unoccupied. The sudden death of both, taken in connection with +the responsibilities of the present and their anxieties pertaining to the +future, nearly broke their young and tender hearts. But they sorrowed +not as those who had no hope. From childhood they had been taught to +love the dear Name which is above every name, and confident of His +favour, and with full reliance on the promise that He would be a father +to the fatherless, their gentle spirits became calm and peaceful. +Moreover, they looked forward to a bright immortality, when they would +join those whom their souls loved. Thus, as day after day came and +departed, they became more resigned to their lot. Their griefs were +assuaged by night voices from the world above. Often, in the evening +twilight, they heard whispers from the spirits of the dear departed ones. +And the spirits said, after a few more years of toil, of labour, of +sorrow, of anxiety and trouble, you will come up hither, and then you +shall mingle your voices with ours, in praising Him, who has washed us +from our sins in His own blood. That day there will be a joyous reunion +in this spirit world where parting is no more. + + + +CHAPTER II. +_AN INHERITANCE LOST_, _BUT A FRIEND FOUND_. + + +“Is not this a lovely April morning?” remarked Cadwgan to his sister, as +they walked hand-in-hand across the lawn. + +“It is, indeed, a most lovely morning, brother. And is not the scene +around most enchanting?” + +“You, Gwenfan, have always been a great admirer of the spring.” + +“And you, dear Cadwgan, have been its enthusiastic admirer.” + +“I have loved it, my dear sister, because it is the season of the year +when nature puts on its most joyous apparel. The trees and flowers, the +hedgerows and forests, the cornfields and meads, all all are decked in +their green robes. When spring comes, after the deathlike appearance of +winter with its cold and chilling air, nature springs into new life; the +trees send forth their green leaves, the rose its blossom, the meadows +put on their usual dress, and Nature appears to say to all, Come, come, +and behold my triumphant resurrection from the death of winter.” + +“And does not the animal creation, my brother, participate in the glories +of spring?” + +“Sister, oh, do listen to the joyous melody of the skylark, and see, see +how he mounts higher and higher, and sings as he ascends! From yon +thorny bush don’t you hear the blackbird’s sweet notes? while the mellow +bullfinch answers those notes from yonder sylvan grove.” + +“It is love, my dearest brother, that creates this music; all this waste +of melody is the heavenly voice of sweetest love.” + +“Don’t say, my dear sister, that this melody is wasted. Music is never +wasted when there are people listening to its soothing and joyous +strains.” + +“But people, Cadwgan, do not always give ear to the charming voices of +these winged songsters. And are there not hundreds, and perhaps +thousands, who fail to appreciate, who are never moved by, their +enchanting notes?” + +“That there are persons, my wise sister, who listen unmoved to the melody +of birds, I would be the last to deny; but is there not an equally large +number of persons who see no beauty in verdant glades, in the bubbling +crystal fountain, in the rippling streamlet, and in the flowers as they +open their petals to draw in the morning dewdrop?” + +“As you have referred to flowers, come, dear Cadwgan, and look at my +smiling blushing roses. Oh, they look so lovely! Exquisitely beautiful +are they, and their perfume fills the morning air with the most delicious +fragrance.” + +“They are, my dear Gwenfan, most beautiful; but pray tell me the secret +of your success in training them to so great a perfection.” + +“That I can explain in a few words. I have nursed them well. I have +paid them as much attention as I have paid to my birds, and I love them +almost as much,—don’t I, pretty, smiling, blushing roses?” + +“It will be hard for you to part with this lovely dwelling, won’t it, +Gwenfan; especially as it is endeared to us by so many happy and hallowed +associations?” + +“But we shan’t leave here, brother; shall we?” + +“I am afraid we shall be obliged to do so, sister.” + +“I am so sorry to hear you say so.” + +“I am sorry too, to break the news to you. The thought of leaving our +dear home almost breaks my heart.” + +“I had hoped, Cadwgan, never to say adieu to the abode of our beloved +parents, though the void created by our sad bereavement can never be +filled up. But, if we must leave, whither shall we go?” + +“At present, my darling sister, I know not where we shall have to pitch +our tent; but our heavenly Father, in His good providence, will, if we +trust Him, provide for us a shelter.” + +“I do love and trust Him, my dear brother; but, oh, at this moment, the +future appears to me dark and beamless. I fail to see even a fringe of +the cloud with a silver lining.” + +“But if we look to the light, our future may still be bright and joyous; +as will be the appearance of yonder vale when the dark cloud you see up +there passes away. In a few minutes this sylvan dell will be lighted up +by the golden beams of the morning sun.” + +“Look, brother, look! The cloud is rapidly moving on its journey. The +rays of the king of day will soon fall upon and penetrate both woodland +and brake, warming and cheering the dwellers in mossy beds and grassy +mounds, imparting hope and joy to all.” + +“So may it be with us, dear Gwenfan. When we least expect aid from on +high, that aid comes, and at once the darkness and gloom are chased +away.” + +But here his sister called her brother’s attention to a lady driving a +pony carriage. “I declare,” she said, “the lady is coming to the villa. +See! see! her servant has opened the entrance gate at the bottom of the +lawn. Oh, who can she be? Do you expect any one to visit us, brother?” + +“I expect no one, but hope that she may be a messenger of good, not of +evil; a harbinger of comfort, and not the bearer of bad tidings and thus +increase our affliction and sorrow. Our cup of grief is already full and +overflowing.” + +As the carriage approached nearer to the villa, the children saw that its +occupant was clad in deep mourning, and that she resembled some one whom +they well knew, but whom they could not at the moment recollect. +Presently, the carriage was driven up to the door, and the lady inquired +of the orphans if the house was called Bryn Villa, and if they were the +children of Mr. and Mrs. Wynn. + +“I am, madam, their son,” replied Cadwgan, “and this is my sister +Gwenfan.” + +“May I presume to ask the name of the lady who takes care of you?” + +“We have no one taking care of us, madam,” replied Gwenfan. “I look +after my brother, and he looks after me.” + +“But have you no one with you,—no grown up person in charge of the house, +and in charge of its management?” + +“We have only a maid-servant in the house, ma’am,” answered the brother; +“and she has been with us since we were little ones.” + +“You are then, my dears, left alone in the world. Unless I have been +misinformed, you have lost both parents.” + +“Both are dead, ma’am,” answered Gwenfan, weeping; “and neither my +brother nor I am aware of having a single relative living.” + +“Had not your papa a sister?” inquired the lady. + +“We never heard dear papa speak of a sister, or any relative,” answered +Cadwgan. + +“Dear me, sir, that is certainly very strange; because I happen to know +of his having a sister, whom he loved very dearly.” + +“Of her, ma’am,” replied the youth, “papa never spoke. I remember +hearing him say, he had no one left in the world to care for, except dear +mamma and us.” + +“For the present we will say no more on the subject. But having driven +many a long mile, my dears, since the morning, and still having a long +journey before me, I must claim your hospitality for food for my servant +and pony.” + +“You are heartily welcome, ma’am, to partake of the best our house can +afford,” replied the children. “Your servant will perhaps drive the pony +into the yard, and he will find there our man servant who will attend to +his wants.” + +The lady then descended from her phaeton, and was conducted by the +children into the house. During the time refreshments were being +prepared she made a minute inspection of the parlour. When she had +thoroughly surveyed it, and was about to take a rest on the sofa, she saw +what appeared to be a picture, but the likeness was shut from view by a +curtain of green baize which hung over and covered both the picture and +frame. The lady’s curiosity was aroused, but just then she heard the +footsteps of the servant and the children in the passage; but before they +entered the room, she had succeeded in drawing aside the baize, and had a +glimpse of the likeness beneath. When the children entered they +perceived that the lady appeared slightly agitated, though, necessarily, +they were wholly ignorant of its cause. + +During the time she was engaged in partaking of the refreshments which +had been provided her, she talked and chatted away on all manner of +topics, but studiously avoided making any allusion to herself. She asked +the children many questions about people in the neighbourhood, +particularly about Mrs. Jones, of the Glen; her sons and daughters, if +they were all married, and did they reside in the locality. She +specially asked if young Squire Jones were still a bachelor. + +The children gave their visitor an account of the several families she +inquired for, and informed her that Mr. Jones was still single, that he +resided at the Glen, and had succeeded to his uncle’s property, which +brought in some £12,000 a year. + + * * * * * + +“And you never heard, my dears, your papa mentioning relatives either +living or dead.” + +“Indeed, we don’t recollect our papa making any allusion to relatives, +except,” said Cadwgan, “on one occasion, when he said to mamma, ‘I am +afraid she is dead; for were she alive she would certainly write to us.’” + +“I know, my dears, to whom he referred, and think I can satisfy you that +she is not dead, but still lives.” + +“Any information, ma’am,” replied the youth, “with which you can furnish +us will place us under deep obligations to you.” + +“Have you, my dears, ever seen the picture under the green baize?” + +“No, ma’am.” + +“Then you don’t know whose likeness it is?” + +“Indeed, ma’am,” replied the brother and sister, “we don’t.” + +“Tell me, my dears,”—removing the covering,—“tell me if you have ever +seen any one like that portrait.” + +For a moment the children hesitated; and after looking first at the +portrait and then at the lady, said, “The picture, ma’am, is very like +you; or you resemble the portrait.” + +“You are quite right, my loves. Your dear papa was my brother, and you, +my dears, are my nephew and niece. Come to my arms, and be assured that, +as far as I can, I will make up for the loss you have sustained. I will +love you deeply, fondly, ardently; and for my brother’s sake, and that of +your kind, gentle, and loving mother, who was as dear to me as my dear +sister Gwenfan, who was the light and joy of our homes, and for your own +sakes, I will be your guide, your friend, your counsellor and stay.” + +In a moment the children were locked in the tender and loving embrace of +their aunt. They all wept, though their sorrows were mixed with joy. To +some extent the discovery thus made relieved the sadness and gloom of the +hour. In the hour of gloom, when aid was least expected, a comforter had +been found. But upon this scene we must not dwell. Their aunt was a +woman of action, and rest with her was impossible until she had +thoroughly mastered the children’s affairs. Hence, as soon as she and +her pony had had refreshment and an hour’s rest, she, with her niece and +nephew, started off for Carnarvon to see the family solicitor, and from +that gentleman learnt that the old family estate of the Wynns was +mortgaged to its full value, and that the mortgagee had now given notice +to foreclose unless the sum borrowed was repaid within a month. “To do +this,” said the solicitor, “is, I fear, impossible, because the amount +borrowed—£80,000—is so large that in these times there are but few +capitalists who have it at their command.” He then gave it as his +deliberate opinion that the best thing was for the mortgagee to sell, and +if he realized a sum beyond the encumbrance, it might be invested for the +joint use of the children. + +This advice was acted upon by the aunt and orphans. A few weeks after +this conversation, Wynn Castle and its domain and estate were sold by +auction, the fortunate purchaser being a London merchant of great wealth, +who during the first three years of its possession expended on +improvements £20,000. + +When the affairs of Wynn Castle were all arranged, Cadwgan resolved to +seek his fortune in the wide wide world. His aunt and sister did their +best to dissuade him from leaving home, but he turned a deaf ear to their +arguments and entreaties. At last they reluctantly acquiesced, and it +was finally arranged that his aunt and sister were to remain at the Villa +(this house and grounds forming no part of the Wynn Castle estate), the +former promising to supply as far as she was able the void which death +had created. + + + +CHAPTER III. +_THE WIDE WORLD_. + + +It was a beautiful summer morning when Cadwgan departed from the home of +his love, the place endeared to him by so many happy associations. The +parting scene between him and his sister was most painful. From +childhood they had not been separate from each other a single day. +Gwenfan’s love for her brother was deep, ardent, and tender. Every want +of his she anticipated, while she paid the minutest attention to his +feelings, even in small and trivial matters. To part with her only +brother was indeed a sore trial; but she now felt she could no longer +resist his wishes, though the thought almost broke her heart. Then +Cadwgan’s grief was equally intense. He however felt that duty called +him away; and somehow there came into his soul a conviction that a day +might come when fortune would smile upon him, and on that day his sister +would bless him for having forsaken the joys of home with its smiles and +sunshine, in obedience to what he regarded as a solemn duty. At last he +tore himself away from his sister’s and aunt’s tender and affectionate +caresses, leaving the home of his childhood; and before the sun was up, +grand old Snowdon, with its circumjacent hills and mountain-tops, had +disappeared from his view. However, he lingered not on his journey, but +when the last old friend of his youth had disappeared he put on new +speed, resolving to arrive at the metropolis of England and the world +before the end of the following week. + +We shall not attempt to describe the journey and the incidents which +occurred by the way. Suffice it to say, that in due course he reached +the great city, and during the first few days after his arrival he +wandered from street to street, traversing its parks, alleys, and great +thoroughfares; and during those days’ wanderings he saw much of the busy +scenes of city life, especially those places where merchant princes most +do congregate. + +After being in London about a week, faint, weary and worn, hungry and +footsore, he sat down one evening in one of the recesses of London +Bridge, and wept. Though thousands passed by not a soul took any notice +of the sorrowing and weeping boy. As the shades of night began to fall +faster and faster on the scene, the bridge became less crowded, and as +the evening advanced, became almost deserted. The poor youth now thought +seriously on his lonely and forlorn condition. To procure a bed was +almost impossible, as he knew not where to go; and even if he did know, +he could ill afford to spare two shillings—the sum his landlord had +charged him the previous evening—because his little purse was nearly +empty. When the few shillings which remained were gone, he saw no +prospect before him but hunger and starvation, which he now considered +would be his inevitable fate. He now repented of his somewhat rash act +of leaving home before consulting with some one as to the best course he +should pursue. But his repentance was too late. He placed himself in +the hand of his heavenly Father, and prayed to Him for help and guidance. +That prayer brought peace to his troubled spirit. + +It was a beautiful and balmy summer night, and he asked himself the +question, why could he not make himself quite comfortable there for a +single night? Having resolved to sleep there for one night at least, he +at once commenced to arrange his pillow, which consisted of his carpet +bag. Having placed the bag on the ledge between the parapet and the +footpath, he lay down to sleep. Just as he was about to close his eyes a +gentleman came up, and stepping on the ledge close to the youth’s bag, +looked over the parapet on the ebbing tide below. Having remained in +that position a few minutes, he turned round for the purpose of +descending to the regular path in order to continue his journey, but in +his descent he saw the youth apparently asleep. He gazed on his +countenance for a few moments, and said,— + +“What are you doing there, my child, this time of night?” + +“I hope, sir,” replied Cadwgan, “that my sleeping here for a night will +not be wrong. I’m not in the way of any one, sir, and I won’t do any +mischief.” + +“But have you no other place to go to, my child? You can procure a bed +somewhere, can’t you?” + +“I might possibly do so, sir, but I can’t well spare the money to pay for +a night’s lodgings.” + +“But have you no friends or relations in town, my boy, to whom you could +apply for assistance?” + +“I’ve no friends in London, sir.” + +“I presume you have relations in the country who are in a position to aid +you.” + +“I’ve a sister, sir, but she is nearly three hundred miles from here.” + +“Where did you come from, my child?” + +“From Wales, sir.” + +“Is Wales your home—I mean your native country?” + +“Yes, sir.” + +“North or South Wales?” + +“The North, sir.” + +“Where in North Wales does your sister live?” + +“She lives at Bryn Villa, near Pont Aberglaslyn.” + +“Surely, your name, my child, is not Wynn, is it?” + +“That is my name, sir.” + +“Then you are the son of Squire Wynn, of Wynn Castle?” + +“Mr. Wynn was my father.” + +“And how is that dear good man?” + +“My father and mother, sir, are both dead. I have no one left to care +for me but my sister, except my aunt.” + +“I am truly sorry to hear tidings so sad. What is your aunt’s name?” + +“Her name is Gwenfan Wynn, which is the name of my sister.” + +“But are you not in error in calling her Wynn? I heard she got married +some years ago.” + +“My aunt was never married.” + +“Are you sure of that, my child?” + +“Quite sure, sir.” + +“You greatly surprise me. I was given to understand she married a Scotch +gentleman, many, many years ago.” + +“She did leave home with the intention of being married to a Mr. McDonel, +but finding, fortunately before it was too late, that the representations +he made of himself about his property, estate, and high connections, were +all false, she broke off the match, and not wishing to return home then, +when she would probably be subjected to perhaps unkind observations, took +a situation in a nobleman’s family then about to visit Italy, with whom +she has lived until within the last few weeks. The family only recently +returned to England, and on the evening after their arrival, my aunt saw +in the _Times_ the announcement of my parents’ death. She immediately +left London, and came to us in Wales. She is now with my dear sister +acting as her guardian and friend.” + +“I thank you, my child, for your information. You must now accompany me +to my residence. You shall not want for a home and a friend as long as +Owen Jones lives.” + +“But, sir, I do not wish, nor can I consent, to live on charity. I’ve +come up to London to work for my bread, and if Heaven smiles on my +efforts I shall attain an honourable independency.” + +“As to your future plans, my child, more anon. For the present my home +must and shall be yours. When you have recovered from the fatigue of +your journey, I will endeavour to obtain for you a situation in some +respectable mercantile house. You must in the meantime be my guest. I +hope happy days are in store for you.” + +The youth then rose from his couch (Mr. Jones had, during the above +conversation, been sitting on the ledge of the parapet by his side), but +when he attempted to move he almost fell down from exhaustion. His newly +found friend, who had intended to have walked home, hailed a coach, which +soon arrived at his house, which was a semi-detached villa, in Brixton. + +On their arrival, Mr. Jones introduced the youth to his wife and only +daughter. The former on being informed who he was, welcomed him with +affectionate cordiality. Mrs. Jones had known his father and mother +years ago, she being a native of a village but a few miles from Wynn +Castle. + +In his new home Cadwgan spent an exceedingly pleasant evening. He had to +answer a thousand questions about people and families who resided in the +vicinity of his far distant home among the mountains. At last he was +permitted to retire to his room, and having had no sound sleep for +several nights, and being weary and tired, was soon asleep. He awoke in +the morning feeling he was almost a new man. + +At breakfast, Mr. Jones asked the youth what kind of employment would +best meet his wishes. + +“I am indifferent, sir, as to the kind of situation; my object and most +anxious desire is to earn my living by hard work.” + +“I am extremely sorry, my young friend, that I have no vacancy for a +young gentleman of your talents and education in my establishment. +However, in the course of a few days I hope to succeed in procuring you a +situation in one of the great city houses. In the meantime you are my +guest. My wife and daughter shall take you out during the day, in order +to show you the lions of this great city; but in the evenings they must +not monopolize your whole attention, as I have much to say to you and +many inquiries to make about dear old friends in old Cambria, which has +been to us a good and kind mother.” Then turning to his wife he +said,—“Be sure to take particular care of our young visitor, and don’t +fail to bring him back without injury to health or limb.” + +“You need be under no apprehension on that point, Owen,” answered Mrs. +Jones. “No harm shall befall him when under my charge. I shall guard +him from harm as if he were one of my own children.” + +“I have no doubt you will, wife. I must now leave you. I hope you will +spend a very pleasant day.” + +Mr. Jones then left, and proceeded to his house of business; but during +his walk he thought, not of mercantile transaction or of his dear old +native land, oh, no: his thoughts were wholly occupied with the adventure +of the previous evening. + +Soon after the departure of Mr. Jones, his wife and daughter and young +Wynn started off for the purpose of seeing some of the wonders of London, +but the day closed before they saw one hundredth part of its glories. +Day after day they continued to drive about from one part of the +metropolis to another, and during these excursions Cadwgan had acquired a +pretty accurate knowledge of the geography of London. + +When at dinner on the following Sunday, Mr. Jones informed his young +visitor of his having at last succeeded in procuring for him a situation +as clerk in the old established house of Messrs. Davies, Roberts & +Company, the celebrated tea merchants, and that he was to commence his +duties on the following Monday. This information was exceedingly +cheering to the youth, as the certainty of employment was now assured. +Not wishing to be under obligation to his friends longer than he could +possibly help, he expressed a wish to procure lodgings in some +respectable family at once, and asked Mr. Jones if he knew of any place +in the neighbourhood likely to suit him. + +“We’ll talk on that matter, my boy, another time,” replied Mr. Jones. +“For the present, at least, you must remain with us. If you do leave us +in the way you propose, remember, be your stay in London long or short, +you must consider our house your home. Before you can possibly make any +arrangements you must first see if the situation will suit you; whether +your employers like you, and you like them. If you give them +satisfaction, and your position is likely to be permanent, why then we +will, if you wish, permit you to leave us; and I’ve no doubt but that +Mrs. Jones and my daughter will find you comfortable apartments.” + +“Well, sir, I’m in your hands. You have overpowered me with kindness +which I shall never be able to repay. When hungry, weary, and helpless, +when friendless and without a ray of hope, you came to me as an angel of +mercy, you took me into your house, and during my residence under your +hospitable roof, Mrs. Jones and you have treated me as if I were your +child. To you I shall always feel grateful; and come what may, your +image will ever repose in my heart of hearts.” + +“Tut, tut! my boy, our kindness is nothing. If we have succeeded in +making you happy, and in giving you a start in life, is not that a +sufficient reward? But our little attention requites in a very small +degree the obligations which I am under to your noble father’s family. I +am still their debtor to an amount I shall never be able to repay.” + + + +CHAPTER IV. +_THE VICTORY OF INNOCENCE_. + + +The establishment of Messrs. Davies, Roberts & Company, was situated in +one of those narrow streets, and was one of those dark and dingy-looking +buildings, which were far from being uncommon in old London. The +premises, however, were large and commodious, and were specially adapted +for their important trade. When Cadwgan saw it for the first time, +namely, on the morning succeeding the conversation between Mr. Jones and +himself recorded in the previous chapter, he was painfully struck with +the contrast it presented with his own light and airy home, surrounded as +that home was by rich fields of pasture land and trees of every kind and +hue. However, he was by no means disheartened, and was far from disposed +to give up the contest in life’s battle without a struggle, so he entered +the building with his friend Mr. Jones cheerfully, and presently was +asked into the presence of Mr. Roberts, the head of the firm. + +“And this is the young gentleman you spoke to me about, friend Jones?” + +“Yes. Mr. Cadwgan Wynn. I hope for the sake of our common country and +our friendship, that you will not be unmindful of his interest.” + +“His progress here, friend Jones, will depend wholly upon himself. If he +prove himself quick, painstaking, and honest, he shall not want a +friend.” + +“His honesty and rectitude I will guarantee; and methinks as he comes +from a shrewd stock, he will, with a few years’ experience, prove a +valuable hand,—one whom it will be difficult for you to do without.” + +“I am aware, Jones, that I can fully rely on your recommendation. Now, +Mr. Wynn, when will you be ready to go into harness?” + +“I am prepared, sir, to commence my duties at once. If convenient for +you to make arrangements, I’ll remain here to-day.” + +“By all means remain. Come, follow me, and I will introduce you to Mr. +McLiver, our chief cashier, in whose department you will be engaged for +the present.” + +Mr. McLiver was a Scotchman, who had been in the service of the firm many +years. From almost the lowest place, he had risen step by step until he +attained the most important post in the house. In him the firm had +unbounded confidence, and as he apparently managed his department with +skill and economy Mr. Roberts permitted him to select nearly the whole of +the clerks attached thereto. In less than two years from the date of his +appointment to his present post he had managed, by hook or by crook, to +get rid of nearly the whole of the old hands, and their places he +supplied with Scotchmen of his own kith and kin. From the first day of +entering the office, Mr. McLiver regarded Cadwgan as an intruder, an +interloper; hence he looked upon the youth with aversion, and availed +himself of every opportunity to vex and annoy him. But this was not all. +Any little mistake Mr. Wynn might make in his books or accounts, was +carried to Mr. Roberts. But to these complaints he turned a deaf ear, +while at the same time he strictly enjoined upon Mr. McLiver to take all +possible care to have Cadwgan thoroughly instructed in all business +matters; above all, that he should be made a good accountant. Though the +Scotchman faithfully promised to carry out to the letter his employer’s +instructions, yet he intentionally refrained from doing so; while he +continued to annoy the youth by making personal allusions to his country, +and on more than one occasion he called him a Welsh blockhead. Of his +conduct Cadwgan never made any complaint, nor did he make the slightest +allusion to it, even to Mr. Jones. He worked on, was constantly +labouring at his books and accounts, and in spite of the cashier he soon +became a first-rate accountant. Before he had been in the establishment +five years, he was the best man in the house as regarded profound +knowledge of intricate details. + +On the afternoon of the fifth anniversary of his official life, Mr. +Roberts called Cadwgan into his private office, and expressed to him the +high opinion he had formed of his ability and character; and to his great +surprise informed him that being about to rearrange the work of the +office, he had resolved to divide the office work into sections, and that +it was his (Mr. Roberts’) intention and wish that he should take the +position of chief accountant in the establishment, and that there would +be a number of clerks under him; that for the future Mr. McLiver would +simply receive moneys due to the firm, and pay all demands against it, +but all accounts must pass through the hands of the accountants, which +should bear the chief’s signature as being correct. + +Cadwgan’s eyes filled with tears on being apprized of his promotion to so +important a post, and he thanked Mr. Roberts from his heart of hearts for +his confidence and kindness. + +The morning on which Mr. Wynn was to commence his new duties, Mr. McLiver +repaired to Mr. Roberts’ private office, where he found that gentleman +occupying his usual seat, engaged in reading the money article of that +morning’s _Times_. Addressing that gentleman in a somewhat peremptory +manner, he said he had just stepped in to ask if it was really true that +the young Welshman was to be placed in such an important and responsible +position in the establishment. + +“It is quite true, Mr. McLiver. The appointment has already been made, +and in the opinion of my son and myself Mr. Wynn has richly earned the +post assigned him. We are of opinion that, of all the clerks, he is by +far the best qualified to discharge the duties of the office.” + +“But consider, sir, my many years of faithful service in your house. I +think that service merits some consideration from you.” + +“But what is your wish, Mr. McLiver?” + +“My wish, sir, is, that you confer this appointment upon my cousin. He +has been longer in your employ than Wynn, and I am sure he possesses +ability far superior to that of this young man.” + +“That is quite impossible, Mr. McLiver. Mr. Wynn’s appointment has +already been made, and he has been duly informed of my resolve. In fact +he has accepted our offer.” + +“In that case, sir, I fear I must send in my resignation. I could not +think of having my books and accounts overhauled by this intruder.” + +“You may leave, sir, if you wish; and I will give you a cheque for your +quarter’s salary.” + +“Am I right then in concluding you have lost confidence in me? Are you +desirous that the connection between us be severed?” + +“By no means, sir. If you leave, it will be your own act and deed.” + +“Then you wish me to remain in your service?” + +“Of course I do, Mr. McLiver. But you will bear in mind that all my +arrangements and plans must be carried out to the letter. There must be +no divided authority here, so long as I’m master. I desire you to +confine yourself, wholly, to the duties of your department, which require +your undivided attention; and I will be answerable for the proper +discharge of the duties of the new accountant’s office.” + +“I bow to your decision, Mr. Roberts, and hope you will not have any +cause to regret the arrangements you have made.” + +“Of that, sir, time will tell. You, Mr. McLiver, will not have to make +up my loss.” + +McLiver, finding it was useless to press the matter further, wished his +chief good morning, and returned to his own office in a very bad humour. + +On entering, he uttered the most awful imprecations against Welshmen in +general, and Mr. Wynn in particular. He swore that he would be revenged. +He turned to his cousin, and thus addressed him:— + +“It is owing to you, you d—d scoundrel, that I owe my present disgrace.” + +“To me, sir! What the d—l do you mean?” + +“I mean, Donald, that if you had been steady and honest and plodding, +this calamity would not have befallen our clan.” + +“A fellow must have a spree, McLiver, now and then. That is human +nature.” + +“D—n human nature! Donald, you talk like a fool.” + +“I’m sorry for you, cousin. I’m truly sorry for you.” + +“It is a d—d bad job for me, that you have indulged in dissipation to the +extent you have.” + +“But old Roberts has paid the piper, Mac, though he little suspects it. +He is little aware where the money comes from to keep up your grand +establishment. If he knew all wouldn’t there be a jolly blow up!” + +“You son of paupers, you parish ’prentice, if you talk to me in that way +I’ll knock your b—y head off your shoulders, by G—d I’ll do it, though +you be my father’s brother’s son.” + +“Come, come, cousin; it won’t do for thee and me to quarrel and fall out +now. We’ve sailed too long in the same boat—I mean, we’ve dipped our +fingers too deeply in the same till to peach upon each other, or to +quarrel. Methinks our present duty is to guard against being found out.” + +“Your advice is good, Donald; but that our delinquencies will come to the +knowledge of old Roberts, d—n him, is a matter of certainty. That young +Welsh nincompoop imp has his eyes everywhere; his ears are always open. +I should not be at all surprised even if our present talk reached him. +For us it was an evil day when he came here. If I were sure of not being +found out, I’d soon put an end to his presence.” + +“Bad as I am, cousin, I’d not commit murder. That we must not do. Our +best plan is to concoct some scheme to dethrone this upstart. Old +Roberts has willed he should reign over us; be it our mission to bring +him to the dust.” + +“A good suggestion, Donald. By gam! we must take care, though, to lay +the snare well so as to be certain of our bird.” + + * * * * * + +During several months succeeding the above conversation the business of +the house of Davies, Roberts & Company went on in its usual quiet way, +but in those months the young Welshman and his staff had succeeded in +overhauling the books of the firm for several years. At the accounts +they had worked night and day. When the investigation had been completed +his clerks knew nothing about the result, nor indeed of the object which +they had in view in making so strict an investigation. So far Mr. Wynn +had discovered defalcations amounting to nearly £20,000, though the +bottom of the peculation had not yet been reached. The books showed that +McLiver had carried on his swindling in a regularly systematic manner, +and had escaped detection for the reason that all his subordinates, which +made up nearly the whole staff, were creatures of his own—principally his +own kith and kin. When Cadwgan had completed his labours, he had +ascertained, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that the amount abstracted was +£24,500. During the months he had been engaged in auditing the books, +Cadwgan had made certain inquiries of houses with which his employers had +had business transactions, so he was in a position to prove by written +evidence the particulars and the exact sum of each fraudulent +transaction. These inquiries had been carried on privately; neither to +Mr. Roberts, nor to any member of his staff, had he let fall a word +calculated to awaken suspicion. It was late on a Saturday night when +Cadwgan finished his labours. When descending from his office down to +the large entrance hall, with his papers in his hand, he was surprised to +find Mr. McLiver and his cousin Donald there. They did not stop to +speak, but passed on into their own office. As they heard Mr. Wynn, +before he descended, shut his office door and lock it, they naturally +concluded he was the last person in the buildings. Presently, McLiver +and Donald left the house together, the porter closing the door on their +descending into the street. + +That evening was anxiously spent by Mr. Wynn. He retired to rest late, +but slept not. That the facts he possessed would be most damaging to his +arch-enemy there could be no doubt; that he might possibly be the means +of saving his employers from being ruined, was in his judgment equally +certain. + +On the following Sunday morning Cadwgan paid a visit to his friend Mr. +Owen Jones, to whom he revealed the state of affairs of the firm. Mr. +Jones was a man of the world, and, moreover, was a wise and sagacious man +of business. After talking over the matter, it was arranged that Mr. +Jones should accompany his young friend to the establishment of Messrs. +Davies, Roberts & Company the next morning, when the whole facts should +be placed before Mr. Roberts. + +On their arrival at the establishment on Monday morning, Mr. Jones and +Cadwgan at once went to Mr. Roberts’ private office, when that gentleman +looked at Mr. Wynn with a hard and scowling brow. As Mr. Jones had +always experienced the greatest kindness from Mr. Roberts (they had been +more like brothers than friends), he was surprised and astonished in +observing his altered look, and boldly asked the cause of his seeming +displeasure. + +“Cause, sir!” exclaimed Mr. Roberts. “Did you say cause! There is +methinks enough of cause! To be robbed of £3000 by this young man, whom +you introduced to me, for whom I have done so much, whose interest and +welfare I have done so much to promote—’tis enough to make me curse the +day on which I was weak and foolish enough to comply with your pressing +request to take him into my service. Cause, indeed! To be robbed thus +is a sufficient cause for my anger.” + +“Did you say, sir,” remarked Cadwgan, “that I had robbed you of £3000?” + +“Certainly, I said so. And you don’t deny it.” + +“I emphatically deny your charge, sir, and demand the name of my +accuser.” + +“I accuse you, sir. Is not that enough?” + +“But, Mr. Roberts, you are a just man, and I presume you will not condemn +me before placing in my possession the evidence upon which your judgment +rests.” + +“My informant, sir, is my confidential clerk, Mr. McLiver. He is +prepared to swear to the fact of your being the robber, and his cousin +Donald will corroborate his statement.” + +McLiver was then summoned by Mr. Roberts; and in reply to his inquiries +stated, that on the previous Saturday evening he and his cousin had +secreted themselves in the house, that during the time they were in their +hiding-place Mr. Wynn came down from his own room and went into the +cashier’s office, and by means of false keys opened the safe and rifled +the drawers of their contents, which he put into a bag, then retired. He +continued to say, that he and his cousin waited there some time, that Mr. +Wynn went back to his own office, and afterwards came down stairs with +the bag in his hand, which was so heavy that he was almost weighed down. +He left the office taking the bag of gold with him. Donald corroborated +his cousin’s statement. + +Mr. Jones, as was natural, appeared much excited during the Scotchman’s +narrative. He almost believed in his young friend’s guilt, because the +evidence was so direct and circumstantial. Mr. Wynn stood calm and +collected; he never moved during the few minutes which the delivery of +the evidence against him occupied, though his dark piercing eye, intently +fixed upon McLiver, made that man quail beneath its penetrating glance. +When they had finished their story, Mr. Wynn asked his employer’s +permission to call evidence in his favour,—a request which was readily +acceded to, because he really loved the youth. He then called into the +office, one by one, six of his confidential clerks, the gentlemen who had +been specially engaged with him in investigating the old accounts, who, +in reply to his question, said that Mr. Wynn never left the office until +his final departure, which was very late, and that they watched him going +out though unperceived. The care-taker gave evidence that Mr. Wynn did +not return after his departure. When they had completed the evidence, +Mr. McLiver asked, “And what were you doing at the office that time of +night?” + +“We were engaged in making copies of important documents for Mr. Wynn.” + +“What became of those?” asked Mr. Roberts. + +“They were all put, sir, into Mr. Wynn’s bag.” + +“Who put them into the bag?” + +“We did, sir,” replied Mr. Williams. + +“Was the bag locked, Mr. Williams?” + +“Yes, sir, it was locked; and the key has been in my possession since.” + +“Before we examine the contents of the bag I wish to know if you are +quite sure that Mr. Wynn did not leave the office during any portion of +the evening, that is, before his final departure; and that you and your +fellow-clerks saw him out.” + +They replied, that they were prepared to make oath on the point. + +“Why did you watch his departure?” asked Mr. Roberts. + +“I had overheard a conversation,” said Mr. Williams, the clerk of Mr. +Wynn’s department, “between Mr. McLiver and his cousin Donald, in which +certain threatening words were used towards Mr. Wynn. We watched his +departure, thinking it quite possible that they might be lurking about +the buildings in order to effect his ruin.” + +When McLiver and Donald heard the above evidence they became agitated, +and their faces became as white as snow. Mr. Roberts scarcely knew what +to do. After considering a few minutes, he turned to McLiver, saying, “I +fear your tale is untrue; for these six gentlemen, whom I have always +found truthful and honourable, have in the most direct manner flatly +contradicted you in every particular. I hope you and your cousin have +not conspired to injure this young man.” + +“You have hit the right nail on the head this time,” said Mr. Jones, “and +no mistake. But is this £3000 the whole of your loss, friend Roberts?” + +“The whole as far as I know.” + +“Happy man! what a blessed thing it is to be rich, and unable to reckon +up the whole of one’s profits.” + +“I suppose, Jones,” remarked Mr. Roberts pettishly, “you wouldn’t like to +lose £3000.” + +“I am afraid, my friend, you will find your loss not £3000, but nine +times three, if the £3000 has really disappeared.” + +“What do you really mean, Jones? You appear to know more of my affairs +than I know myself.” + +“In a few words, I mean to say, Roberts, that that immaculate gentleman, +the accuser of my young friend here, who is also the best friend you ever +had, has robbed you to the tune of some £25,000, in addition to this +£3000; for I presume he has taken that sum too; and Mr. Wynn has evidence +in his bag,—it is still locked,—which will completely substantiate the +fact. When you know the whole, you’ll bless the day, friend Roberts, on +which my child was introduced into your establishment.” + +“For the present we will suspend our judgment. Jones, Mr. Wynn, all of +you, go to Mr. Wynn’s office. We will compare Mr. Wynn’s papers with our +ledgers and day books.” The bag was unlocked, and paper after paper was +produced, and document after document submitted for inspection and +comparison. Cadwgan detailed step by step his proceedings in order to +ascertain the exact sum total of the money abstracted by Mr. McLiver and +Donald. After he had gone through these, he produced the documents and +vouchers he had collected from firms with which Messrs. Davies, Roberts & +Company had had transactions, and on being compared with the ledger, it +was found that in many cases the actual sum paid to merchants for goods +did not amount to a moiety of the sum inserted in the ledger. The +evidence of McLiver’s guilt was overwhelming. When Mr. Roberts saw this, +he took Mr. Wynn into his arms, embraced him as if he was his own child, +and with tears in his eyes besought his pardon for having for a moment +entertained suspicions of his honesty and rectitude. + +“The matter to me is now made plain. The real culprit is the man whom I +regarded as upright, pure, and honest. He has shamefully abused my +confidence. To him I entrusted my money; and what, sir,” turning to +McLiver, “have you to say in your defence?” + +“I will neither acknowledge nor deny my guilt, sir, in the presence of +that Welsh puppy, who is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a caitiff cut-throat +miscreant, a cunning, intriguing, and deceitful urchin from the Welsh +mountains. When he meets me and Donald in the street, I promise him he +shall be well paid for his treachery and circumvention.” + +“That is,” said Mr. Roberts, “on condition you leave me a free man. For +the present, sir, you must consider yourself and your cousin—I believe +him to be equally guilty with yourself—in the hands of the authorities. +The officers of justice are now in an adjoining room. They are there +awaiting my orders. There is no occasion to detain them, as your guilt +is but too clearly made out.” + +The door was then opened, and McLiver and Donald were placed in their +charge, and were marched off to prison. + +On the room being cleared of the presence of all excepting Mr. Jones and +Cadwgan, Mr. Roberts asked the latter how he had succeeded in making such +important discoveries, and the reason which had moved him in entering +upon an investigation which had cost him and his staff so much time and +labour. + +“For a long time, sir, I have firmly believed in his dishonesty. In the +first place, and this fact first awakened my suspicion, I, by means which +it is unnecessary for me to detail, ascertained that he was keeping a +grand house, and had livery servants and carriages, and gave grand +parties, which I knew he could not do with £400 a year. His cousin, +Donald, is a fast young man who spent his earnings in dissipation, and +for years has been the constant companion of young men who are believed +to live by swindling their respective employers. On making these +discoveries, Mr. Sykes, who is an honest Yorkshireman, and my friend Mr. +Williams, resolved to take special notice of their movements, and wisely +kept records of what they saw and heard, which could at any time be +produced in the event of anything turning up. We discovered first, that +tea had been bought by your house of a very inferior quality, which was +paid for at double the actual invoice price, and in some cases the charge +was sixty per cent above the actual cost.” + +“But, Mr. Wynn, how did he manage this?” + +“Oh, easily enough, sir.” + +“But how?” + +“We found by inquiry, that McLiver had two relatives as cashiers in the +houses with which you did business; and as all moneys passed through +their hands, they could commit frauds to almost any extent without fear +of being detected. They had confederates, so by acting together had but +little difficulty in carrying out their system of plunder, especially as +the books and accounts were under their control. When you made your new +arrangements, they, that is, Mr. McLiver and Donald, were apprehensive +that disclosures would be made, and you will remember, sir, that McLiver +almost protested against your scheme.” + +“I well remember, Mr. Wynn, that he was terribly angry, but little did I +then think that its cause originated in fear.” + +“After the appointment had been made, and we had entered upon our duties, +Mr. Sykes ascertained—in short he overheard a conversation between the +two in which certain threats were made towards me, and in that +conversation McLiver and Donald upbraided each other about their +peculation. We had thus sufficient evidence to warrant us in concluding +that they had robbed you. Having discovered this, we then planned the +investigation, which has occupied our evenings ever since. It was late +on Saturday night when we arrived at the final result. The rest you +know.” + +“Yes, yes, Cadwgan, I know the rest. In the presence of my dear and +valued friend Jones, I offer you my humblest apology for having suspected +you of dishonesty; I shall never be able to repay you for the services +you have rendered me.” + +“I’m repaid already by your confidence and esteem.” + +“And hereafter, Mr. Wynn, I will seek to do so in a more substantial way. +But tell me, what can you possibly know about the quality of tea? You +remarked just now it was inferior; how did you ascertain this?” + +“I know the quality of teas by the smell.” {178} + +“By the smell!” + +“Yes, sir; by the smell.” + +“Is that really so?” + +“Yes, sir.” + +“Here are two samples: please give me your judgment upon them.” + +Mr. Wynn took the samples, and having smelt them, returned them to his +employer, saying, this is worth so much, the other sample is not worth +buying. + +“Well, Mr. Wynn, I am satisfied, and more than satisfied, with your +conduct during the years you have been in our house. For your goodness, +and the deep interest you have taken in all matters connected with my +affairs, from the bottom of my heart I thank you. You are necessarily +agitated by reason of the scene through which you have just passed. You +must be fatigued too by reason of the extra work you have, for my sake, +imposed upon yourself. I cannot now say in what way I shall reward you, +but if you and friend Jones will come and dine at my house (bring Mrs. +Jones and your daughter with you), I will then tell you the course I +shall adopt, and the arrangements I propose to make with reference to +your position and prospects. Your disinterested service calls for an +ample reward.” + +“I require no reward, Mr. Roberts,” said Cadwgan. “I have simply done my +duty.” + +“Well, well, Mr. Wynn, you may think so. You must not, however, condemn +me for holding the contrary opinion.” + +“I should esteem it a favour, sir, if you would give Mr. Sykes and Mr. +Williams a holiday. They are not well, and I fear the pressure upon them +during the past few weeks has overtaxed their strength.” + +“By all means let them go. Please give them this, and tell them it is a +small token of my high appreciation of their conduct.” + +Mr. Wynn was delighted at being made the channel of Mr. Roberts’s +communication. When the papers were opened, it was found that they were +two £10 Bank of England notes. On receiving the gift, the Yorkshireman +held it up, and said,—“I little expected this.” Mr. Williams, too, was +equally surprised. They then wished each other good morning, and it need +hardly be said that Mr. Wynn’s assistants thoroughly enjoyed their day’s +trip to Windsor. + + + +CHAPTER V. +_THE RIGHT MAN COMING AT THE RIGHT TIME_. + + +“Is it not strange, dear aunt,” said Gwenfan, “that Cadwgan has been so +long silent? We have not heard from him for more than a month. He might +just have sent a line to say he was well, and when we may expect him?” + +“Cadwgan, my dear child, has now a great deal to do. Since his +promotion, doubtless his time is fully occupied.” + +“I should like to see a likeness of the young lady to whom he refers in +his letters. If the description he gives be anything approaching the +truth, she must be queen both in personal appearance and purity of mind.” + +“Do you refer to Miss Jones, my child?” + +“Yes, aunt bach; I refer certainly to her. I think my naughty brother is +in love with her.” + +“It will be an excellent match, Gwenfan, for Miss Jones is an only child +of very rich parents.” + +“I was not aware, aunt, that Mr. Jones was a person of great wealth, +though I thought he was well to do.” + +“It is said, that her papa will give her £50,000 on the morning of her +marriage, with the certainty of farther expectations.” + +“Well, I should like to see Cadwgan settled, if he had a kind, good, and +loving wife. For myself, aunty, I intend to remain single, and be like +you, an old maid.” + +“Oh, you do, do you? You will alter your opinion, I’ll be bound when the +right man comes.” + +“But will the right man come, aunty? Never, never, say I.” + +“Oh, the right man will certainly come, Gwenfan. I declare there he is. +Look! look! be quick! Why, he is coming here. If you wish to escape his +net, fly, my niece, at once to your room.” + +“Fly? I will not do that, aunty,” said Gwenfan, laughing. “Though +perhaps we had better retire and prepare ourselves to receive him.” + +“Well thought of, my child; and tell the servant, if he seeks us, to show +him into the drawing-room, where we will presently join him.” + +When the servant opened the door, the young gentleman inquired if Miss +Wynn were within, as he wished to see her on a matter of some importance. +Receiving a reply in the affirmative, the servant conducted the stranger +to the drawing-room, on entering which he took a seat in the great +bay-window, from which he gazed on the glorious prospect around. So +enchanted was he with the sight, the exquisite beauty of the scene, that +he did not notice the entrance of the ladies, who had been a few minutes +in the room before he became aware of their presence. At last Miss Aunt +Wynn approached the chair on which he was seated, when the ruffle of her +dress awoke him from his reverie. He then rose, apologised for his +abrupt visit, but excused himself by saying that circumstances had +occurred which had compelled him to alter his original arrangement, hence +he found himself there two days earlier than he had expected. + +“But ladies, in my having to apologise, I forget to introduce myself. My +name is Rhys Roberts, and I presume,” pointing to the young lady standing +by her aunt’s chair, “that she is your niece, Miss Gwenfan Wynn.” + +“Yes, sir; this young lady is my niece.” + +“I thought so. She is the very image of her brother.” + +“And do you know my brother?” asked Gwenfan. + +“Know him! He is my father’s chief hand, and my most intimate friend.” + +“When did you see or hear from my brother, sir?” + +“When I left London, we arranged to meet here. I have been expecting a +letter from him daily, but no letter has reached me. I cannot think what +has become of him. It is quite possible he may be detained on important +business. He had a very important matter in hand when I left.” + +“We have not heard from him,” said the aunt, “for a month, and his sister +and I are getting very anxious about him.” + +“You need not, ladies, be in any alarm. During the last month, he has +been working night and day, and has had scarcely a moment to spare. He +has now completed his labours, so on Monday, or on Tuesday next at the +farthest, you may expect him.” + +“In that case, we shall have the pleasure of your company until his +arrival,” remarked the aunt. “My nephew’s friend will ever receive here +a hearty welcome.” + +“I’m extremely obliged to you, madam, for your kind offer of hospitality, +and as I wish, and am most anxious, to pay a visit to the most remarkable +places in your neighbourhood, I embrace your kind offer, if you and Miss +Gwenfan will promise to act as my cicerones, as doubtless you are +thoroughly acquainted with every nook and corner of the country where the +beauteous spots are to be found.” + +“We shall, sir,” said the ladies, “be delighted to show you the most +romantic spots to be found in wild Wales. For grandeur and bold scenery +our neighbourhood has no equal. But, Mr. Roberts, you must judge for +yourself. When you have traversed our mountains and valleys, our high +hills and sylvan glades, you will say that the beauties of the +surrounding scene are beyond the descriptive powers of the most eloquent +pen of this age.” + +During the few days of their tour, they visited Bettws-y-Coed, Capel +Curig, the Swallow Falls, Pont Aberglaslyn, Llyngwynant, Tan y Bwlch, +Maentwrog, Ffestiniog, Rhayadr Ddû, Tremadoc, Harlech, and Aberdovy, +returning late on Saturday night from the latter town. Both the ladies +and Mr. Roberts had thoroughly enjoyed their outing; the latter +especially, having now for the first time beheld the scenes, was charmed +with the grand sights which he had beheld. + +During this excursion there had sprung up, unconsciously to himself, a +feeling of more than respect for Miss Gwenfan, whilst she and her aunt +concluded that Mr. Roberts was one of the most kind-hearted, generous, +and amiable young gentlemen with whom they had ever come in contact. It +must, too, be owned that Mr. Roberts had awakened in her young heart +emotions of a kind, and in a degree, to which that heart had been +previously a stranger. + +When Mr. Roberts retired to his dressing-room he wrote in his diary the +following sentence: “Happy, thrice happy, will be the man who secures +such a prize as Miss Gwenfan! In her heart is lodged the deepest +reverence for truth, for virtue, and religion. She is, too, as beautiful +as she is good. Her attachment to and admiration of her native country +and its people is as deep and as enthusiastic as was that of the glorious +old patriots of olden times. Then the days I have passed in her society +have been the happiest I ever spent. I can hardly realize the happiness +I have enjoyed. They are like a dream, though in the foreground of the +vision there stands the good and beautiful maiden, with her curly locks, +her auburn hair, her dark eye, and a countenance as clear as the crystal +streamlet. In spite of myself I love her. I now retire to rest. May +her dreams be as pleasant as I hope mine will be!” + +At breakfast, on the following Sabbath morning, Mr. Roberts asked the +ladies if they would accompany him to the Methodist Church, at Tan y +Bwlch, as he was particularly desirous of hearing the Rev. Thomas +Charles, of Bala, who at that time was considered one of the most eminent +clergymen in Wales. + +“It is fortunate, Mr. Roberts, you put the question to us,” replied the +ladies. + +“And why?” + +“Oh, you have simply anticipated us in your request.” + +“Then you had arranged to go?” + +“Yes, conditionally on your accompanying us to hear that great and good +man.” + +“I am delighted, madam, in the prospect of seeing and hearing one so +distinguished for learning and piety, one who has made so many sacrifices +for the spiritual welfare of his countrymen.” + +On their arrival at the church they found it crammed to suffocation, +scarcely a single inch remained unoccupied. However, as the Misses Wynn +and Mr. Roberts came in a carriage, and Bryn Villa being always open to +receive clergymen of this and all other denominations, the deacons +managed to find them seats. Mr. Charles’ discourse was above the +average; some of the passages were most eloquent, and many members of the +congregation were bathed in tears. + +On their way home Mr. Roberts referred to a passage in Mr. Charles’ +sermon, which he considered most beautiful. “You remember he said, +‘implicitly to follow the counsel of the best and wisest of men, is to +depend on an arm of flesh. They only are right and safe who make God’s +glory their end, God’s word their rule, God’s spirit the guide of their +actions, and God’s providence the guide of their affairs. They may not +be led by the nearest, but they will be by the best road; as it will +certainly appear when they come to their journey’s end.’ If the +Christian Church, and if all religious people were to act according to +Mr. Charles’ sublime idea, the race would be happier than it is. The +standard he set before us is a high one. I’ve found it difficult to live +up to it.” + +“I have no doubt you have, Mr. Roberts,” remarked the aunt. “We must, +however, do our best, then Heaven will surely smile upon us, though we +but imperfectly perform our religious duty.” + +“It is that thought, madam, which cheers me in my hour of gloom and +sadness. I often think that I should have given up striving to live to +God were it not for the glorious promises He has given His Church and +people. In my endeavour to attain to the highest form of spiritual life, +your nephew, Miss Wynn, your dear brother, Miss Gwenfan, has helped me by +his wise counsel, while his deep religiousness and high Christian +character have been incentives to me to aspire to reach the highest +good.” + +The reference to her brother brought tears to Gwenfan’s eyes. Ever since +he had left home, she had prayed every night and morning that he might be +kept from evil, kept unspotted from the world, kept safely in the +pavilion of the unseen and eternal. + +Mr. Roberts, seeing the young lady in tears, asked if he could in any way +alleviate her sorrow; but she at once replied,— + +“I weep not, sir, because my heart is sad. I am almost overcome with joy +by reason of your reference to dear Cadwgan. Oh, I do rejoice with +unspeakable satisfaction, that he has not forgotten the holy lessons our +dear parents taught us. Though they are gone, I feel their spirits often +visit us, and I think they watch over us with the same care and +solicitude as when they were present in the flesh.” + +“Happy, my dear Miss Wynn, must be the brother whose beloved sister, +living here amongst the Welsh mountains, prays daily for his welfare. I +can bear testimony to his practical piety, his eminent godliness, his +deep devotional spirit. He has taught me to love and adore the Name +which is above every name. There is, too, a fragrance about Cadwgan’s +acts and life. Truly has he been the guide of my inexperience, my +counsellor, my friend. During the past three years, scarcely a day has +passed without our having conversation on the highest things. Since we +parted the other day, I have missed him much. Oh, I wish he had come! +But there _is_ your brother. Look! He is waiting our return.” + +In a moment afterward Cadwgan and his sister were locked in each other’s +arms. + +During the following week Miss Gwenfan Wynn and Mr. Roberts were almost +constantly together; and it must be owned that there grew up between +those two young and innocent hearts a feeling more warm, more ardent, and +more fervent than usually exists between friends and acquaintances; a +feeling which if permitted to ripen and develop, would result in the +union of heart with heart, soul with soul,—a feeling the intensity of +which would survive even the tomb. + +After the happy days thus spent together, Miss Wynn one evening remarked +to her niece, “Has not the right man come, my child? I suppose I shall +hear no more of your living the life of an old maid?” + +“Oh, aunt, you are too cruel. I like Mr. Roberts much, but only as +Cadwgan’s friend.” + +“Well, well; we shall see what we shall see. You will be Mrs. Roberts +one of these days. There, don’t blush my child. There is no harm in +your loving so noble a youth.” + + + +CHAPTER VI. +_VIRTUE REWARDED_. + + +On leaving the warehouse one evening, soon after his return from Wales, +Mr. Roberts remarked, “You must dine with us to-morrow, Mr. Wynn, and my +old friend Jones will accompany you. He has already arranged to form one +of our party, and I am glad for my own sake and yours that we shall have +the pleasure of his society. He is one of the best men I know in this +huge city.” + +As soon as the ladies had retired, Mr. Roberts pushed the bottle to Mr. +Jones, with the observation, “This is your favourite wine, and please to +make yourself as free with it as you’re welcome. I think Mr. Wynn and +you, my son, prefer sherry. I’ll try port, which is my favourite drink.” + +After a general conversation on the general topics of the day, Mr. +Roberts turned to Mr. Jones, and said that he thanked him most gratefully +for having pleaded so eloquently the claims of his young friend, Wynn. +“You will doubtless remember, Jones, that I was most unwilling to receive +him into the establishment, in the first place on his own account; +secondly, I did not consider mine a proper place for a young gentleman of +his social position. You, however, urged his claims, and considering our +personal friendship, and my previous connection with the Wynn family, I +at last reluctantly yielded to your wishes, though in doing so I was +perfectly aware that I should create in the mind of McLiver hostile +feelings to myself and Cadwgan there. I little expected that my +cashier’s objection would spring from conviction of wrongdoing. I +believed in his integrity, and had confidence in his honesty; and as he +apparently served me faithfully I was prepared to yield to some extent to +his wishes, though he was well aware of my unbending disposition when +once I had resolved to carry a particular point. McLiver having +discovered my resolve to be Mr. Wynn’s friend, I must own that he did not +oppose my wishes to the extent I at first anticipated. + +“Now from the first day on which Mr. Wynn entered upon his duties, I am +bound to say that I found him plodding, persevering, and honest; his +first and chief concern being to promote my interest. In this, he set us +all an example we should do well to copy. + +“To the proceedings of the other day—a day which to me will be ever +memorable, I will not allude further than to express a hope that I have +Cadwgan’s complete pardon for having for once suspected his dishonesty. +And this is a fitting occasion for me to thank you, Jones, for the deep +interest you have shown in my affairs in connection with our young +friend. Had Cadwgan not done what he did, the scoundrel’s rascality +would in all probability have effected my ruin. But how came you, Mr. +Wynn, to suspect his dishonesty?” + +“My tale, sir, is soon told,” remarked Cadwgan. “From time to time +little things cropped up in connection with business transactions and in +the accounts, the appearance of which I did not at all like. To my mind +there was satisfactory and conclusive evidence that the man was not +dealing honourably by you, and that you were a victim of his dishonesty. +You must bear in mind this, I had but a suspicion. I could not prove +that what I suspected was actual and real. + +“Being in a state of doubt, I really did not know what to do. I could +not suggest my suspicion to you because the person was in your +confidence. After thinking over the matter some days and nights I +resolved to sound my fellow-clerks, Messrs. Sykes and Williams, for I +knew I could depend on them. Strange to say they had long suspected his +guilt, but were afraid to give expression to their opinion, because Mr. +McLiver appeared all-powerful. + +“After a conference we agreed to get up evidence. We ascertained he was +living at the rate of £2000 or £3000 a year, though he had no income but +his salary. We found, too, that he paid for all goods when ordered. On +making further inquiry we discovered that his cousin Donald, though he +had a smaller salary than I had, spent several pounds weekly in +dissipation. + +“Then the constant visits of relatives who are employed in similar +establishments in the city, and the worthless stuff sent from the houses +where they were engaged, these things awakened in my mind the strongest +suspicion that the parties were conspiring together to rob you and their +employers. + +“As the books were all in McLiver’s hands and under his control, we could +do nothing; but when you appointed me to the post of accountant, Mr. +Sykes, Mr. Williams, and myself resolved to ascertain if our suspicion +was well founded. During the past three months we have given the whole +of our spare time during the day to the past five years’ accounts, while +we seldom left the office until late at night. The result of our labours +you know. I fancy one of the clerks in my department must have told +McLiver what we were doing, and doubtless his guilt awoke in his mind a +sense of the dangerous position in which he had placed himself. Then in +order if possible to crush me before the work was done, he and his cousin +Donald concocted the charge against me—themselves being the robbers. I +do not for a moment think they wished my punishment. What they did +desire was to secure my expulsion from your establishment, that thus +their malpractices might possibly remain undetected.” + +“But where are his relations employed, Mr. Wynn?” asked Mr. Roberts. + +“Mr. McNab, his uncle, is cashier to the Chinese Tea Company, and his +brother is with Morant & Hogsflesh.” + +“Do you really believe these parties were confederates?” + +“No doubt of it, sir.” + +“In that case what would you advise?” + +“In justice to yourself and the high reputation of your house, it is your +duty to furnish them with the whole of our discovered facts. It is +important they should be informed of their servants’ dishonesty.” + +“By gad, Mr. Wynn, I’ll advise their punishment; and if their employers +won’t do it, I will.” + +“I am afraid that your advice will be too late.” + +“How so, Cadwgan?” + +“Both have already fled to the Continent. It appears that they, like +McLiver, helped themselves to their employers’ money before they went.” + +“But how did they find out McLiver was in prison, Mr. Wynn?” + +“Some one of your servants or clerks must have carried the news to them.” + +“We’ll get the scoundrels back, cost what it will. To-morrow the +officers of justice shall fly in pursuit. We’ll find them somewhere.” + +“No doubt, sir, they deserve severe punishment, though I am sorry for +McNab, because he has a large family, and in punishing him you will +punish his innocent wife and children.” + +“They, Mr. Wynn, shall not come to want. While resolving to punish the +guilty, I’ll see to the interests of the guiltless.” + +“Give me your hand, friend Roberts,” said Mr. Jones. “You are a noble +fellow; your heart is in the right place; and I’ll join you in so holy a +work.” + +“I must now turn,” said Mr. Roberts, “to a more pleasant theme. It has +been by you, Mr. Wynn, I have been saved from ruin. You have business +talents of a high order. I would trust you with untold gold. You have +proved your fidelity and tact under circumstances the most trying. In +our relationship I plainly see the finger of Heaven. I now plainly see +that it is my interest no less than your own that our relationship should +be closer than it has hitherto been. The business, as you are aware, is +wholly my own. Thank Heaven, I possess all the wealth I desire. +However, I love work, and at present I’m not quite prepared to throw off +the harness. I shall do so, however, in a few years. In view of that +day I think it well to prepare for it. I have therefore resolved to take +into partnership my son Rhys and you, and we’ll take equal profits. The +money in the business I shall regard as a set-off against your ability +and talent, and when I go out I will leave in your joint hands the +capital necessary for successfully carrying on the concern. Are you +prepared, Mr. Wynn, to accept my offer?” + +“With deep gratitude and thanks I do indeed accept your offer, Mr. +Roberts. I shall never be able to repay you for your goodness and +kindness. To me you have been always kind, always generous, ever noble +and disinterested. To Mr. Jones and you I owe my present position and +the prospects before me. My gratitude, sir, I shall carry with me to the +grave.” + +“I rejoice,” remarked Mr. Jones, who had hitherto been an almost silent +listener, “to see this day, and I shall pray Heaven that the sun of +prosperity may ever continue to shine on your concern, and that never an +incident may occur calculated to disturb the kindly feeling and mutual +confidence between you, friend Roberts, and your new partners.” + +“To that, Jones, I say amen. Still I think there is not much danger on +that score. We all know each other; that’s an important point. Unless +my suspicions are wrong, which I think is not likely, that roving son of +mine has managed to fall in love; and I warn you, Mr. Wynn, especially if +you desire your sister to become your little housekeeper, to take care of +her. If you don’t do so, his siege on her heart’s citadel will prove, I +fear, successful. Well, I forgive him for making love without his +father’s permission; and you, Mr. Wynn, must pardon him too.” + + * * * * * + +“Now, Mr. Wynn, in view of our new arrangements, what alterations would +you propose in the conduct of the business, bearing this in mind, that +you will have to undertake the purchase of all goods?” + +“In that case, Mr. Roberts, I recommend your appointing Mr. Williams to +the office I now fill. He is a relative of yours, and is a thoroughly +competent man. Then Mr. Sykes would succeed McLiver. His honesty and +integrity are beyond question. Had it not been for their able +assistance, I should never have succeeded in unravelling the mysteries of +your affairs.” + +“Your proposal, Mr. Wynn, does infinite credit to your sagacity. Let the +arrangements be carried out at once. The deed of partnership has already +been prepared, and now awaits your signature. My son signed it before he +left on his recent tour.” + +Under the new management, the company of Roberts, Wynn & Roberts, grew +mightily. From one end of the kingdom to the other their teas were in +great repute. They had for their patrons royal princes and the nobles of +the land. The demand grew year after year, and the increased sale +brought large additional profits. During the fifth year of the +partnership, these profits amounted to £45,000, though Mr. Wynn did not +take above £750, one half of which he sent his aunt and sister for their +use. Cadwgan had during those five years put by £55,000. + + + +CHAPTER VII. +_THE LOST INHERITANCE REGAINED_. + + +The day previous to the return of Mr. Wynn and young Roberts to town, +they went out alone for a stroll. They took the road leading to Pont +Aberglaslyn, and as both gentlemen were excellent pedestrians, they soon +arrived at that exquisitely beautiful glen. When on the bridge, they +gazed in silence for some minutes on the dark mad water beneath. After +some minutes’ silence, Mr. Wynn asked his friend if he had previously +visited the glen. + +“Yes; I have been here once, Cadwgan.” + +“Don’t you think it’s a charming spot?” + +“In my judgment, Cadwgan, this is the grandest scene in all Wales.” + +“Then you prefer it to Bettws-y-Coed?” + +“I do. This place has a charm for me which that sylvan vale has not.” + +“So it has for me, my friend. The meandering river flowing down this +valley, the high hills on either side of the glen, the stupendous and +overhanging rocks, with a thousand different colours, foliage, trees, +shrubs, and mosses, with grand old Snowdon in the distance: these, and +early recollections and associations, have rendered this place dearer to +me than all other scenes in my dear native land. I am glad that our +views of this delectable valley are identical, though I cannot convey to +you the depth of my emotion in contemplating the scene.” + +“Cadwgan,” replied Mr. Roberts, “the spot on which I now stand is as dear +to me as my life. You have been my adviser, my counsellor, my friend—ay, +more than a brother to me. Oh, advise me how to act! I confessed here +to your sister my love, and offered her my hand and heart. I asked her +to become mine; but oh, Cadwgan, she rejected my offer!” + +“Did she, that is, my sister, give any reason for declining your offer?” + +“Indeed she did not.” + +“Did she tell you she was engaged already?” + +“Nay; she told me she was free.” + +“Did you ask her for an immediate answer?” + +“Yes.” + +“What was her reply?” + +“That she could not be mine.” + +“Then she gave you no other reason?” + +“No, no, Cadwgan; but was not that enough? Since then I’ve been the most +miserable of men. Oh, you must dissuade her from acting towards me so +cruelly.” + +“I am glad, Roberts, my sister acted as she did, though I deeply regret +the pain her refusal has occasioned you. I blame you for confessing your +love, though I do not blame you for feeling admiration for my dear +sister.” + +“I take it, Cadwgan, you are not favourable to my suit.” + +“So far from being unfavourable, my dear Roberts, I will confess to you +that I know of no one whom I should so like to have for a brother as +yourself.” + +“Then you are willing for me to renew my suit hereafter?” + +“Most willing.” + +“But you have expressed your approval of your sister’s rejection of my +suit?” + +“Yes.” + +“You are incomprehensible to me. Pray explain yourself, my dear +Cadwgan.” + +“I’ll do so in a few words. Before I can permit my dear sister to +entertain your proposal, your father must be fully informed of your +intention. His views of such an alliance might be very different from +yours. He might wish you to marry the daughter of a wealthy city +merchant, therefore he would regard your proposal as foolish and +imprudent.” + +“Cadwgan, you do my dear father great injustice. He has an abundance of +wealth. He would be the last man to make my marriage a matter of money +speculation. I know better than you can his feelings, and am sure that, +in a matter so momentous, his first consideration would be my happiness.” + +“I have no doubt but such are your father’s feelings; still, as I am but +a clerk in his establishment, I can’t permit you to address my sister +until his consent is given fully and freely.” + +“Well, knowing your high character and scruples, I must tell you that I +have taken steps in order to anticipate your objection.” + +“I hope you have not written Mr. Roberts?” + +“Indeed I have, Cadwgan.” + +“I’m very sorry; you really should have waited.” + +“Nay, nay, I couldn’t wait.” + +“Has your father replied?” + +“Yes; his answer came this morning.” + +“I suppose he has ordered your immediate return home?” + +“Oh no. I’m to stay another week if I like.” + +“Well, has he given you his consent for you to propose to my dear +sister?” + +“Yes; I have his hearty approval.” + +“Then my sister was not aware of this when you offered her your hand?” + +“Certainly not. My father’s letter came this morning.” + +“Have you informed her of your father’s feeling in the matter?” + +“No. I delayed doing so until I spoke to you.” + +“I’m glad you have kept the information from Gwenfan. But she must not +be kept in ignorance longer than can be helped; and since you have opened +your mind freely to me, I may as well tell you that at the proper time +and after I have consulted your father, she is prepared to accept your +hand. As her brother and guardian, I will then, my dear Roberts, give +her to you. I know you will watch over her with the deepest affection +and solicitude. In this matter I have only one request to make, which I +am sure will be readily granted. Will you promise?” + +“To me, dear friend, you will is law.” + +“My request is a simple one, namely, that your marriage be deferred for a +time?” + +“You are too cruel to defer the day of my being made perfectly happy.” + +“But for your and her sake I think there should be reasonable delay. It +is true your father is a rich man, but for the present you are simply a +son of a city prince. Possibly he might give you £1000 a year, but I +should like to see you in business yourself before you settle down. Then +my dear sister is young: only little over eighteen years. Three or four +years is not long to wait.” + +“For the present I will not argue the point with you, you will learn that +I am not in the position you fancy I am. I cannot explain myself further +now, but when we return to town, you, dear Cadwgan, will know all. +Others will reveal facts to you which I am bound to keep secret.” + +“Well, well, we’ll talk on this matter again. We must now return to the +Villa, and make our arrangements for our immediate return to London. +Early to-morrow morning we must leave, otherwise we shall arrive at the +warehouse on the day our leave expires.” + +During the evening, Mr. Roberts and Gwenfan had a long conversation. +When he returned to the library to join Cadwgan, he whispered, “It is all +settled; I’m now happy.” + +In the following August, Miss Wynn and her aunt paid a long visit to +London. During their stay, they were frequent visitors at Mr. Roberts’ +urban mansion. The more he saw of the gentle, quiet, and lovely Gwenfan, +the more he liked her; and when the time came when those loving hearts +were to be made one, he took his son’s and future daughter’s hands in +his, saying, “Be true to each other; and you, my son, guard this +beautiful Cambrian plant, for I am persuaded she is worth her weight in +gold. You, Rhys, have made a wise choice, I would rather have Gwenfan +for my daughter than a princess of the royal blood. May Heaven bless +your union!” + +We now pass over a brief period of history. Mr. Roberts had now ceased +to be a partner in the firm. From the date of Mr. Wynn joining the firm +until Mr. Roberts’ retirement, the house had prospered year after year. +The partners became wealthy men, were of high repute in the city, and Mr. +Wynn, who was considered the soul of the business, was looked up to as a +man almost unequalled for business talents, while his word was regarded +as law by all with whom he had any mercantile transactions. + +Of Mr. Roberts’ intended retirement, Mr. Wynn knew nothing until the very +morning it was carried out. When they met in the former’s private +office, he asked,— + +“How many years, Mr. Wynn, has our partnership lasted?” + +“Five years, sir.” + +“How long have you been with me?” + +“Ten years to-day, sir, I entered your service.” + +“Oh, how rapidly the time passes! Well I have to thank my heavenly +Father for having directed your footsteps here. You have proved yourself +a faithful friend, since the date of our partnership. By your tact, +judgment, business habits, industry, and integrity, you have raised our +house to the highest commercial position. You are almost as dear to me, +Cadwgan, as if you were my own child.” + +“From you,” replied Mr. Wynn, “I have received the greatest kindness and +consideration. To me you have been a second father. No parent could +have shown a deeper interest in a son than you have shown in me.” + +“As you are now a rich man, Cadwgan, why don’t you seek a wife. I’m sure +you would be a better and happier man?” + +“I have, Mr. Roberts, anticipated your wish.” + +“I’m glad to hear it, Cadwgan, though you surprise me. I was not aware +of your having fixed your heart on any young lady. I hope she is worthy +of you.” + +“From you, sir, I keep nothing. The lady is Miss Jones; she has accepted +my offer, and her parents have given their consent to our union.” + +“I’m glad to hear this, for your sake and hers. Jones is a capital +fellow, and his daughter is a noble girl. She has in her own right a +splendid fortune, and her father must be a rich man. She will make you +an excellent wife. Her fortune is in the funds, and if necessary you +could turn it to immediate account. I hope you will get back the old +place. + +“Now, Mr. Wynn, as you have told me your secret, I see no reason why I +should withhold from you mine. I, too, am about to contract a marriage; +I do not find it good to be alone; I am going to be wedded to my first +love. Strange to say, her name is Wynn. Do you know any lady in your +parts of North Wales of that name?” + +“Indeed, sir, I don’t at present recollect any lady of the name of Wynn.” + +“Try, Cadwgan, and remember. My impression is you must remember; she is +acquainted with you.” + +“Surely, Mr. Roberts, you don’t refer to my aunt?” + +“I do though. Are you willing to give her to me?” + +“Most willing, sir, as far as I am concerned.” + +“Then you are pleased at the prospect of a closer connection between us? +You have placed me in possession of your feeling. Now please give me the +reason of its existence?” + +“That I will do, sir, in a few words. Though she is my aunt, and the +only relative I have in the world, except my dear sister, I must say that +she is one of the kindest and best of women. I am sure she will make you +happy. But, sir, I did not know you had ever seen my aunt until she came +to visit me in London?” + +“Miss Wynn was my earliest love. I proposed to her, but her brother, +your dear father, objected to our union. I left for London immediately +afterwards, got married, settled down in business, but from the day of my +departure until her visit to you we never met. Mr. Jones was fully aware +of the circumstance of my being rejected. It was, indeed, the fact of my +proposal of which Jones took advantage to plead so persistently for you +when he wished you to come here. Little did I know then what a noble boy +you were, what a treasure I was to have in you. But let that pass: I +have one favour to ask you. Will you grant it?” + +“Yes, sir, to the extent of every penny I possess.” + +“Will you consent to be married on the same day as myself? And we will +arrange that Rhys and your sister shall also be united on the occasion. +Next, will you sign that parchment, without asking any question, or +examining its contents? you can make yourself acquainted with the +particulars hereafter.” + +“Heartily I say yes, to your questions.” + +“My dear boy, I thank you from my heart of hearts for your goodness and +confidence. The document contains a dissolution of partnership so far as +I am concerned. You, and your future brother are now the owners of +everything here.” + +“Mr. Roberts,” replied Cadwgan, with tears in his eyes, “how can I ever +repay you for so noble and so generous an act?” + +“My dear boy, you have already repaid me with your grateful tear, by your +ten years of faithful services, and by the splendid gift of your aunt. +There is the ledger, which you can scan at leisure. You will find the +facts fully set forth. Here is a mortgage deed for £50,000,—a sum which +simply represents your share of the profits of the business during the +period of our partnership. The other mortgagee is your intended +father-in-law, who has invested his daughter’s fortune in the same +property as her trustee and guardian. The two sums amount to £115,000, +which are secured on your paternal estate, Wynn Castle. On the day of +your marriage, the estate, which has been greatly improved since your +poor father’s death, will be conveyed to you as sole owner, by cancelling +those deeds. How this matter has been arranged it is not necessary for +you to know. I rejoice beyond measure in your being about to take +possession of your lost inheritance, and to regain it by means so +honourable to yourself. My prayer shall be that Heaven will bless you +with health and prosperity, and that you may long live to enjoy it. I +have now done my day’s work, so for the present must wish you good +morning. We shall soon meet again.” + +But few additional words are necessary to complete this history. In a +few months after the above interview, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Roberts junior, +and Cadwgan were married to the ladies of their choice. + +During a portion of each summer, Mr. and Mrs. Cadwgan Wynn, and Mr. and +Mrs. Roberts, senior and junior spent several weeks at Wynn Castle, where +Mr. and Mrs. Owen Jones had taken up their permanent abode. The various +tenants on the estate rejoiced in possessing such an excellent landlord, +but their joy was unbounded on the morning the news reached them of the +birth of a son and heir. On the return to the castle after this event, +his tenantry presented him with an address, to which he replied as +follows:— + +“Friends and neighbours,—After many years of exile from the land of my +birth and the home of my father’s sepulchre, I feel it my first duty to +return my gratitude to Him who guides and directs the destiny of us all, +for having in His good and merciful providence again directed my +footsteps to the land of my love and my warmest affection. Twelve years +to day I went out in the wide world, poor and almost penniless. I +resolved, with Heaven’s help, to succeed, that is if success could be +achieved by honesty, integrity, and plodding. After wandering about +London for several days, I found myself one summer evening on London +Bridge, faint, anxious, and sick, with but a few shillings in my pocket. +Just as I was about to settle down to sleep on the cold stone, a good +Welsh Samaritan who was passing by had compassion on the forlorn one, and +took me to his home. Strange to say, his noble daughter fell in love +with me, poor and friendless though I was. That lady is my wife and the +mother of my son. I might tell you that her love for dear old Cambria is +as deep and as intense as is her love for her offspring. Moreover, her +heart is full of sympathy for the sons and daughters of human suffering +wherever found, and she will consider it not only a pleasure but a duty +to visit and administer consolation and solace to the distressed in this +beautiful valley. But, says my friend on my right, you must not remain +idle; you have work to do. My dear friend, the Rev. Thomas Charles, who +is an honour to our country, is doing much for the intellectual, moral, +and religious welfare of the people. You ought to support his efforts by +every means in your power. Him I will aid with my purse and influence. +I hope in this effort we shall be united, conformists and nonconformists, +joining hand in hand and heart with heart, so that our people may become +an intelligent and religious people. To bring about such a glorious +consummation is the chief desire of my soul. I have only one more word +to add, that is to thank you for your beautiful address. Be assured that +I and my wife will endeavour to earn your good opinion. We will try to +promote your commercial welfare, and with it your highest interest.” + + * * * * * + +McLiver in due time was brought before the bar of justice, and his guilt +having been clearly established, was banished the kingdom. After +undergoing ten years of punishment in Van Diemen’s Land, he obtained his +release, and settled down in one of the Australian colonies as a small +farmer. His uncle and cousin were finally apprehended, and being found +guilty were transported. Donald was allowed to go free, as his guilt +could not be legally established. Some years afterwards Mr. Wynn learned +that he was engaged in the fish trade in one of the Orkney Islands. + + + + +TRADITIONS OF LLYN SAVATHAN; +OR LLANGORSE, OR TALYLLYN LAKE. + + +CHAPTER I. +_TRADITIONS OF GIRALDUS_. + + + “Not a tree, + A llyn, a leaf, a blossom, but contains + A folio volume. We may read, and read, + And read again, and still find something new.” + +Respecting Llyn Savathan, which also bears the several names of Lake +Brecheinoc, Brecinaumere, Llangorse, and Talyllyn Pool, Giraldus relates +that in the reign of Henry I., Gruffydd, son of Rhys ap Theodor, held +under the king one comot, namely, the fourth part of the cantref of Caoc, +in the cantref Mawr. When Gruffydd, on his return from the king’s court, +passed near this lake, which at this cold season of the year was covered +with wild fowl of various sorts, being accompanied by Milo, Earl of +Hereford and Lord of Brecon, and Payn FitzJohn, Lord of Ewyas, who at +that time were secretaries and privy counsellors to the King, Earl Milo, +wishing to draw from Gruffydd some discourse concerning his innate +nobility, rather jocularly than seriously thus addressed him: “It is an +ancient saying in Wales, that if the natural prince of the country, +coming to this lake, shall order the birds to sing, they will immediately +obey him.” To which Gruffydd replied, “Do you, therefore, who now hold +the dominion of this land, first give the command.” But he and Payn, +having in vain commanded, and Gruffydd perceiving that it was necessary +for him to do so in his turn, dismounted from his horse, and falling on +his knees towards the east, as if he had been about to engage in battle, +prostrate on the ground, with his eyes and hands uplifted to heaven, +poured forth devout prayers to the Lord; and at length rising up, and +signing his face and forehead with the figure of the cross, thus openly +spake, “Almighty God, and Lord Jesus Christ, who knowest all things, +declare here, this day, Thy power. If Thou hast caused me to descend +lineally from the natural princes of Cambria, I command these birds, in +Thy name, to declare it.” And immediately, beating the waters with their +wings, the birds began to cry aloud and proclaim him. The spectators +were astonished and confounded; and Earl Milo, with FitzJohn, hastily +returned to court, and related this singular occurrence to Henry, who is +said to have replied, “By the death of Christ, it is not a matter of so +much wonder; for although by our great authority we commit acts of +violence and wrong against these people, yet they are known to be the +rightful inheritors of this land.” + + + +CHAPTER II. +_THE LAST WARNING_. + + +Long previous to the time to which the tradition of Giraldus relates, the +place occupied by Llyn Savathan formed a beautiful and picturesque +valley, through which the waters of the Llewenny meandered and flowed +gently along in their progress towards the Wye. On the left bank of the +Llynfi, and within half a mile of its channel, there stood the church of +Llangasty, which was dedicated to Saint Gasty, an eminent British saint +who flourished in the fifth century, and was murdered on the Van +Mountain, in the parish of Merthyr Cynog. On the other side of the +Llynfi, and nearly opposite the church, there stood a magnificent palace, +belonging to and occupied by a tyrannical prince, who neither feared God +nor regarded man, who scorned religion, and loathed everything which was +pure and good and beautiful; a prince who, by the magnitude of his +extortions and the relentlessness with which he pursued his unfortunate +vassals, became the object of hate and intense aversion to all who had +dealings or came in contact with him. Moreover, as he grew older, his +extortions became more burdensome, while his tyranny increased in its +fury, notwithstanding the warnings he received from those who desired the +perpetuation of his reign. To all those warnings he turned a deaf ear, +while he punished with the utmost rigour those who sought to thwart him +in his infamous practices. + +It was a cold December morning, when Father Olyver, of Llangasty, +repaired to the palace in order to condole with the prince on the death +of a son. On entering the reception-room, and finding the prince alone, +he thus addressed him— + +“My heart grieves and is sad, my prince, at the loss you have sustained. +Another prop of your house has been taken away, and oh, reflect, I pray, +on your present mode of life; consider your ways and be wise.” + +“Cease thy babbling, Father Olyver,” replied the prince. “ D— it, man, +all must die. The death of another son, thou senseless priest, only +diminishes my responsibility as a father, and now I shall have more to +leave to the survivors.” + +“Pray, don’t speak thus, my lord, of your child. The fruit of your loins +should ever be regarded with affection.” + +“I loved the boy when living, Father Olyver. But now, man, he has ceased +to live; the spirit, the soul, has gone; a clod of earth only remains.” + +“Be it so, my lord. Yet I must own that I look on his untimely end as a +terrible warning to you. The event tells you to set your house in order, +for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” + +“All right, Father Olyver. I suppose, when He comes, I must go like the +rest, in spite of the saints and mother Church.” + +“But are you prepared, my prince, when the voice calls?” + +“Of course I am, father. Let his majesty come whenever he pleases, I’ll +accompany him.” + +“Are you ready, my dear prince, to appear, without fear, before your God +when He calls you hence?” + +“There are beautiful maidens, too, father, before whom I must and delight +to appear, after my evening’s carousals! Ah! ah! ah! I’ll be bound that +even you, Father Olyver, with your sanctimonious jib, are not indifferent +to the smiles of a pretty wench, and you won’t turn away when you happen +to have a glimpse of a fine ankle. Human nature is human nature all the +world over. I warrant priests of mother Church don’t always keep it in +subjection. Oh! Oh!” + +“This is not the time, nor is it a fitting occasion, my lord, to indulge +in such language,” replied the priest. “For one day, at least, +especially in the presence of the dead, I beseech you to cease speaking +thus.” + +“Why should I, man, refrain from telling the truth even now? Bedad, I’ve +hit the right nail on the head this time at any rate.” + +“For the present, however, I shall regard your charge of me and my orders +in silence. I have come here to perform the last rites of the Church +over the dead. The day to me is one of unusual solemnity. I loved your +son as if he had been my own child. He was a good and pious youth, +notwithstanding the evil influences by which he was surrounded. But he +is gone, and the place that knew him shall know him no more. And now, my +lord, what hour have you fixed for carrying his remains to that silent +bourne from whence no traveller ever comes back?” + +“We propose to bury at five; and after the funeral I have, Father Olyver, +a grand banquet in my palace, and we anticipate a merry meeting.” + +“And cannot you, my lord, give up folly and pleasure for a single day? +Can’t you devote one evening to pursuits which harmonize with the +solemnity of the day? You have received from time to time, and year +after year, the most terrible warnings, yet you heed them not. You hear +the sound of the trumpet, to which you have paid no attention. If you +continue to live as you have lived, my dear prince—if you resolve, come +what will, to steel your heart, and defy the Almighty,—the day is not far +distant when the wrath of an angry God will descend upon you and yours, +and on that day—rather on that dark and dismal night—the sword of His +justice will descend, and the innocent and the guilty shall perish +together. I now leave you, my prince, but in a few hours we shall meet +again at the grave of departed virtue, and something tells me that when +we then part it will be a parting for ever.” + +At the time appointed the funeral cortège arrived at Llangasty. The +young prince was buried with extraordinary pomp. When the service was +concluded, Father Olyver went up and pressed the hand of the prince, and +bidding him good-bye, whispered in his ear, “Remember, my lord, the +warning voice: it has spoken once, twice, ay, thrice; the next time it +will speak in thunder and lightning, when the earth shall move and reel +like a drunken man. So now, farewell. I fear we shall never meet +again.” + +The good priest then turned away from prince and people. He re-entered +the church for evening song, while the prince and the mourners returned +to the palace to make merry and be glad. Before they arrived home, the +day had disappeared, and the night had come. Darkness had settled down +upon the earth. When they entered the palace, they little dreamt of +being on the very brink of a precipice over which they would be hurled by +the fiat of the Eternal. + + + +CHAPTER III. +_THE FATAL BANQUET_; _OR_, _VENGEANCE AT HAND_. + + +The palace of the Prince of Llynfi was characterized by drunkenness and +vice, dissipation and sensuality, intemperance and debauchery. Virtue +had no lodgment there. Righteousness had no habitation there. Justice, +religion, and truth were wholly absent from the palace of the prince. He +and his family gave themselves up to pleasure, to riotous living, and to +revellings; and from day to day, week to week, and month to month, they +lived as if there was no God—no hereafter—no judgment to come! Moreover, +they had so sunk in sin and iniquity, that they were quite insensible to +those feelings which are common and general, and indeed universal, in the +lowest state of humanity. Flower after flower of the family circle had +withered and died, or had been plucked from the tree of life by the will +of the Almighty, yet from the heart of the survivors there never escaped +a sigh; never a tear was shed; their hearts had become a flinty rock, and +were as insensible of impression as the Parian marble. Thus they lived: +thus, too, they died; for at last they were cut down as cumberers of the +ground. + +Before the untimely death of the son, the prince had arranged for a grand +banquet to take place on the very day his mortal remains were consigned +to the tomb. During the progress of preparation for the funeral, +preparations were also being made for the expected banquet. On their +return from the church, many of the guests had already arrived and many +more soon followed. By nine o’clock the palace was filled with a +splendid array of the licentious male and female inhabitants of the +villages in the surrounding country. According to old traditions, two +renowned minstrels from a distance had been summoned to cheer them in +their revels; and riot and disorder, such as had never before been +witnessed even in that palace, resounded among the hills. The party had +been many hours assembled: it was midnight. In the midst of their +revellings there was suddenly heard a crash of thunder, which shook the +palace to its foundation; and this was immediately followed by louder and +louder peals, which boomed through the valley as the noise of a thousand +pieces of artillery. The prince and his riotous companions were +awe-struck, and presently they heard a voice saying in deep, solemn +tones, “Vengeance is at hand!” In a moment the two minstrels arose, and +beholding in the air a mysterious hand beckoning to them, they fled after +it as it retreated. The hand moved faster and faster, and as it moved +they increased their speed. After they had gone a considerable distance +the earth heaved violently, and appeared to totter on its foundations. +For a moment they turned round to see the distance they had come. They +saw the ground divide in twain, and up through this large chasm they +beheld the waters rushing forth like the ocean when convulsed, and +mingling with the roaring sound of the waters were the dying shrieks of +the revellers. Pausing for another moment in their flight, the minstrels +observed, with great terror, a wide expanse of boiling and agitated +waters where the palace and village had stood, engulfing the palace and +its wicked and impious inmates far below its bosom. Since then, Llyn +Savathan has ever been regarded as an unhallowed spot; the great +wickedness of the prince and his followers having drawn upon them the +just judgment of the Eternal. + + + + +TREFFYNNON; +OR, +LEGENDS OF SAINT WINIFRED. + + + “The lifeless tears she shed into a fountain turn, + And, that for her alone the water should not mourn, + The pure vermilion blood that issued from her veins + Unto this very day the pearly gravel stains, + As erst the white and red were mixèd in her cheek. + And that one part of her might be the other like, + Her hair was turned to moss, whose sweetness doth declare, + In liveliness of youth the natural sweets she bare.” + + MICHAEL DRAYTON. + +When but a mere youth, I had a strong and extreme longing to visit +Holywell, or Treffynnon, which according to my youthful fancy was the +most wonderful place under the sun. This desire had its origin in the +following circumstances. + +About three miles from my paternal abode there was situate a small +village, which had risen into fame and notoriety by reason of its annual +May fair. At this fair an immense number of people congregated. Young +men and maidens were there. Farmers’ sons and daughters flocked in great +numbers; and this being the annual hiring fair, hundreds of men and women +servants went to find either new masters or fresh mistresses. Then from +the neighbouring towns and villages, people came for the purpose of +providing fun, amusement, and entertainment for the holiday seekers. +Shows innumerable were there; Mr. Cheap Jack vending his wares, with +which he combined interesting stories and flashes of wit, had thousands +of willing and enchanted listeners, and a goodly number of ready +purchasers. On the roadside from one end of the village to the other was +a continuous row of stalls, laden with every conceivable variety of +articles. All these marvellous things filled my boyish fancy with +amazement and wonder. + +But what struck me most, was a person who had a stall situate near the +bridge, on which were placed in rows several thousands of small wooden +boxes, which in circumference were about the size of a crown piece, and +three quarters of an inch deep. These boxes he arranged with great +deliberation and care, and when he completed his work, not a single box +could be seen out of its proper place. + +This person was fantastically dressed. He wore a three-cornered hat, the +brim of which was tipped with gold. He had pink velvet breeches, with a +waistcoat of similar material; red stockings, and shoes with silver +buckles. His frock coat, made of good West of England broadcloth, had, +in consequence of many years’ wear, become a dark blood colour. In his +hat were placed two rows of feathers, arranged in the form of the Prince +of Wales’ plume. He was certainly a most singular looking figure, and +from the hour when he commenced to expatiate on the virtues of his wares +until the dusk of the evening, attracted an immense audience. + +When his preparations were finished, he took in his left hand one of the +little boxes, from which he removed the lid, or cover, and commenced to +address the crowd in the following fashion. “This box, ladies and +gentlemen,” he said, “contains wonderful ointment. It will cure the +itch, the stitch, and nettle-rash. It is a sure remedy for all diseases +of the skin. It will, when applied, remove warts from the fingers, corns +from the toes, and bunions from the feet. It is an effectual cure for +cuts, bruises, and for every kind of wounds. Time, ladies and gentlemen, +would fail me to speak of its wonderful properties, and the history of +cases it has cured would fill a dozen large volumes. Every man should +therefore possess half a dozen boxes of this valuable salve. They should +be placed in the nobleman’s palace, in every farm house, in every poor +man’s cottage. The use of this wonderful ointment will save you many a +long doctor’s bill, and, between you and me, doctors are doing their best +to stop its sale, because one box of this salve is worth a hundred visits +of the physician. People have paid lots of money to doctors without +getting any benefit; they then came to me, and by using one box only, +were made perfectly whole. This ointment is the grandest discovery of +the age. It was found out, not by man’s skill, oh, no; but an angel came +from distant worlds and directed my sainted mother how to make it. The +secret is with me, and it must remain with me; for were it known, its +efficacy would disappear. + +“You, ladies and gentlemen, would doubtless like to know the several +constituent parts of this justly renowned ointment, but as I have already +said, I dare not reveal the secret. The spirit of one who when on this +earth was as pure as she was comely and beautiful, told the secret to my +sainted mother. I refer to Saint Winifred, who was murdered twelve +hundred years ago. From the spot on which she was beheaded, her head +rolled down the declivity, and did not stop until it reached the altar of +the church, and immediately there sprang up a spring of water, which in +volume is unequalled in the world. The wonderful salve is not called +after the saint, this her spirit forbade, but Eli Treffynnon, or Holywell +salve. As I make it myself, I can offer to sell it at twopence per box, +though doctors charge sixpence for a far inferior article. Twopence per +box being the price, for which I charge no more nor will I take less. +Who will buy? who will buy? Now is your time, for I shall not visit +these parts for twelve months.” + +The people then rushed to the vendor of Eli Treffynnon, and in less than +an hour he had disposed of more than a thousand boxes of the ointment. + +“A wonderful man that, is he not?” said I to my companion. + +“Yes, truly.” + +_Myself_. Can you tell me where Treffynnon is? + +“Not exactly,” replied my companion; “but it is in the north.” + +_Myself_. In the north of England or Scotland, which? + +“Oh, no, in neither; but in North Wales.” + +_Myself_. Is it a town or a village? + +“A town, I believe; but it is not a large place.” + +_Myself_. Have you ever heard of the remarkable well before? + +“Oh, yes. I’ve seen an account of it in an old book.” + +_Myself_. If I knew the way, I would go and see this wonderful fountain. + +“Don’t talk nonsense. Go two hundred miles to see a spring!” + +_Myself_. Why not? + +“Why? Because you can see plenty of fountains nearer home.” + +_Myself_. But this is a well. + +“Yes; a well to be sure. But don’t the waters of all rivers come from +wells?” + +_Myself_. Of course they do. But it requires a hundred wells to make up +the Severn, the Wye, and the Ithon, but here is a large river from one +well, one spring. I’ll certainly go one of these days and see it. + +Many, many years, however, came, and passed away, before the design I +then formed was carried out. + + * * * * * + +My first visit to Holywell, or Treffynnon, took place just about the +close of the Crimean War. I arrived in the town late one evening in mid +winter, but as the night was extremely dark, while the rain descended in +torrents, I refrained from leaving my hotel, the name of which I do not +at present remember. It was then the principal inn of the town, with a +first rate bill of fare. + +Being a private gentleman, and therefore debarred from joining the +commercials, breakfast was prepared for me in a snug little parlour which +was generally used by the landlady as her private sitting-room. Before I +had taken my seat at the breakfast, the waitress came into the room, all +smiles, and asked me if I had any objection to a gentleman joining me at +the morning meal. + +“Who is the gentleman?” I asked the waitress. + +“Oh, Squire Eli, of Ffynnon Hall.” + +_Myself_. What kind of a person is he? Is he old or young, has he a +hump on his back, and does he wear spectacles? is he a nice, +good-tempered fellow, or sour as crab beer? Tell me, gentle maid, the +kind of companion I am to be honoured with. + +“Oh, sir, how you do talk. Squire is a nice, well-spoken gentleman; and +I am sure you’ll like him.” + +_Myself_. Show the gentleman up; but tell your mistress that she will be +a loser by his introduction, because I generally eat twice as much in +company as when alone. + +Presently Mr. Eli made his appearance, and I expressed to him how greatly +pleased I was at his honouring me with his presence. + +He replied to my remarks in a very neat speech, and said he was delighted +in the opportunity of making my acquaintance, having heard of me from a +common friend. + +Before rising from the table I said, “What a beautiful name you have +selected for your seat!” + +“Then do you know Welsh?” + +_Myself_. I know a little; I wish I knew more. It is the grandest +language under the sun. + +“For expressiveness and eloquence and poetry, you are right.” + +_Myself_. I presume you selected the name because you have a crystal +fountain by the Hall? + +“Oh, dear, no. There is a fountain it is true, but its existence in no +way determined me to select the name; and, between us, I don’t think +there is a similar designation for a house in North or South Wales.” + +_Myself_. Have you visited the south, Mr. Eli? + +“Visited the South! Why, there is not a town or village in the six +counties I’ve not been in. I know the country well.” + +“Have you ever been at Bridgend, in the county of R.?” + +“At Bridgend! Of course I have; many and many a time.” + +_Myself_. If I’m not mistaken, I have seen you there. + +“Probably you have; that is, if you ever attended its annual May fair.” + +_Myself_. Then you are the man, the veritable vendor of Eli Treffynnon? + +“Of course I am. I thought the waitress had duly informed you of that.” + +_Myself_. No, no; but never mind. I’m delighted to see you. Your +speech on your ointment awoke in my bosom an intense longing to see this +place; and I’ve come almost specially to see for myself its wonders. I +hope, therefore, Mr. Eli, you have no special engagement this morning. + +“And suppose I have not?” + +_Myself_. In that case I trust you will be my cicerone. I am extremely +anxious to know the history and traditions of the wonderful well. + +“I’ll accompany you with pleasure, and tell its wondrous history. When +shall we start?” + +_Myself_. Now, if you please. + +Just as we reached the lower part of the principal street, we saw a man +with measured steps approaching us. The man had a leathern strap +fastened round his neck, at the other end of which was suspended a large +bell, a cushion being buckled to the right knee. Every time the +cushioned knee came forward the bell jingled, and it being of +considerable size its tones could be heard a long distance from the scene +of the man’s perambulations. When he came up to the place where we were +standing, I asked Mr. Eli the question,— + +“Is that man mad?” + +“By no means: he is in his right mind.” + +_Myself_. No sane man, I should think, would be guilty of such folly. + +“The man,” replied Mr. Eli, “is doing a Christian duty.” + +_Myself_. I fail to see any act of devotion in carrying a bell about the +town. Please, Mr. Eli, explain yourself. + +“You, a stranger, very naturally conclude the man is demented. When you +know the object of his mission you will come to a different opinion.” + +_Myself_. Pray, Mr. Eli, enlighten me. + +“We have a church here, my dear sir.” + +_Myself_. Yes. + +“That church is situate in a hole at the head of a deep dell.” + +_Myself_. But what has that to do with this man? + +“This,” replied Mr. Eli; “we cannot, up the town, hear the church chimes, +though we are not two hundred yards from them.” + +_Myself_. But the man does not carry your church bells on his knee. + +“Oh, dear me, no; but this man walks round the town just before divine +service, and the ringing of his bell warns the people that it is time for +them to go to church.” + +_Myself_. A singular invention, certainly. Pity they built the church +in such an outlandish place. + +_Mr. Eli_. Oh, don’t say so. The church was built there by direction. +It is close to the well of St. Winifred, the healing waters of which, as +you are aware, are celebrated far and near. + +_Myself_. Then the tales you and others tell about the efficacy of the +waters of the fountain are really true? + +“Yes, of course, they are perfectly true. When all is said and written +about the waters, we can truly say that the half is not told.” + +_Myself_. I should like to possess a true and authentic history of the +place. + +“Doubtless,” replied Mr. Eli, “you would. Its history has yet to be +written.” + +_Myself_. There is, then, evidence, Mr. Eli, that people who have bathed +in its waters have been made whole? + +“Yes; plenty of evidence,” replied Mr. Eli; “and if you will now +accompany me to the well, I’ll show you some of the many witnesses.” + +When we entered the building, my friend conducted me to a spot where we +had a good view of the interior. He pointed with his finger to the roof, +at the same time remarking, “Up there, look up there, for there is the +evidence, the witnesses, to which I referred.” + +_Myself_. Do you mean those barrows, hand carts, crutches, and staves, +and other things too numerous to mention, fastened to the ceiling? + +“Of course I do. Are they not irresistible witnesses to the healing +power of these waters?” + +_Myself_. I really fail to see your point, Mr. Eli. Pray explain +yourself more fully. + +“People come here,” said my friend, “from all parts of the world. Some +come on wheel-barrows, some on crutches, some by the aid of +walking-sticks; they bathe in these healing waters, like they did when +our Lord was upon earth, and are cleansed. They leave here new men and +women, and having no further need of either crutch or barrow, leave them +behind as witnesses to the power of this wonderful fountain.” + +_Myself_. You have greatly excited my curiosity, Mr. Eli. Pray furnish +me with some information respecting the history of this place. + +“You are heartily welcome to the facts and traditions I have been +fortunate enough to succeed in collecting, which can be briefly told. +They are as follows:— + +“Once upon a time, that is, about twelve hundred and twenty-five years +ago, this Treffynnon was a royal city, and then the king’s palace was +within its precincts. The then reigning sovereign was Allen the First, +and his dominion extended over the whole of the hundred of Coleshill, +from the royal mines of which he derived a princely income. The king had +a son of the name of Cradocus, a name which has led old writers to +conclude that his mother was a daughter of some Roman, who, preferring +this country to his own, and having espoused a British lady, settled down +here. + +“At the time of which I speak, there resided in Holywell a potent lord of +the Trewith, who married Lady Wento, an only sister of Saint Beuno, +descendants of an ancient and illustrious Montgomeryshire family. The +only issue of this marriage was a daughter, a beautiful and lovely +maiden, who was as pure as she was beautiful, whose name was Winifred. + +“When she had grown up to be a young lady, her uncle, Saint Beuno, who +resided at Clynnog, in Carnarvonshire, came on one occasion to this royal +town to pay a friendly visit to his family. During his stay he obtained +a grant of land from Lord Trewith, his brother-in-law, upon which he +erected a church. Now the altar of that church was close by yon bubbling +fountain.” + +_Myself_. Have you historical proofs of this, Mr. Eli? I asked. + +“You will see by-and-by the evidence upon which I rely.” + +_Myself_. Pray proceed; your narrative is deeply interesting. + +“After the erection of the church,” Mr. Eli continued, “Saint Beuno took +under his charge his niece Winifred, who vowed to remain a virgin, and to +devote her life to works of charity, mercy, and religion. + +“On a lovely Sunday evening, on the 22nd of June, the Lady Winifred left +her parents’ castle for the purpose of taking a walk in the cool of the +day. When she attained the summit of the hill her progress was stayed by +Prince Cradocus, who, being struck with her extreme beauty, at once made +a proposal of marriage. + +“‘Prince,’ replied Lady Winifred, ‘I can form no earthly ties. I have +already vowed my life and wealth to the work of my Saviour.’ + +“‘But, noble and beautiful lady, I have sworn you shall be mine, and +nothing shall prevent the fulfilment of my oath.’ + +“‘Your offer, illustrious prince, comes too late; my vow is irrevocable.’ + +“‘Pray, Lady Winifred, don’t say that. Your hand I am resolved to +possess, and you shall share with me the throne of my ancestors.’ + +“‘For earthly thrones, prince, I care not; my treasures are not here but +above.’ + +“‘If you persist, noble lady, in your refusal, I am resolved to effect my +object by force.’ + +“‘You dare not do that, prince. You must not further molest me. Stand +by, for I would proceed on my way.’ + +“Cradocus was vexed at being thus robbed of his prey, and getting into a +fearful passion, took his sword from its sheath, and there and then,—oh, +horror of horrors! cut off the head of the virgin. For his guilty act, +vengeance from on high soon overtook him. On the spot where he committed +the crime, he fell down a dead man, and the earth opening, swallowed his +impious corpse. {260} There is, however, a tradition, that Cradocus’s +master, the devil, carried off his body to the dismal regions of despair. + +“Now about the well. I’ve told you, that it was on the hillside above +here where Cradocus committed the foul deed. It appears that when the +head was severed from the body it commenced to roll down the steep hill +by which we descended, and stopped when it reached the altar, before +which a number of devout people were kneeling. The very moment the head +stopped there came up this fountain, the waters of which possess the same +miraculous power as did those waters of the pool of Bethesda referred to +in the Gospel of St. John. + +“It appears Saint Beuno was the officiating priest at the altar when this +sad event took place. Recognising the head as that of his beloved niece, +he took it up, and ran with it to where the mangled body lay, to which he +rejoined it. To the astonishment of all present, the head at once united +itself to the body, the place of separation being only marked by a white +ring or line, which extended round the neck. From that hour she was +called Saint Winifred, and was always after regarded as a holy person, a +special vessel chosen by Christ to do His work. After this event she +lived fifteen years, and gained universal fame by her deeds of love and +charity. Well, though more than twelve hundred years have come and gone +since then, this fountain is as powerful to-day as it was then in healing +and in curing diseases. Hundreds, aye, thousands, have blessed the day +on which they bathed in this Iachâd Ffynnon—healing fountain. Now, my +story is done.” + +_Myself_. And a most interesting tale it is, Mr. Eli, for which I thank +you very much. There is one more circumstance I wish to be informed of +in order to have a complete history of the sainted lady. + +“To what do you refer?” asked Mr. Eli. + +_Myself_. I presume the lady died here. + +“Oh yes; she died in her father’s mansion.” + +_Myself_. In that case, I presume, her sepulchre is in your churchyard? + +“Not so, my friend,” replied Mr. Eli. + +_Myself_. Then she was not buried here? + +“No, she was not interred here, and for this reason. Her uncle, Saint +Beuno, died on the 21st of April, 660, and his remains were interred in +the Abbey Church of Bardsey Island. On his death, Saint Winifred retired +to Gwytheriu, and placed herself under the protection of St. Elerius, who +at that time was living in devotional seclusion in that sequestered +mountain village. At that time there was there a convent of nuns under +the superintendence of Theonia. Saint Winifred assumed the veil, and on +the death of Theonia became the abbess. On her death, the remains were +removed from Treffynnon to Gwytheriu, and interred near the graves of St. +Cybi and St. Sannan. After a lapse of five hundred years from the date +of her death, the bones of St. Winifred were removed with great pomp to +the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Shrewsbury. The wooden chest in +which the remains were preserved is still kept. The translation of the +saint’s remains took place in the reign of King Stephen.” + +_Myself_. It’s a pity that no monument to her memory has been erected +here. Don’t you think so, Mr. Eli? + +“I cannot share your opinion, my friend. This well and its wonderful +cures are monuments which will live when Parian marble shall crumble into +dust. But there is another monument. Observe,” said Mr. Eli, “the sweet +scented moss which grows there by the well-side, the _Jungermannia +esplenoides_ of Linnæus. On each anniversary of the decollation of Saint +Winifred, this moss, and the stones of the fountain, assume the colour of +blood. This annual change in the tint of the moss is an immortal +monument of the dear departed saint, as if it said:— + + “For thee, blest maid, my tears, my endless pain, + Shall in immortal monuments remain. + The image of thy death each year renew, + And prove my grief, to distant ages, true.” + +After making a general inspection of the well, and examining the +grotesque figures of animals and other works of sculpture, my friend and +I paid a brief visit to the chapel over the well. During our stay there, +he placed in my hand a copy of the following letter, addressed by the +queen of James II., to Sir Roger Mostyn. + + “SIR ROGER MOSTYN,— + + “It having pleased the king, by his royal grant, to bestow upon me + the ancient chapel adjoining St. Winifred’s Well, these are to desire + you to give present possession, in my name, of the said chapel, to + Mr. Thomas Roberts, who will deliver this letter into your hands. It + being also my intention to have the place decently repaired, and put + to a good use, I further desire that you will afford him your favour + and protection, that he may not be disturbed in the performance + thereof. You may rest assured that what you do herein, according to + my desire, shall be very kindly remembered by + + “Your good friend, + “MARY REGINA. + + “WHITEHALL, + _May_ 8_th_, 1687.” + +On leaving the chapel, I cordially thanked my friend for the information +he had imparted respecting the Winifred legend; and told him, that some +day I would try to make his name and his Eli Treffynnon as immortal as +the saint whose history he had so eloquently told. But before my tale +sees the light, my entertainer has gone to that bourne from whence no +traveller returns; yet it may be,—who knows?—that his spirit still visits +our world, and communes with dear ones and friends left behind. + + [Picture: View of Swansea in September, 1748] + + + + +THE VISIT OF ELIDORUS TO THE FAIRY KINGDOM BENEATH THE BAY. + + +A short time before our visit to Swansea, wrote Giraldus Cambrensis, a +circumstance worthy of note occurred in these parts, which Elidorus, a +priest, most strenuously affirmed had befallen him. When a youth of +twelve years, and learning his letters, since, as Solomon says, “The root +of learning is bitter, although the fruit is sweet,” in order to avoid +the discipline and frequent stripes inflicted on him by his preceptor, he +ran away, and concealed himself under the hollow bank of a river. After +fasting in that situation for two days, two little men of pigmy stature +appeared to him, saying, “If you will come with us, we will lead you into +a country full of delights and sports.” Assenting and rising up, he +followed his guides through a path, at first subterraneous and dark, into +a most beautiful country, adorned with rivers and meadows, woods and +plains, but obscure, and not illuminated with the full light of the sun. +All the days were cloudy, and the nights extremely dark, on account of +the absence of the moon and stars. The boy was brought before the king, +and introduced to him in the presence of the court; who, having examined +him for a long time, delivered him to his son, who was then a boy. The +men were of the smallest stature, but very well proportioned in their +make; they were all of a fair complexion, with luxuriant hair falling +over their shoulders like that of women. They had horses and greyhounds +adapted to their size. They neither ate flesh nor fish, but lived on +milk diet, made up into messes with saffron. They never took an oath, +for they detested nothing so much as lies. As often as they returned +from our upper hemisphere, they reprobated our ambition, infidelities, +and inconstancies. They had no form of public worship, being strict +lovers and reverers, as it seemed, of truth. + +The boy frequently returned to our hemisphere, sometimes by the way he +had first gone, sometimes by another; at first in company with other +persons, and afterwards alone; and made himself known only to his mother, +declaring to her the manners, nature, and state of that people. Being +desired by her to bring a present of gold, with which that region +abounded, he stole, when at play with the king’s son, the golden ball +with which he used to divert himself, and brought it to his mother in +great haste; and when he reached the door of his father’s house, but not +unpursued, and was entering it in a great hurry, his foot stumbled on the +threshold, and falling down into the room where his mother was sitting, +the two pigmies seized the ball, which had dropped from his hand, and +departed, showing the boy every mark of contempt and derision. On +recovering from the fall, confounded with shame, and execrating the evil +counsel of his mother, he returned by the usual track to the +subterraneous road, but found no appearance of any passage, though he +searched for it on the banks of the river (Tawe) for nearly the space of +a year. But since those calamities which reason cannot mitigate are +often alleviated by time, and length of time alone blunts the edge of our +afflictions, and puts an end to many evils, the youth having been brought +back by his friends and mother, and restored to his right way of +thinking, and to his learning, in process of time attained the rank of +priesthood. Whenever David II., Bishop of St. David’s, talked to him in +his advanced state of life concerning this event, he could never relate +the particulars without shedding tears. He had made himself acquainted +with the language of that nation, the words of which, in his younger +days, he used to recite, which, as the bishop had often informed me, were +very conformable to the Greek idiom. When they asked for water, they +said, “Ydor ydorum,” which meant, bring water; for “ydor,” in their +language, signifies water, and dwr also, in the British language, +signifies water. When they wanted salt they said, “Halgein ydorum,” +bring salt. Salt is called halen in British. + +[So far the narrative of Giraldus Cambrensis. We are happy to be able to +lay before our readers some further details, hitherto unpublished, of the +early life of Elidorus, and of his visits to the fairy kingdom beneath +the bay.] + +On the brow of Town Hill, and commanding a magnificent view of Swansea +Bay, the channel, and their circumjacent coast, with the Devonian range +of mountains in the distance; there stood, at the time of which we write, +a small thatched cottage, with mud or clay walls, which was then occupied +by Shôn Gwyllt, his wife Mary, and their son John, an only child. + +Shôn, as had been his father and his grandfather before him, was a +fisherman, which, in those times, was a highly remunerative business. +Fish of all kinds were then abundant, and they commanded a ready market. +In the bay were shoals of conger, cod, mullet, sole, whiting, and +flat-fish; while, in the season, the fishermen were often fortunate +enough to secure in their nets sea trout and salmon, which, for delicacy +of flavour, were unequalled in the British seas and rivers, the Tawe +excepted. In the Tawe salmon were as plentiful as the daisy on the +verdant mead in early summer. The waters of that river then, and for +several hundred years after, were as clear as the crystal dewdrops. Now +it was on that delightful, that glossy and pellucid river that Shôn +Gwyllt plied his trade, and the sylvan groves on its banks resounded with +the sound of his rich tenor voice. Shôn loved a good song, and the echo +of his voice in the near and distant groves had for him a peculiar charm. + +We have already observed that Shôn plied his calling on the Tawe. He had +a horror of the sea. Upon its waters he never ventured. Nothing could +induce him to join his brother fishermen in the bay. Though they often +tempted him by predicting that they would certainly have a splendid haul +of fish, yet the prospect of a rich reward for his labour had no +influence on his mind. To their solicitation he used to reply, “The Tawe +has been a good and generous parent to me, so I shall not forsake the +kind and rich old mother.” And Shôn did not forsake her. Day after day, +during the season, he might be seen with his coracle on his back, wending +his way down Mount Pleasant and across the fields to the Tawe (there were +no houses there then), and thence he fished up the river as far as +Morriston, which at that time consisted of a few clod-built huts. It was +but seldom that he ventured above that village, though occasionally, and +once in a way, he fished up to Ynistawe, but never went so high up the +stream as Penllwch. His aversion to Penllwch appears to have arisen from +the circumstance that his cousin met with an untimely end there, and Shôn +dreaded to fish the deep pools under Glais, where the young man, whom he +loved as a brother, was drowned. + +Although Shôn was passionately fond of his trade, yet, strange to say, he +was strongly opposed to his son following in his footsteps. He reasoned +thus: It is an occupation in which there is a great risk of life. The +fisherman has to contend with bad seasons, and occasionally fish is a +drug in the market. The business is not respectable; those engaged in it +are men of the lowest class, ignorant, drunken, and improvident, living +from hand to mouth, never saving a penny against a rainy day. Instead of +allowing young John to accompany him, he resolved to send him to school; +and to school accordingly his son was duly sent. John, however, hated +school, and intensely disliked his preceptor, a dislike he gloried in +exhibiting whenever an opportunity offered itself. The teacher resented +the boy’s conduct by the free use of the cane. In the severity of +punishment he had no mercy, and to escape chastisement young Gwyllt often +absented himself from school. The hours thus spent were among the +happiest of his boyhood. After his father had gone, John would walk down +to the Tawe, and leaping into a stranded coracle, he, with his paddle, +would spend hour after hour in skimming over the waters. When he got +tired, he would row to the bank, and fastening his little boat to the +stake, lie down to rest. The remainder of the youth’s story we shall +tell in his own words, which are as follows:— + +I lay me down on the banks of Tawe’s crystal waters, and slept. In my +sleep, behold I had a dream. In my dream or vision I saw a man +approaching who was exceeding small in stature. He was clad in rich +apparel, and the fastenings of his garments—which were as white as the +winter’s snow—were of pure gold, rubies, and other precious gems. When +he came up to the place where I lay, he addressed me in the softest and +sweetest voice I had ever heard, and the voice said, “Oh, youth with +ruddy cheeks and curly locks, why sleepest thou, seeing it is only the +third hour after the sun of thy world has passed his meridian?” + +“I sleep,” I replied, “to forget the past, to drown the very thought of +existence.” + +“With youth,” said the voice, “there is nothing to regret. The days of +youth are days of innocence and pleasure. Every breeze fans the flame of +delight.” + +“But my sorrow, sweet voice, does not spring from the heart’s passion or +paternal unkindness, but from stripes inflicted upon my body by a +tyrannical and cruel teacher, a man who has no mercy nor kindness of +heart.” + +“Methinks you neglect your lesson,” said the voice, “and your preceptor +uses the rod in order to teach you to be wise and learned.” + +“If that be so, I’d rather be ignorant with whole bones, than learned +with the lash so frequently used on my back.” + +“There is a saying in your country, is there not?” said the voice, +“‘spare the rod; spoil the child.’” + +“Yes, yes; there is such a proverb, though I believe in it not.” + +“What do you then believe in, my child?” asked the voice. + +“I believe in gentleness and kindness. The victory that overcometh the +world is love. Love will soften the hardest heart, subdue the most +stubborn will, and melt the hardest natures like wax is melted in the +fire.” + +“If you worked hard at your books, and were attentive to your lessons, +your master would probably be kind to you. You should remember that +youth is the time to acquire knowledge, and that its possession is one of +the most pleasurable things on earth.” + +“Knowledge might be all you say in its favour, sweet voice, but I care +not for it. One day spent on the banks of this beautiful river, or +skimming on the bosom of its limpid and crystal waters in some friend’s +coracle, from which I often watch the finny tribe below in their plays +and gambols—is better to me than a thousand anywhere else. The waters of +the Tawe are to me a source of exquisite delight, an unspeakable charm. +I could gaze upon them for ever.” + +“Ah, comely youth,” said the voice, “you speak what you know, and I must +own to being charmed with your enthusiasm. You are young, and your +vision is contracted. You are inexperienced; your world is bounded by +the surrounding horizon. If you will come with me, I will show you +fairer climes than these, more beautiful landscapes, grander hills and +mountains; vales infinitely more lovely, and streamlets, brooks and +rivers, which surpass in splendour and sublimity all other running waters +of the world. Besides, in my country, everything is beautiful. The gold +is as abundant there as are the stones on this lowland strand or on +ocean’s tidal shore.” + +“You have drawn, sweet voice, a charming picture of your country, but +where is it? Is it an ideal or a real kingdom? If it be real, I would +visit if I knew the way. Pray tell me the road which leads to a world so +resplendently beautiful.” + +“Fair youth,” said the voice, “the road is nigh thee; it is close to +where thou sleepest. I will conduct thee there.” + +“On one condition only will I be thy companion.” + +“Name your condition, and if it be in my power, it shall be granted.” + +“That you solemnly promise to guide me back again to my own native +sphere, in the event of my failing to find the way.” + +“Yes; I promise. Further, you shall have perfect liberty to stay, or to +return to this upper world, at any time you desire. I will, too, be your +companion.” + +“But who art thou? What, too, is thy name?” + +“I am a prince of my kingdom; and my name is Tippin.” + +“What is your highness’ position at the royal court?” + +“I am chancellor of my royal master, King Penaf, the wisest and best of +monarchs.” + +“Pray prince, is your king a giant like you?” + +“In wisdom, yes. But fair youth, you should judge all men, not by their +stature, but by their wise words, weighty sayings, and just decrees. The +mind is the standard of man, for mind is the man. But don’t let us tarry +longer. Awake! awake! oh sleeper; arise from your couch of sand; let us +away, for my hour of departure has come.” + +When I awoke, I found myself being carried through a dimly-lighted tunnel +on the wings of the wind; I say on the wings of the wind for I was not +conscious that any palpable substance touched my body. The further we +receded from the earth, the wider and loftier became the subterranean +passage; and by means of the dim light, I discerned rocks of gold and +precious stones. When we arrived at the end of the passage, there +appeared in the distance a scene which filled my bosom with wonder and +admiration; never had I previously beheld such a combination of beauty. +How shall I describe it! This I cannot do, for it passes description; +far grander, infinitely grander, was the scene than anything I had ever +witnessed. + +In the distance were high hills and Alpine heights, plains and meads, and +dells, which were covered with grass of emerald green. I could see +neither sun, nor moon, nor stars; but the country was illumined by a +beautiful blue soft light which was delightful, and most agreeable to the +eye. Between day and night, there appeared no perceptible difference; +while in those regions, summer and winter, spring and autumn, were +unknown. Their year was distinguished by no seasons; they enjoyed a +perpetual spring. Beautiful was their clime, exquisitely lovely was +their country, singular and mysterious were the people. + +As regards the climate, it had no variation. There was always there a +soft, gentle, and warm breeze; which produced the most delectable +sensation. This breeze appeared to possess life-giving and +life-sustaining properties. When it came, as it sometimes did, in +stronger currents than was generally the case, the old would repair to +the mountain tops or bwllchs, and after two or three hours’ stay would +return to the plain strong, blooming, and hale. But more of this anon. + +Immediately after our arrival in the open country, the prince conducted +me in silence to a building, the walls of which were formed of the finest +marble. Its entrance was guarded by two little men, even less in stature +than my conductor, who made obeisance as we passed. The prince conducted +me up a flight of stairs, and then through several rooms, containing rich +and costly furniture; at last we came to a door on which was printed in +letters of gold “The King’s Chamber.” This chamber we entered. Having +placed a chair beside me for my use, he then walked to the other side of +the chamber, where there was a curious instrument fastened to a silver +slab, and touched a small spring. There was attached to the instrument a +thread or wire of the most delicate workmanship, which quivered at the +touch; presently I heard the sound of a bell, which was followed by +several ticks, and when the ticks ceased, the prince remarked that the +royal carriage from Dinas Aur would arrive there in half an hour, in +order to take us to the golden city. + +“And how far is it to your city?” I asked. + +“The actual distance is one hundred and twenty miles.” + +“But your carriage travels more swiftly than the flight of the bird?” + +“Certainly.” + +“Well, is it safe to go so fast?” + +“Yes, perfectly safe.” + +“Your assurance contents me. Will you, please, answer me one question, +namely: as you appear to travel about 250 miles in an hour, I want to +know in what consists your motive power? Surely your horses can’t travel +so rapidly as that?” + +“Oh no; we don’t use horses. In these regions we make nature administer +to our every want. We shall travel through the air, which we use to +propel us along; more I cannot say, as this singular phenomenon is beyond +my comprehension. The thing was discovered by our wise men, who keep the +secret in their own breasts. Look, my young friend,” said the prince, +addressing me; “the carriage is coming, do you observe its approach?” + +When I looked, I saw something like a black spot in the air; it appeared +like a small bird. Presently it became more distinct, and before I was +really aware, the royal carriage had arrived, having come nearly five +minutes earlier than we expected. At once we stepped into the royal +saloon. Presently I discovered the carriage moving. When we ascended +some twenty yards above the earth, we were carried at a fearful pace +through the air; I perceived it was kept up by means of wings, which were +made of material which in appearance was silk. These wings were of great +dimensions, but were extended or contracted in size according to the +power and force of the current. The propelling agency was compressed +air, but how this worked, and whether it was combined with other gases or +not, I could not learn. I found the travelling exceedingly pleasant; +when I closed my eyes I could not detect the least motion. Objects came +and went, we appeared to pass them as rapidly as the moving clouds in a +terrible storm, or falling stars on a bright November night. We arrived +at our destination a few minutes earlier than we anticipated. The prince +conducted me to the royal palace, and placing me in charge of some +important state functionary, repaired to the council of his royal master; +when he left, he said he would not be long, and on returning he would +join me for the evening. I must own, that I felt extremely sorry to have +to part, even for a short time, from one who was so kind and so +agreeable; and I felt this the more in consequence of the peculiar +position in which I was placed. I was now the denizen of a strange +world, and surrounded by a strange race. + +During the absence of Prince Tippin I began to realize my position. I +thought what a fool I was in leaving my home and country, the anxiety my +absence would cause my parents, and the uncertainty of my ever seeing +them again. This thought deeply moved me. I was exceedingly uneasy in +both mind and conscience; I could neither sit nor lie still for three +consecutive minutes. At last, after examining every article in the room, +I asked the attendant if he could give me any kind of book or writing +material, by the aid of which I hoped to forget myself. The attendant +informed me that they did not use books, that their knowledge was orally +handed down from father to son, from the priests to the people, and thus +all the inhabitants became wise. + +When the prince returned dinner was served up in the ante-room,—a fine +hall, radiantly lighted up. Our first course was soup made of choice +herbs, which was not only extremely satisfying but exceedingly palatable. +Of this I partook heartily. When the dishes were removed our attendant +brought in milk thickened with meal, coloured with saffron; this was +served up in basins of gold. Afterwards we had tarts, pies, and fruit of +the most delicious flavour; the fruit resembled the pear, but was sweeter +and more juicy. + +After the meal was over, I asked the prince if he would give me a glass +of wine. + +“My young friend,” replied the prince, “I regret to be unable to comply +with your wish. Wines, and all kinds of alcoholic drinks, are prohibited +from being used by the law of the State; I dare not, therefore, supply +you with this beverage, even if I had it in my possession.” + +“But why, excellency, have you such a singular law?” + +“For various reasons. Would you wish to be furnished with the cause of +the existence of such an enactment?” + +“You will confer upon me a personal favour by stating the reasons for the +existence of such a regulation.” + +“These are the reasons. We want the minds of our people to be clear and +bright, and their intellectual vision unclouded. Is not that important?” + +“Yes, certainly.” + +“Again; in these dominions, crime, destitution, poverty, pauperism, and +wrong-doing are unknown; but if our people, like yours, imbibed +spirituous liquors, crimes would be as frequent and poverty as widely +spread as are those terrible evils in your kingdom!” + +“I readily admit the force of your reasoning; I am bound to own that the +drinking customs of my country are the real causes of our more serious +national evils.” + +“Then, sir, your government ought to enact stringent laws in order to +diminish the cause of those evils.” + +“We are a race of free men, living in a free country, and I am afraid +that no government will for some years be strong enough to battle +successfully with this custom.” + +“You pass laws to suppress vice; and drunkenness being one of the +greatest vices of your people, and the parent of all others, I can see no +reason why you should not put down this traffic by legislation.” + +“Your excellency may be right in your conclusion. The evil is a terrible +blot on our civilization; were we a strictly sober race, we should be by +far the grandest people on earth.” + +“My own observations lead me to the same conclusion; but for the present +we must put an end to the argument. It is time for you to retire. Your +attendant awaits you. To-morrow we shall meet again, though I am afraid +only for a few minutes, as I have to pay a visit to a distant part of the +empire.” + +The next morning I breakfasted alone. Though I saw during the morning +several of the little people passing along the lawn in front of my +window, I did not venture to speak to them, nor did any member of the +race pay me a visit. + +About midday the door of my room was opened, and a little gentleman +walked into the hall, and, without saying a word, sat down in a vacant +chair opposite the one on which I was seated. After examining my +appearance, he observed, “I presume you are the stranger who accompanied +Prince Tippin to the palace last evening?” + +“I am the stranger, sir.” + +“I hope the attendant has shown you every courtesy, and has not been +wanting in hospitality.” + +“From the prince and attendant I have received every consideration; and +as for the fare, sir, I might have gone further and fared worse. I like +your food much.” + +“This is a very different country from yours, is it not?” + +_Myself_. Yes; widely different. + +“I presume you find it strange to have light without a sun or moon or +stars?” + +_Myself_. I miss the genial light of the sun; but there is a softness, a +reflected beauty, in the light here which we do not possess in our +diurnal luminary. + +“Our light is uniform, as is our climate. In the northern regions of +your country the sun constantly shines during several months of your +year, which is followed by continuous darkness or night, when the +inhabitants have to reside in snow or ice-built houses. Dreary must be +the life of a people so circumstanced. You have in your climate genial +and joyous spring, when nature revives from the dead and puts on her +youthful and gay apparel, when the thorn, the citron, and the apple-tree +bud and blossom;—beautiful is your spring, the loveliest and most +charming season of your year. Then comes your summer, with its green +meads, and fields of waving corn, and rich fruit. No artist can paint, +no language can set forth, the grandeur of your clime during autumn. +What have you afterwards? Cold, icy, and chilling winter, with its dank +and cold atmosphere; with your hills, mountains, and even your dales, +covered with snow. In winter your country seems dead, clay-like, and +lifeless; sad and dreary to me is your winter scene. In this land we +have perpetual spring. In all the months of the year the orange, the +citron, and the apple-tree send forth their buds and blossoms and their +ripe and rich fruit; our valleys and mountains are always green, a +circumstance which to you, doubtless, appears very strange.” + +_Myself_. Is that really so? Do your fields and trees and hillsides +present at all times the same hue? + +“Yes; the colour never alters, and nature in this region is never weary +in its development, and never halts in the manifestation of her power; +she goes from strength to strength, and with increased vigour as the +years roll on.” + +_Myself_. A strange phenomenon this! Can you account for the existence +of such perennial inherent power? + +“Oh yes. Upon our mountains, valleys, and plains there perpetually +descend from above constant showers of ethereal riches. Our earth thus +daily receives from heaven even more riches than she gives in flower and +fruit, and grass, and vegetable matter. Thus she daily and hourly +becomes richer and more bountiful.” + +_Myself_. But suppose the spring, the perennial fountain, of this +life-giving bounty and luxuriance, were to fail or to dry up, what would +be your position then? From whence could you then obtain your supply? + +“Of such a calamity we entertain no dread. For thousands of years this +process has been going on, and through years unnumbered it will be +continued. In your world there is a gradual decay; nature there is +exhausting herself. For the present you have enough and to spare; but +how will it be, what will your people do, when the virgin soil of the +world on the other side of the Atlantic becomes exhausted? That time +must come; what will your people do then?” + +_Myself_. Before that day arrives humanity will become etherealized, +spirit-like, and super-mundane. As a race, sir, we are not destined to +continue the sordid, cloddy, and vulgar eating people we now are. Oh, +no; the earthly tabernacle is to be put off, and we shall live on angels’ +food. + +“Your race then, sir, has the hope and prospect of dwelling in a sphere +beyond your present world?” + +_Myself_. Most assuredly. + +“Who is to be the king of that world? Who the ruler?” + +_Myself_. The king will be the great Unseen and Eternal, the +self-existent and self-created Being who rules heaven’s armies and +earth’s inhabitants. + +“This is the Being, is it not, whom your nation worship and adore?” + +_Myself_. Yes; and we are to live with Him for ever, and enjoy His +fellowship. And don’t you believe in Him too? + +“Alas! no; I wish we did. When I consider how beautiful our clime and +country are,—our friendship, associations, consciousness, friends, +relations,—I often shudder at the thought of annihilation. Sometimes I +am terribly oppressed with the thought of ceasing to be, and the more +thoughtful of my race hold similar opinions and feelings.” + +_Myself_. What do you and your people worship? Who is the object of +your adoration? + +“We worship truth; a thing not a person; an idea, not a reality; a form, +beautiful though it be, and not a substance. It is awful to think that +the grave is to be the end of our joys, pleasures, and delights. In the +matter of worship, you are right and we are wrong; you are the wise ones, +we the fools. But you have, methinks, too much of form in your manner of +worshipping your Supreme.” + +_Myself_. I agree with your last remark; but pray tell me how you have +acquired such an intimate knowledge of our affairs. + +“By frequent visits to your land, and by mixing with your people.” + +_Myself_. I never saw a member of your race until I was fortunate enough +to meet Prince Tippin. + +“Perhaps not; but I have traversed the whole of your country, as well as +other countries beyond the sea.” + +_Myself_. Is that really so? You certainly astonish me. + +“Twice every year, in your spring time and autumn, I visit your world on +affairs of state.” + +_Myself_. Then there dwell in other climes a kindred people, a race like +your own? + +“Certainly; and I have often paid them a friendly visit.” + +_Myself_. In what parts of the country do they live? + +“In several parts. In fair Mona’s Isle there dwell the Pobli Bach. In +East Anglia is the race of the Plantos. In Germany, living on the banks +of the Rhine, are the Pobli Wyn. In France, Spain, Italy, and the East +there are different tribes inhabiting a precisely similar country to +this. And their habits, customs, mode of life and government, are all +identical with ours.” + +_Myself_. And do you live in peace with each other? Do you never +quarrel, and go to war, and kill each other in battle? + +“Oh dear no! We live at peace. According to our code of morals, it is +very wicked to take away or destroy life. Of all things in our world +life is the beautifullest. We are shocked, and pained, and grieved in +witnessing the contentions between the peoples of your world. In our +view it is awful to use your arts, skill, and wealth, in making +instruments, and in training and paying men, to kill and destroy. Yet +you call yourselves Christians!” + +_Myself_. In my conscience I believe we are wrong. + +“You do; do you?” + +_Myself_. Assuredly I do. I believe war is wrong; is hateful to high +heaven; is contrary to the principles of the gospel, which command us to +love one another. From God comes life. He sustains it. He only has a +right to take it away. In man we see His image. Of one blood He has +made us all. Although we are brothers, yet we act towards each other as +if we were the children of the evil one. But a time will come when +strife and contention shall cease, when there shall exist universal +harmony, a harmony founded on the law of Christ, which is the law of +love. + +“I am surprised at your confession. The opinion you hold on this +question is directly contrary to that held by your teachers. Why, your +ministers preach the doctrine that war is in harmony with your faith. Is +not that so?” + +_Myself_. I must own that that is so. Still I believe them to be in +error, and hope they will discover their error before it is too late. I +am afraid that a great deal of the scepticism of the times is principally +owing to the want of harmony between the truth and the profession of it. +As a race we don’t practically live out the precepts of our faith. Hence +the reason why men of the world scorn religious men, and you know +contempt usually ends in disbelief. + +“If we have not the light you have, still we are a purer and a more +virtuous people than yours. We are sober and temperate, but your race is +not. We live in peace, never engage in war, but you kill each other with +the sword and the bow. Then as our climate is so superior to yours, why +not stay with us for ever?” + +_Myself_. I could not live without seeing my father and mother; without +visiting the upper world in order to bask occasionally on the sylvan +banks of Tawe’s crystal waters; to gaze on the blue heavens, with their +twinkling stars; to wander about the green meads, and listen to the rich +melody of the winged songsters of the grove and primeval forest; but I +should like to visit you now and then. Before I return I am anxious to +see and have converse with your king, the rather that, as the prince +informed me, he is a wise and virtuous ruler. + +“I rejoice that the prince has spoken so well of his master. I am the +king, and I thank you for speaking so freely of your country and its +people. Whenever you choose to pay us a visit, be assured you shall be +heartily welcome.” + +_Myself_. May it please your majesty, your majesty has treated me as if +I were a prince instead of a poor fisherman’s son. Your majesty’s +kindness and hospitality I shall ever remember with gratitude. I accept +your invitation, and I will certainly pay another visit to your beautiful +country. + +_The King_. At all times you shall be heartily received. + +_Myself_. Thanks; a thousand thanks. Were I not a Welshman, I would +dwell in your beautiful land. + +_The King_. You have spoken handsomely of my dominions. But here comes +the prince; he shall conduct you to the sylvan banks of your beautiful +river, a river you so much love. + +Before setting out on my homeward journey, I briefly inspected the royal +carriage. I now discovered, what had previously escaped my notice, that +underneath, and attached to the side of the carriage, were inflated skins +filled with natural gas. These gave a buoyancy to the machine. Indeed, +it was only by the use of strong ropes made of grass that it was kept on +the earth. On stepping into the carriage, these ropes were unhooked; it +then began to ascend, and on reaching an altitude of forty yards we got +into what the prince called node currents, which carried us along at the +rate of 300 miles an hour. We soon reached the public buildings referred +to in a previous part of my story, and from thence he conducted me +through the subterranean passage until we reached fair Tawe’s shore. + +I urged the prince to accompany me to my parents’ cottage, which he +declined. He said that he had a special engagement with the fairies of +East Anglia—having arranged to spend the night with them at their annual +dance on the verdant fields below Derwent Fawr. I subsequently learnt, +that Prince Tippin was engaged to a princess of the above tribe, of the +name of Titania; and that they frequently met on Derwent’s green fields +“to dance the nights to the whistling wind.” + +On entering my home I found my parents mourning for me as one who was +dead. At first they would not believe me to be their son, but thought it +was their son’s spirit which had come to visit them. I soon convinced +them of being still in the flesh,—that I was no ghost, no spirit. I had +then to give them a history of my travels, to tell them of the strange +sights I had seen, the singular people I had met, the character of the +kingdom I had visited; but on my telling them of the gold and precious +stones with which the land abounded, my mother upbraided me for coming +away without a large lump of gold. I told her that I did not covet other +people’s property, and that I should have acted extremely wrong had I +taken away the gold of a people from whom I had received so much +kindness. + +I remained at home for several weeks, and occasionally went to school. I +found my old enemy as cruel as ever, and I came to the conclusion that on +the very first opportunity I would return to the fairy kingdom beneath +the bay. + +On wandering along the strand one fine morning, I was hailed by a voice I +could never forget. The prince informed me that having just returned +from visiting his fair Titania, he was about to return to Dinas Aur, and +urged me to return with him. I readily yielded to his wishes, and +sending a message to my parents where I had gone, we started off, and +returned by means of the aërial carriage. + +As I anticipated, my return to Dinas Aur, was hailed with extreme delight +by the few persons I had come in contact with on my previous visit. His +majesty the king gave me a hearty welcome, and expressed a hope that I +would continue to sojourn in his dominions at least for a season. I +expressed my gratitude to his majesty for his extreme kindness, and +informed him that as my parents were acquainted with the place of my +abode, I was the less anxious to return home than if that knowledge was +not in their possession. + +The king replied, that I had shown, by sending the message I had, that I +was a dutiful son, fond of my mother and father, that I had shown I did +not want to give them a moment’s uneasiness and pain. His majesty then +dismissed me, and placed me under the special protection of his +chancellor, Prince Tippin. This arrangement afforded me inexpressible +satisfaction and delight, as on all occasions I had received from him +every consideration and courtesy. + +In my subsequent intercourse with the prince, I found him to be a man +without prejudice, wholly free from bigotry, and in all circumstances +never showing the least indication of passion. He loved purity and +goodness wherever he found those virtues. He abominated cant, and +loathed low tricks which no one who wished to be regarded as honourable +would resort to in order to gain a special end. In his own beautiful +language, which I soon learned, he would use a string of adjectives to +characterize that class of men, who are mean, selfish, unprincipled; men +who have no claim to be admitted into the society of pure and noble and +unselfish individuals. “Look,” he said one day to me, “at your public +men, from the highest to the lowest; they are influenced by the love of +power and fame, and you find that when a particular end is to be secured +they are indifferent as to the means to be employed. In appointing +persons to fill important posts, the claims of your best men are wholly +ignored. You sadly want men at the head of your affairs who are just, +magnanimous, and patriotic, men who are simply ambitious to secure the +welfare and weal of the people.” + +_Myself_. I must own, your excellency, that there is too much truth in +your strictures and censures. But we are improving, and shall ultimately +become a pure and perfect race. Are there no persons of the class you +have described in your country? Is your race perfectly free from +selfishness and faction? + +“Certainly; we are all equal. As citizens and subjects we occupy the +same position. Our best men occupy all posts in the civil government of +the country. Here again, all people readily obey the law: delinquents +are banished the kingdom.” + +_Myself_. Have you not frequent occasion to put the law in force? + +“By no means. There is only one case on record for one hundred years in +which the law has been rigorously carried out.” + +_Myself_. You must be a law-observing people. I wish from my heart that +our race were as pure as yours. + +“They would be were your rulers as wise as ours.” + +_Myself_. Then you think that our leading men are inferior to yours? + +“Think! I know they are. The history of your country proves this. But +we must drop the subject now. I have an engagement with my royal master +at this hour, and I must hasten to the council chamber, for I fear his +majesty has already gone there.” + +After supper, and just as I was about to retire to my chamber, I received +a visit from the Princess Mervyna and her two little sisters. They were +attended by their maid, who, though she was smaller in stature than her +mistress, was evidently many years her senior. The Princess Mervyna +introduced herself, and said that she had come to command me to join them +at their sports the next day. I expressed regret to the princess at +being unable to comply with her wish, having previously arranged to +accompany the chancellor to a distant part of the kingdom. I told her +that I should regard it as a high honour to join them at their games the +day after. She acquiesced in this, though she was evidently a little +vexed as well as disappointed with the arrangement. However, she gave me +a gracious bow, and on retiring, said, “Don’t forget your promise.” I +again assured her I would not. + +It was nearly noon before Prince Tippin and I started off from the city +on the following day. We had the same carriage as the one we had used on +previous occasions, and we proceeded at an equally rapid pace. + +After a flight of 140 miles, we descended to the earth on the top of a +high mountain, which in their language was called Wyddfa, or Conspicuous, +from which position we had a magnificent prospect of the country. In the +distance we beheld seas like glass, on which apparently were myriads of +little people, some of whom were engaged in skating, others in bowling +balls along the ice, others were playing cricket, while not a few were +dancing to the music of the wind. We observed a great number of the +little folks playing with golden balls, which they propelled along the +ice by means of a crook. + +Though the players went along the ice at a fearful pace, yet I did not +observe a single person fall. + +Between us and the players there was a beautiful undulating country, +which abounded with streamlets and sylvan dells, and the peculiar soft +light of the region brought out the deep green of the foliage to a degree +I had not previously beheld. The scene was exquisitely lovely, so rich +in tint and colour as to leave an indelible impression upon the mind. +Indeed and in truth this was a fairyland, an enchanted ground, though to +my vision it was real, palpable, and actual. I became rooted to the +spot, for never had I beheld a scene so full of beauty. I was awakened +from my reverie by the familiar voice of the prince, who called out, +“Elidorus! Elidorus! our time is up; we must haste over other mountains +and valleys, over streamlets and rivers, for we have a long distance yet +to go, and but a short time to travel it in.” + +On taking our seat in the aërial carriage, the prince informed me that we +should not stop again until arriving at our journey’s end, and that on +passing a rocky headland we could see in the distance, we should have a +capital view of the city of the plain. When we passed the place alluded +to, the city appeared in sight, but the houses and palaces were buried in +the rich green foliage of trees, which grew in every street. As we were +proceeding at a fearful pace, we had only a glance at the city as we +passed over it. + +On arriving at our destination, we were conducted by a little gentleman +clad in rich apparel to the Hall of Brotherhood, which we found was +crowded with the principal inhabitants of the city. The prince was +conducted to the chair of honour—a kind of throne, and he motioned me to +occupy the vacant seat on his right hand. Presently the prince asked the +governor of the city if peace, good-will, and concord reigned there? + +“Tranquillity and brotherly love still continue,” replied the governor. + +“Ever so live,” said the prince, “for peace is one of the cardinal +virtues of all good citizens. I wish to know, sir governor, if your city +is free from sickness, disease, and fevers; and if not, why not?” + +“The bloom of health, your excellency,” replied the governor, “is on the +cheeks of all. And why? Our people drink only the pure waters of the +crystal fountain. They inhale the constant current of vital air, which +flows here like a tidal wave, and it imparts life, energy, power, and joy +to all.” + +The governor then retired and left the hall. When the door was closed, +the prince asked the citizens if they had any charge to make or any +complaint to bring against the governor. They all rejoined that they had +not any complaint, but that, on the contrary, his conduct met with the +hearty approval of all. Presently the council came to an end, and soon +afterwards we returned home. + +On the following morning I was awakened by a gentle knock at my chamber +door. Presently the door was opened, whereupon my waiting attendant +walked in. He informed me that the Princess Mervyna had already called, +and that she and the royal party were ready to proceed to their place of +rendezvous, having arranged to have a grand day in honour of my visit. I +felt very much annoyed at having overslept myself, and still more vexed +at keeping the little lady and her friends waiting me. I only took a few +minutes to dress, and having taken a basin of warm milk, proceeded in +search of the royal party, who had already taken their seats in the +king’s carriage. The princess and her little brother and sisters gave me +a cordial greeting. I soon found that we had left the earth and were +travelling due south of my previous day’s voyage, and before I fully +realized my position we had descended on the identical sea of ice where I +had seen the games being carried on on the preceding morning. + +On leaving the carriage the party broke up into sections, some joining +parties who had already arrived from other cities of the kingdom; others +joining other parties who appeared of a different race from the natives. +The princess acted as my cicerone during the day, and she laughed +heartily on seeing me now and then unable to retain my balance on the +slippery ice. Had it not been for her presence of mind, I certainly +should have fallen on several occasions. Towards the evening I joined in +the games, though I found myself but an indifferent player. We wound up +the day’s fête by a dance on the ice to the music of the harp. Never +shall I forget the scenes of that day. The hopping and skipping, the +dancing and romping of the little people, who tried to excel each other +in mirth and fun: the scene produced an impression on my mind which the +iron hand of time will never deface or remove. On our return to the +palace, we were all ushered into the banqueting hall, where a grand feast +awaited us. After dinner, Mervyna related to the king, her father, the +principal incidents of the day; and the good monarch was highly amused at +her stories of my difficulties and mishaps. When the banquet was over I +retired to my apartment, where I was soon joined by Prince Tippin. + + * * * * * + +[Here there is a break in the narrative owing to the loss of several +folios of the original manuscript. From the contents of the remaining +portion, we infer that the missing pages contained an account of several +other visits paid to the people of the fairy kingdom, and the incidents +of the respective journeys. We learn, too, that the Princess Mervyna +became greatly attached to our hero, but that an estrangement +subsequently took place between them. But the remaining narrative +contains no record of the cause which led to the estrangement. The +following is the concluding portion of the history.] + + * * * * * + +Ah, me! ah, me! what a strange race and people is that who inhabit the +fairy kingdom. They live in a beautiful country, speak a language which +is full of poetry, they are a virtuous and truth-loving race. Moreover, +their land abounds with treasures; gems, gold, and precious stones are +there. Oh, what a noble and loving spirit is that of the dear princess, +loving and lovable is she. To be with her, was like a heaven upon earth. +I loved her as I never loved human being. To me she was more precious +than all the world. In my various visits the tie between us became +dearer and dearer. Had it not been for — I’ll not mention his name, I +should be longingly looking forward to another tender embrace. But the +tie is now broken—I did not mean to take the gold. Justly have I been +punished. Had I not done this, had I refused to listen to the suggestive +temptations of my mother,—the door would not have been closed. It was I +who did the deed, and I repent in dust and ashes. What I have suffered +on account of this, no tongue can tell, nor can language set forth. But +my deepest grief arises from the thought that I shall never again embrace +the dear M—, the object of my heart’s fondest affection. + + + + +CEFN-Y-BEDD; +OR, A +VISIT TO THE SHRINE OF LLEWELYN AB +GRUFFYDD, THE LAST CAMBRIAN KING. + + + Frequent is heard the voice of woe, + Frequent the tears of sorrow flow; + Such sounds as erst, in Camlan heard, + Roused to wrath old Arthur’s bard; + Cambria’s warrior we deplore; + Our Llewelyn is no more. + Who like Llewelyn now remains, + To shield from wrong his native plains? + My soul with piercing grief is filled; + My vital blood with horror chilled: + Nature herself is changed, and lo! + Now all things sympathize below. + Hark! how the howling wind and rain, + In loud symphony complain! + Hark! how the consecrated oaks, + Unconscious of the woodman’s strokes, + With thundering crash proclaim he’s gone; + Fall in each others’ arms and groan! + Hark! how the sullen tempests roar! + See! how the white waves lash the shore! + See! how eclipsed the sun appears! + See! how the stars fall from their spheres! + Each awful Heaven-sent prodigy + Ye sons of infidelity, + Believe and tremble! Guilty land, + Lo, thy destruction is at hand! + Thou great Creator of the world, + Why are not thy red lightnings hurled? + Will not the sea, at Thy command, + Swallow up this guilty land? + Why are we left to mourn in vain + The guardian of our country slain? + No place, no refuge for us left, + Of homes, of liberty bereft; + Where shall we flee, to whom complain, + Since our dear Llewelyn’s slain? + + _Translated from a Welsh poem_. + +It was a calm and balmy evening in the month of July, 18—, when all +nature appeared hushed in still quietude and death-like repose, when not +a zephyr breeze, causing the leaves of the trees to murmur or wave, was +felt: such was the character of the lovely and sunny evening on which I +left the beautiful valley in which the little village of Llanwrtyd +nestles among the hills, for the purpose of paying a special visit to +Cefn-y-Bedd, the spot to which the finger of tradition points as the +resting-place, the sacred ground, the hallowed earth in which were +deposited—amid the universal wail and lamentation of the Cambrian people, +when widows, fathers, brothers and sisters, heroes not a few, men who +never dreaded danger, and who were always foremost in battle—strong, +fearless, and valiant warriors, wept and sorrowed, and refused to be +comforted because their Prince, their champion, and their idol was not. +It was at Cefn-y-Bedd, which is now a respectable farm homestead, where +no monument of any kind marks the spot, that the mortal remains of +Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, the last reigning sovereign of Wales, were +interred. If no Parian marble marks the ground beneath whose sacred sod +lies the dust of the dear departed, his name still survives, his virtues +still live, his memory is still fondly cherished by hundreds and +thousands of his descendants; and though nearly six centuries have come +and gone since the fall of our great captain, prince, and patriot, he +still speaks to the people and the nation. Yes; his name is still dear +to Cambria’s sons and daughters. His memory is even now, after the lapse +of so many years, fresh and green. If the poor flesh, which contained +one of the purest and manliest souls that ever dwelt in a tabernacle of +clay, has long, long ago crumbled into dust, the man, the hero, and the +patriot survive, and will live in the annals of his country, and be an +idol in the heart of his descending race until time shall be no more. + +I have remarked that the above visit was a “special visit.” A few days +previous I had passed Cefn-y-Bedd, on my way to the little border town of +Builth, but in passing by the sacred shrine of our illustrious ancestor, +I knew not that I was on hallowed ground. A lady companion called my +attention to an admirable husbandry arrangement of the homestead, the +like of which I had not previously seen in Breconshire. The observation +of my companion and the scene around led me into a train of thought +relating to bygone years, to the deeds of old, the revolution of +kingdoms, the decline and fall of empires, and the changes which are +daily taking place in families, in governments, and in the homes of both +rich and poor. I said to myself, every house, every cottage, every +mountain and valley has a history peculiar to itself—a history full of +interest, replete with romantic doings and sayings far more +wonderful,—embodying events and circumstances of more profound interest +and of deeper and far more pathetic story—than is often found in the +works of fiction. Who can tell, for I am sure I cannot, but that, +perhaps, that house, with its farm-yard and out-buildings, its garden and +flowers, possesses a history peculiar to itself? and it may be that long, +long ago heroes and mighty men of valour took shelter here from the fury +of the tempest or from the burning sun of mid-day July heat, in their +march from one battle-field to another. But why travel to the land of +shadows? Why draw ideal pictures of events that are past, of heroes, +warriors, and statesmen, of battles, conquests, and defeats? The dead +cannot be called to life. The past cannot be revived. The work done +cannot be undone. The past can never be recalled. Well, if these things +are among the impossibilities of life, there is one thing at any rate +which I can do. I can drop a tear on the grave which contains the +hallowed dust. I can recall the memories of the dear departed; I can +paint and set forth their virtues, can photograph their manliness and +bravery, can sketch and limn their life and deeds; so that this and +succeeding generations may learn to live more wisely, be more true, more +faithful to the dearest interests of their country, especially with +reference to those measures which lie at the basis of national progress +and the comfort and weal of the people. + +The situation of Cefn-y-Bedd is exquisitely beautiful, and the scenery is +richly diversified. From it one beholds a wide expanse of country, with +varied and magnificent views, which are finely alternated with luxuriant +fertile meadows, groves of thriving timber, and flourishing plantations. +In the distance we have views of the rocky hills of Llanelwedd, at whose +base flows the poetic and majestic Wye, the beautifullest of rivers. To +the south-east is the far-famed Eppynt Forest, and down through a +luxuriant sylvan dell runs the meandering Irvon. From this sacred spot +one beholds at a glance scenery in which are combined the bold and soft, +the sterile and woody, bare and rocky hills and verdant glades. It is a +scene on which the eye delights to dwell. In the far distance the bald +rocks of Aberedw appear in view. It was among those rocks that Llewelyn +encamped before his departure for Builth. Little did he fancy when he +left that stronghold on the cold winter’s morning that his life was so +near its close. That he was surrounded by enemies, he was well aware. +That the armies of King Edward were in the immediate vicinity of his camp +he was fully cognizant of. His spies had brought him information of the +several posts occupied by the English, and of his being in imminent +danger of an attack from various quarters of the combined hosts. +Aberedw, though admirably formed by nature for resisting an attack, when +directed from the Wye banks, was yet wholly untenable in the face of the +terrible odds with which he had now to cope—a combined army moving from +various military posts. Seeing his danger, the Cambrian prince resolved +to break up his camp, and march along the sylvan Wye to Builth. Crossing +the bridge, he moved on in a southwesterly direction to Pont Orewyn, +where the Prince, unarmed, received the deadly spear. He was killed on +the 10th of December, 1282. + +Having introduced to the notice of my readers the hero of my story—the +man whom Heaven, in its wisdom, specially raised up to meet the demands +of the most trying emergency which had befallen a great and an heroic +people—the man who, when placed at the head of affairs, found his country +prostrate, the national treasury empty, and the people dispirited by +reason of sad reverses—I shall proceed now to sketch the career of the +man; to set forth his virtues; to paint, but with no exaggerated +colouring, his character as a prince, as a ruler, as a military +commander, and as a friend; and shall show, what history clearly proves, +that he inspired his countrymen with an amount of confidence and trust +which no previous sovereign had been able to infuse into them; that the +veneration with which his name was so universally held was traceable to +virtues in his public acts and private life; further, that had it not +been for the treason of the faithless few, Llewelyn would have +transmitted the sovereignty of Wales to his posterity. He died, not on +the field of battle, but alone and unarmed was he when the fatal blow was +struck. By-and-by I shall show that he had done his work, and for him to +die was gain. + +On the right bank of the sylvan Wheeler,—a small crystal stream which +flows through the luxuriant and richly wooded vale of Caerwys,—there +stands the modern mansion of Maesmynen. In a meadow near the present +hall there was, in the thirteenth century, an ancient palace, which from +time immemorial had been one of the royal residences of the Cambrian +Princes. Beautiful was the situation of this ancient mansion. All that +the eye loves to rest on could be seen from the elevated spot on which it +stood. This palace was the favourite residence of the unfortunate Prince +Llewelyn. Here he spent his boyhood. Here he principally lived until +his country called him to occupy a more conspicuous and more prominent +position. In the neighbouring woods of Yseiefiog, Caerwys, Trev-Edwyn, +and Bodfari, he and his trusty friends were accustomed to follow the +chase. Indeed, he lived here among friends and dependents, for the +circumjacent cantrevs of Rhos, Dyffryn Clwyd, Rhyfoniog, and +Englefield—which cantrevs included the country between Conway and +Chester—were his own property and possessions. About midway between the +two extreme points was the royal palace of Maesmynen. Here he breathed +the pure air of heaven. Here he was free from the turmoil of life’s +cares and life’s battles. Here he felt but little anxiety in connection +with the terrible war then being carried on between his countrymen, +headed by Llewelyn the Great, and, subsequent to the death, in 1240, of +that illustrious monarch, by his son and successor, Prince Davydd; +because the Prince of Maesmynen felt that the right men were at the head +of affairs, and that Heaven would defend the cause of the just. Though +Llewelyn, the last prince, was not anxious as to the result of the +struggle, yet that he was not an indifferent spectator of the scene, and +its consequences to the nation, is evident from the annals of those +momentous times. Why then did he keep aloof from the struggle? Why did +he remain inactive? Why did he continue to live a life of ease and +pleasure, when duty called him to the front? The reason is apparent when +we consider the then existing relation between members of the royal +house. His father had been cruelly treated, and had been made a prisoner +by his own brother Davydd; and when liberated, through the intervention +of mutual friends, he simply exchanged the castle of Criccaeth for the +Tower of London. In that stronghold he was securely guarded by King +Henry’s soldiers. Some of his noble compatriots, illustrious Cambrian +chieftains, successfully effected his release from the Tower, but Prince +Gruffydd, the father of our hero, in an endeavour to accomplish his own +liberation, fell from a great height and was killed on the spot. It +appears that that prince had made a cord with the linen of his bed and +table, and when he had descended about midway between the window and the +ground, the cord broke, and the unhappy prince was precipitated into the +Tower ditch, and was killed. This sad event took place in the year 1244. +During the two following years, King Davydd, being wholly free from +anxiety on account of his brother’s superior claim to the throne, which +his death had annulled, pursued a vigorous policy, displaying traits of +character and versatility of genius of the highest order. He was brave +as a lion, and was ever foremost in the struggle; thus he secured the +confidence of his friends, the admiration of his followers, the love of +his soldiers, and the dread of his enemies. His reign, however, was but +of brief duration. In 1216 he died at Aber Palace. Though this prince +was hated by many during his reign, his death was generally lamented. + +When the solemn obsequies connected with the funeral of the deceased +prince were over, the Cambrian barons and chieftains met in a national +congress, and unanimously elected Prince Llewelyn-ap-Gruffydd and his +brother Owen as joint sovereigns of Wales. The decision of the barons +was hailed with the liveliest satisfaction by the Cambrian people. The +reason of the existence of this feeling in favour of the two princes is +obvious. Their father had been the idol of the Welsh. The people in +both North and South Wales had felt that he had been cruelly treated by +his brother, that he had been unjustly deprived of his inheritance, that +his birthright had been taken from him by unfair means (for he was the +lawful successor to Llewelyn the Great, the heir-apparent to the throne +on his decease), and hence that the crown belonged to him by seniority. +The people now rejoiced that the sons of the boy hero who in his youth +had made King Henry’s army feel his power, were about to be placed in +possession of their lawful inheritance as rulers and sovereigns of the +Cambrian nation. In the following pages I shall place before the reader +facts which show the wisdom of the choice which the national congress +made. + +But I have no intention, indeed it is wholly foreign to my present +purpose, to write a life of Llewelyn, that is, a consecutive narrative of +his deeds and acts, and his grand military achievements. In 1856 I +compiled a biography of my hero, but it still remains in manuscript. +Briefly stated, my present purpose is to paint a likeness of the last +prince of the Cymru in three different aspects, that is, as a military +commander and tactician, as a Cambrian patriot, and as a citizen and +friend. Regarded in these several aspects, I shall, from reliable data, +make it perfectly clear that the prince was as just as he was generous; +that he commanded the respect, the love, the affection and the admiration +of all who came in contact with him; that moreover, by his deeds of +prowess, by the manifestation of great skill and eminent military +tactics, by the rapidity with which he moved his army from one part of +the battle-field to another, from one point of attack to another place +which he regarded as vulnerable, he gained a title to be regarded as one +of the greatest generals of those eventful times. He successfully +resisted, and more than once conquered, the bravest army then existing in +Europe. + +Immediately after the Welsh princes ascended the throne of their +ancestors, King Henry of England, at the head of a powerful army, invaded +North Wales. For this attack the Welsh princes were wholly unprepared; +and rather than risk an engagement with such terrible odds against them, +they prudently retreated before the enemy, retiring to the mountain +districts, from which the English king failed to dislodge them. +Subsequently, but before Henry returned to England, a treaty of amity and +peace was concluded between the Cambrian and Saxon monarchs. The +conditions of this treaty were, first, that Llewelyn was to give up +possession for ever of his patrimony, the four cantrevs; secondly, that +he was to serve in Wales, or in the Marches, with one thousand foot and +twenty-four horse,—this at his own expense; thirdly, that all the Welsh +barons were to do homage to the English monarch. That the conditions of +this treaty were most humiliating, we must at once admit; but under the +circumstances there can be no doubt that Llewelyn acted wisely in +acceding to them, for had he defied the enemy then, the struggle would +have proved a hopeless one. The peace which he by the treaty secured, +lasted for a period of nine years, when Llewelyn became (1254) the sole +sovereign of Wales. From that time until his untimely end, he reigned +alone: nobly and magnanimously did he wear the crown. His was a life +without a stain of dishonour, as pure and bright as the crystal fountain; +and he has left a name which will never die. Magnanimous was he, +generous and noble was he, chivalrous and princely in mien and heart was +he: hence the reason why he was almost worshipped by all who came within +the sacred circle of his influence; and had he had a moiety of the power +possessed by the English monarchs, the issue of the struggle would have +been widely different. However, an all-wise Providence willed it +otherwise, and it is our duty to bow our heads without a murmur, for He +does all things in infinite love and wisdom. + +After securing such important concessions from Llewelyn, the English +king, if be had been wise, would have pursued a mild and conciliatory +policy towards the nobles and barons of the Welsh nation: unfortunately +for his reputation and statesmanship, good-will towards the conquered +formed no part of the imperial virtues. He ruled with a rod of iron, the +olive-branch forming no part of the device upon the king’s banner. Thus +the fruit of his policy soon became apparent. It would be expecting more +than human nature to suppose that the Cambrian chieftains and barons +would remain peaceful and quiet on seeing their estates seized by lords +Marchers. Moreover, the greatest oppression was practised by minions of +King Henry, and for the most trivial offences the proud barons of Wales +were subjected to cruel and extreme punishment. As was natural, his +cruelties and his policy of confiscation produced everywhere +disaffection, and ultimately a spirit of implacable hate was engendered. +The people, to a man, were in the end ready to rise in order to throw off +the bitter yoke. They had their leader, the brave prince Llewelyn; but +the fruit was not yet ripe. But while he urged delay, he did not neglect +preparation for the conflict, for he knew that the day of conflict must +come. When the hour arrived, Llewelyn took the field, and his +achievements far surpassed the most sanguine expectations of both himself +and his brave followers. In the space of a single week he recovered from +the enemy the possessions they had acquired by war in North Wales and +Cardiganshire. Wherever he and his little army went, the enemy was +compelled to yield, and to retire from the battlefield as defeated hosts. + +Soon after these successes, Llewelyn led a large army into South Wales. +Before Dynevor Castle, near Llandilo, he encountered the English forces, +which were commanded by Rhys Vychan. The battle was conducted with great +skill and bravery on both sides; but at last the king’s army was +thoroughly beaten and retired from the field. Immediately after this +splendid victory, the Cambrian prince returned in triumph to the North, +where his subjects received him with universal acclamation and heart-felt +gratitude. But his work now had only just commenced. On his arrival at +Aber, he found awaiting him a deputation from the four cantrevs,—tenants +and chiefs residing on lands within his patrimony,—who had come to lay +before their prince and friend the terrible wrongs they had to endure +from the exactions of Geoffrey de Langley, who farmed the crown lands +under Prince Edward of England. “Llewelyn, to avenge their injuries, +crossed the frontier, carrying fire and sword to the very gates of +Chester, from the walls of which, Edward himself is said to have been a +galled witness of the havoc.” On this defeat Edward sought his father’s +aid, but he sought it in vain: he then applied to his uncle, the king of +the Romans, for assistance; but the forces he was thereby able to bring +to the field were found either too cowardly or too weak to attack the +Welsh. “The Cambrian prince with his army then took a _détour_, they +entered the territory of Gruffydd ab Madog, lord of Dinas Brân, a chief +who had formed a hostile league against Llewelyn and his native land,” +upon whom he took ample revenge. On returning, he suddenly met the +English army, which was commanded by Prince Edward in person. A terrible +battle was fought between the Welsh and English armies; but at every +point of the line Llewelyn’s troops were victorious. In this conflict, +Edward’s forces were badly beaten, a small remnant only escaping with +their life. After a brief repose, Llewelyn renewed his operations +against the domains of Edward, and these he carried on without meeting +with any serious opposition; but Llewelyn did not love war: in the hour +of his most splendid triumphs he was anxious for peace. Immediately +after his recent grand achievements, he wrote to King Henry offering, “if +a peace were concluded, and the Welsh restored to their ancient laws, to +give a sum of money to Henry, and to acknowledge his sovereignty.” +Considering his late successes, we are surprised at his thus humbling +himself to his foe. Doubtless he made this offer because of the deep +solicitude he felt for the lives and property of his people. This +generous offer was rejected with scorn by Henry, whereupon hostilities +were recommenced with great and increased vigour by both of the +contending parties. + +In reviewing thus far the life and character of the Cambrian prince, we +have seen that his decision was always followed by prompt and energetic +action. Whenever he resolved to do a special thing or to gain a certain +point, he at once set about its accomplishment. To this characteristic +of the man is traceable the secret of some of his mightiest achievements. +In the present case Llewelyn gained important victories before the +English monarch could collect his forces and approach +his—Llewelyn’s—dominions. During the lull the prince moved his army +against the Lord of Powys, whom he easily defeated. The tidings of this +victory having been carried to Gruffydd ab Madog, that chief felt that it +would be madness on his part to resist the Cambrian prince, and he +therefore sought and obtained a treaty of peace. Llewelyn then marched +against the Earl of Gloucester, whom he defeated in a general battle. +These successes and achievements roused the Welsh to the highest pitch of +enthusiasm. Accordingly we find that the Cambrian barons and chiefs +entered into a solemn league to defend till death the independence and +freedom of their country. This confederacy was formed in the year 1258. +On its being ratified the Cambrian prince commenced to march southward, +and gained easy victories over the forces that were thrown forward to +impede his progress. In a subsequent campaign in South Wales he took the +castle of Maelienydd, in Radnorshire. Afterwards he invaded the English +borders on the west side of Shropshire and Cheshire, where he gained +important advantages over the lords Marchers. From thence he proceeded +to the castles of Diserdd and Diganwy, which he besieged and destroyed. +On being apprised of these fresh disasters, Prince Edward marched against +Llewelyn, who retired to, and took refuge among, the “mountain bulwarks” +of Carnarvonshire. As Edward dared not follow the Welsh prince there, he +returned to England, “if not disgraced, at least without any particular +honour.” + +I pass over, as forming no part of my design, the insurrection of De +Montford, that nobleman’s success against Sir Roger Mortimer, and his +triumph over Prince Edward, whom he kept a prisoner in Hereford Castle. +Further, I shall content myself with a passing reference to the invasion +of Glamorganshire by Llewelyn, the important treaty of Montgomery in 1267 +between Henry and Llewelyn, and the death of the former five years +afterwards. + +When Edward ascended the throne, be called upon Llewelyn to do homage at +his coronation. The Welsh prince replied that he was prepared to comply +with the mandate, provided some English noblemen of distinction were sent +to the Principality as hostages for his security. The negotiations +respecting the question of homage, and the correspondence relating to the +imprisonment of Eleanor de Montford, Llewelyn’s betrothed, were carried +on until the summer of 1277, when Edward, at the head of a numerous body +of vassals, invaded North Wales. Llewelyn’s army being small, he dared +not risk a general battle, so he retired and took refuge among the +inaccessible defences of Snowdon—a safe asylum, a secure retreat on all +occasions when the commissariat department of the army was attended to. +Anglesey being now in the hands of the English, and there existing +disaffection among some of the South Wales chieftains, the prince found +himself so hemmed in that supplies could not be obtained. “Urged by the +sufferings of his famishing soldiers, and without any chance of relief,” +and his betrothed still being a prisoner, Llewelyn was compelled to sue +for peace; but King Edward refused to entertain any proposal short of an +unconditional surrender. Under the treaty which was then agreed to, it +was stipulated that Llewelyn was to do homage in London annually, to +deliver up all prisoners, to restore all forfeited lands, to resign the +feudal supremacy over his barons; and all the Welsh chieftains, excepting +the five barons of Snowdon, were to hold their lands direct from Edward. +The conditions of this treaty were strictly observed by the Welsh prince +for a period of about four years. To his subjects those were years of +suffering. The administration was corrupt; gross frauds were practised +on the Welsh; while oppression, tyranny, and cruelties characterized the +proceedings of the representatives of the Government. The people +complained of the wrongs which they sustained, and mildly but firmly +asked for a redress of their grievances; but a deaf ear was turned to all +the representations which were made. At last the yoke became +intolerable; they appealed to Prince David for assistance, and that +prince renounced his “unnatural allegiance to Edward,” and became +reconciled to his brother Llewelyn; and the two princes and a number of +powerful and influential chieftains organized a concerted movement with a +view to drive the English from their land and to re-establish the freedom +and independence of their country. Their cause was good, and their +object just and noble; but, ah me! they lacked the power and resources +necessary to accomplish their grand and holy purpose. + +Llewelyn and his brother, having matured their plan of action, at once +commenced the campaign. They jointly invested the castle of Flint, on +the estuary of the Dee; and from thence they marched to and successfully +attacked the castle of Rhuddlan. The Cambrian army then moved along the +coast, and were hotly pursued by Edward, who overtook the retreating +forces near Conway. Here a general battle was fought between the +contending forces, in which the Welsh were victorious. On his defeat the +English king retired to Hope Dale, from which he soon recommenced +operations, and re-occupied Rhuddlan without experiencing any opposition. +From Rhuddlan he “despatched a part of his army by sea to take possession +of the Isle of Anglesey,” and from thence, by means of a bridge of boats, +this section of the army crossed over the Menai and landed at Moel-y-Don, +near Bangor. When the reflux of the tide had broken the communication +between the artificial bridge and the mainland, the Welsh army rushed +from their hiding-place, and nearly the whole number of the enemy were +either killed by the sword or perished in the waves. To Edward this was +an unexpected disaster. For a moment it paralysed his operations. He +felt that he had underrated the strength and undervalued the generalship +of Llewelyn, and to make up for the losses he had sustained he raised +fresh levies throughout his dominions. + +During the preparations which were being made by Edward for another +campaign the Cambrian princes were not idle. They arranged that the +younger brother, Prince David, should be entrusted with the defence of +North Wales, while Llewelyn would march against the English forces in +South Wales. In the county of Cardigan Llewelyn gained important +victories against the enemy; with a small body of troops he proceeded to +the vicinity of Builth, with a view to consult some chieftains of that +locality; and here, unattended and alone, this great, brave, manly, +heroic, and magnanimous prince fell by the hand of an assassin. Thus +perished, in the year 1282, after a reign of twenty-eight years, +Llewelyn, the last native prince of the Cymry! + +Having reviewed the military career of Llewelyn, I shall proceed to make +two or three observations respecting his character as a ruler and +citizen. We have abundant evidence to prove that he was a profound lover +of his country. He loved her hills and dales, her mountains and valleys, +her alpine heights and cwms, or dells, with all the strong passion of a +warm and generous heart. Deeper than the love of home, of wife, of +kindred, of lands and possessions, was his affection for wild Wales and +its people. Of all countries in the wide world, Wales was to him the +brightest and fairest, and its people the bravest and best. For her +welfare, he sacrificed all he had, all he possessed; and at last his life +was immolated on his dear country’s shrine. As a citizen, he was +generous and kind. His heart was full of human sympathy, while his +spirit was one of the gentlest that ever dwelt in a tabernacle of clay. +Although he raised his country to a position of military fame which she +had not occupied in previous history, yet war, in his view, had no glory. +He loved peace. He desired to live on terms of amity and friendship with +the English people and their rulers. But alas! alas! those rulers were +bent on the destruction of the independence and freedom of his country. +To prevent this, he led his army against the foe, and for a time war +smiled upon him; but at last he fell, not in battle, but unarmed and +alone, stricken to the earth by an assassin. + +Brief, comparatively brief, was the public life of Prince Llewelyn; but +grand, noble, and heroic were his deeds. He lived for others, not for +himself. For the welfare of his country he laboured, not for personal +aggrandizement. The mainspring of his actions was the deep and intense +love of Fatherland. The great object for which he worked and fought and +suffered, for which he became a public man, the leader and chief and +ruler of a brave, a virtuous, an heroic people, was, to secure the +independence of his country, the freedom and liberty of its people, and +the blessing of permanent peace. To the interests of the land of his +birth, the home of his father’s sepulchre, he was ever true, ever +faithful, ever unswerving in fidelity and loyalty. If others proved +faithless, not so this patriotic prince. If others of his countrymen +forsook the true standard of national independence, if they joined the +ranks of the enemy with a view to aid in crushing the liberties of an +ancient people—a race who could trace their history, without a single +break in the narrative, hundreds of years before the appearance of the +Divine Teacher on earth—Llewelyn felt it all the more necessary for him +to be more fearless in the fray, to put on a bolder and a manlier front, +to toil and to work more incessantly in the cause which he felt was +founded upon justice, upon right, and equity. For a period of thirty-six +years he carried on a successful though an unequal struggle with the +English monarchs Henry and Edward. But few, very few, was the number of +his soldiers compared with the hosts who made up the armies that fought +under the banner of his country’s foes. His were brave men, and they +were engaged in a struggle which was dearer and more sacred to them than +life itself. They were true soldiers. To fear they were strangers. +Deeper than the love of life, than the love of kindred, than the love of +estates and possessions, was their love and affection for Fatherland. We +hardly know which to admire the more, the people or their leaders, the +soldiers or their brave chiefs, the Cambrian army or their lawful prince. +They were exposed to temptation, but they yielded not to its alluring +charms. Bribes were freely offered to many a Cambrian chieftain, but +these offers were made in vain. When at last treason achieved the work +which a far more powerful nation than the Welsh failed to accomplish on +the battle-field, let it be proclaimed to the world, and let the fact be +known to all ages to come, that the traitor was a border man, and not a +man in whose veins flowed Cambrian blood. But he accomplished his work, +and Llewelyn was no more. His death was the direst calamity that had +ever befallen the Cambrian people. Strange as it might appear, +nevertheless it is an historical fact, that when Llewelyn’s compatriots +found that their brave prince had fallen by the hands of an assassin, the +spirit of heroism and bravery appears to have forsaken them. Hence to +the best, and to the bravest of the brave, the struggle now appeared +hopeless, notwithstanding that Prince David still lived and was free. +Though that prince was as brave as his deceased brother he did not +command the same amount of confidence which was reposed in the slain +Llewelyn. Thus we find, that though the struggle was continued, it +lacked the boldness, energy, and high military tactics which had +characterized the generalship of the martyred chief. Hence it soon +became evident to the enemy that the death-knell of Cambrian freedom and +independence had sounded, and that in a few days, or at any rate in a few +months at most, this ancient Principality would cease to occupy a +separate and distinct place in the annals of the world. That the people +in those times should have regarded the downfall of their country, the +loss of their freedom and independence, as a terrible calamity, was but +natural. In King Edward’s promises and generosity the Welsh people had +no confidence. To him and to his immediate predecessor they traced, and +correctly traced, most of their troubles with the English nation. They +had desired to live in peace; war they did not invite. They took up +arms, not for conquest, not to extend their dominion, not to annex new +counties to the Principality, but simply in defence of the rights and +liberties of their country, which they desired to transmit and hand down +to their children and their children’s children. But Providence had, for +some grand purpose and design, willed that the weaker nation should be +united to the stronger and more powerful people. In this age we behold +and recognise the wisdom of His purpose. Though a distinct race, in +language, feeling, and mental and physical idiosyncrasy, yet we unitedly +admit that the benefits which come to us by reason of our union with the +Saxon, are neither few nor unimportant. Happily, too, the ancient feuds +between the two races are forgotten. We now live as brethren. The +rivalry between us is no longer on the battle-field; we contend not with +sword and bayonet. No! the contest is shifted to a more noble, a more +beautiful, and a grander scene, with a sublimer aim and object than ever +has characterized broad fields of battle; namely, the advancement of +material civilization; the triumphs of art and the conquests of science; +and the social, intellectual, moral, and religious welfare of the people. +May the standard of our contention ever be towards this high ideal! then +a glorious future awaits the union of the Cambrian and Saxon peoples. + +If now and then we of the former race drop a tear when the shadows of our +country’s martyred princes pass by, it is with no feeling of bitterness +towards those into whose hands the sceptre of our land has passed. On +the contrary, while we remember with pride and gratitude the heroic +struggle of the “last of our native princes,” we admit that it is +infinitely better for Wales that she should be united to England under +the beneficent sway of Victoria, and we have still a Prince of Wales to +whom the Cambrian people are as loyal as their fathers were to Prince +Llewelyn. + +NOTE.—The historic facts embodied in the preceding sketch are taken from +“Carnhuanawc’s Hanes Cymru,” “Warrington’s History of Wales,” the +“Cambrian Plutarch,” and “Welsh Sketches.” + + + + +LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. + + No. of + Copies +The Lord Bishop of St. David’s 1 +Hon. Sir W. R. Grove, Common Pleas 1 +H. Hussey Vivian, Esq., M.P., Parkwern 1 +A. P. Vivian, Esq., M.P., Taibach 1 +Henry Richard, Esq., M.P., London 1 + BRECONSHIRE. +William Games, Esq., Mayor, Brecon 1 +Rev. Henry Miles, Lanwrtyd 1 +Rev. Professor Roberts, Brecon 1 +Rev. John Daniel Williams, M.A., Brecon 1 +Mr. David Williams, Oakfield, Llanwrtyd 1 +Mr. Benjamin Jones, Dolecoed, Llanwrtyd 1 + GLAMORGANSHIRE. +Cambrian Book Publishing Company 300 +Thomas Alexander, Esq., Monkton, Bridgend 1 +Mr. T. H. Ashton, Jeweller, 1 +Charles Bath, Esq., J.P., Swansea 3 +Richard Bedlington, Esq., Aberdare 1 +William H. Bell, Esq., Glyncollen, Swansea 1 +David Bevan, Esq., J.P., Neath 2 +Henry Bowen, Esq., Morriston 3 +Mr. Richard Bowen, Aberclwyd, Glyn Neath 1 +Starling Benson, Esq., J.P., Fairy Hill, 1 +Swansea +R. D. Burnie, Esq., Osborne Villa 1 +Edward Bath, Esq., J.P., Brynmor 1 +John Biddulph, Esq., J.P., Swansea 1 +E. N. Bellingham, Esq., Walters Road, Swansea 1 +Mr. John Betts, Mansel Street, Swansea 1 +Herbert D. Cook, Esq., Glydach 1 +Mr. A. Curran, Broker 1 +Alfred Curtis, Esq., Nantwern, Neath 1 +Nathaniel Pryse Cameron, Esq., J.P., Swansea 1 +Thomas D. Daniel, Esq., J.P., Aberavon 1 +Evan David, Esq., J.P., Fairwater House, 1 +Cardiff +David Davies, Esq., 4, South Terrace, Neath 2 +J. Leyshon Davies, Esq., Assayer, Landore 1 +T. H. Davies, Esq., Heathfield Terrace, 1 +Swansea +E. Rice Daniel, Esq., Cwmgelly, Swansea 6 +Rev. E. A. Davies, Morriston 1 +E. F. Daniel, Esq., Bath Villa, Morriston 1 +Rev. G. H. Davenport, Caswell, Mumbles 1 +Samuel Davies, Esq., Green Lodge, Reynoldstone 1 +Mr. David Davies, Liverpool House, Maesteg 1 +Mr. Dan Davies, White Hart Inn, Swansea 1 +Henry Davies, Esq., Morriston 1 +Joseph Davies, Esq., Hofod Villa, Swansea 1 +Mr. Daniel Edwards, Duffryn Tin Plate Works, 1 +Morriston +John Ivor Evans, Esq., West Cross, Swansea 3 +Thomas Evans, Esq., 22, Brunswick Street, 1 +Swansea +Mr. Zephaniah Evans, Post-Office, Pontardawe 1 +Richard Aubrey Essery, Esq., J.P., Cefn Bryn, 1 +Swansea +William Edmund, Esq., J.P., Windsor Lodge, 1 +Swansea +J. Deffett Francis, Esq., Artist, Swansea 1 +J. Coke Fowler, Esq., J.P., The Gnoll, Neath 1 +Mr. David Gwillim, Eagle’s Bush, Neath 1 +William Gilbertson, Esq., J.P., Pontardawe 1 +Rev. Walter Griffiths, B.D., J.P., Dulais 1 +Fach, Neath +Rev. David Griffiths, Resolven, Neath 1 +Sankey Gardner, Esq., Eagle’s Bush, Neath 1 +Griffith Griffiths, Esq., Bryncelyn, 1 +Pontardawe +Thomas George Gordon, Esq., Llwynybwch, 1 +Llanrhiddian +Howel Gwyn, Esq., J.P., Duffryn, Neath 1 +Mr. T. H. Hawkins, London Road, Neath 1 +Benjamin Hill, Esq., Cwmdwr, Clydach 1 +Rev. R. T. Howell, Northampton Place, Swansea 1 +Mr. Elias Hughes, Accountant, Landore 1 +Richard Hughes, Esq., J.P., Ynistawe, Swansea 1 +Richard Hall, Esq., J.P., Baglan Hall, Briton 1 +Ferry +Mr. Evan J. Harris, Stamp Office, Reynoldstone 1 +Joseph Hall, Esq., Grosvenor House, Swansea 1 +H. W. Hansard, Esq., Singleton St., Swansea 1 +Mr. J. O. Sheldon Jones, Post Office, Briton 1 +Ferry +Mr. John Jones, Hafod Inn, Swansea 1 +Mr. J. B. Jones, Aberdulais 1 +Mr. Rhys Jones, Adelphi Hotel, Swansea 1 +Rev. Thomas Jones, Waters Road, Swansea 2 +Mr. Wm. E. Jones, Duffryn Tin Works, Morriston 1 +John Jones Jenkins, Esq., J.P., The Grange, 1 +Swansea +Mr. James Jones, Goat St., Swansea 1 +Mr. Watkin James, Sketty 1 +Mr. Thomas Jones, Agent, Union Street, Swansea 10 +Mr. Morgan Jones, Tymaen, Maesteg 1 +Rev. David Jones, Bishopstone, Swansea 1 +John Jones, Esq., Walters Road, Swansea 2 +Benjn. Jones, Esq., J.P., Llanelly 1 +John Trevellian Jenkin, Esq., J.P., Swansea 1 +Mr. T. John Lean, 7, Windsor Road, Cardiff 1 +Griffith Lewis, Esq., Alltycham, Pontardawe 1 +John Lewis, Esq., Fairfield House, Swansea 1 +Thomas Leyson, Esq., Pennyscynnor, Neath 1 +Wm. Leyson, Esq., Queen Street, Neath 1 +Robert Lidgey, Esq., St. Helen’s Road, Swansea 1 +Henry S. Ludlow, Esq., Guildhall Chambers, 1 +Neath +Wm. Llewellin, Esq., J.P., Court Colman, 1 +Bridgend +Rev. R. Pendrill Llewellyn, Llangonoyd, 1 +Maesteg +Fred. M. Lewis, Esq., Neath Road, Swansea 1 +Mr. Wm. Martin, Ynistawe, Swansea 1 +Mr. Thos. R. Mitchell, Ivy Cottage, St. Thomas 1 +Mr. Thomas Morgan, Church St., Briton Ferry 1 +H. Ll. Morris, Esq., Penclawdd, Gower 1 +Mr. Richard Mugford, Hafod, Swansea 1 +Edward S. Morris, Esq., Penclawdd 1 +W. C. Morris, Esq., 43, Queen Street, Neath 1 +George Byng Morris, Esq., J.P., Danygraig, 1 +Bridgend +George Mowatt, Esq., M.R.C.P., Walters Road, 1 +Swansea +James Sanders Merry, Esq., Richmond Villas, 1 +Swansea +David Meager, Esq., St. James Terrace, Swansea 1 +Mr. David Morgan, 35, Brunswick Street, 1 +Swansea +David Owen, Esq., Brookfield House, Morriston 1 +Rev. James Owen, Walters Road, Swansea 1 +James T. Nettell, Esq., Rosebank, Mumbles 1 +Henry Parish, Esq., The Limes, Ystalyfera 1 +John Powell, Esq., Millbrook Iron Works, 1 +Swansea +Thos. Powell, Esq., The Elms, Swansea 1 +Charles S. Price, Esq., Brynderwen, Neath 1 +Mr. Griffith Phillips, 16, Park Street, 1 +Swansea +Mr. Rees Price, Lantwit, Neath 2 +Rev. Rees Price, Llanboidy 1 +W. Price, Esq., Glantwrch, Swansea 1 +Thos. Penrice, Esq., J.P., Kilvrough, Swansea 1 +Allan Paton, Esq., Sketty, Swansea 1 +Mr. Wm. Powell, Rock Street, Maesteg 1 +Mr. John Rees, Resolven 1 +Mr. Thomas Rees, Ynismedw, Swansea 1 +J. C. Richardson, Esq., J.P., Dderwenfawr, 1 +Swansea +E. M. Richards, Esq., J.P., Brooklands, 1 +Swansea +Richd. Richards, Esq., J.P., Belle Vue, 1 +Swansea +Rev. D. Roberts, Coity, Bridgend 1 +James Rogers, Esq., J.P., Pagefield House, 1 +Swansea +John Roberts, Esq., Henrietta Street, Swansea 1 +John Rosser, Esq., 9, Cambrian Place, Swansea 1 +W. J. Rees, Esq., De La Beache Street, Swansea 1 +Mr. David Rosser, 18, Brunswick St., Swansea 1 +Wm. Harry Rees, Esq., Charlesville Place, 1 +Neath +David Smith, Alltwen, Pontardawe 1 +Julius Smith, Esq., Mansel Terrace, Swansea 1 +W. Robinson Smith, Esq., Glanrafon, Swansea 1 +James Spencer, Esq., Inland Revenue, Swansea 1 +George B. Strick, Esq., West Cross, Swansea 1 +William Price Struve, Esq., J.P., Neath 1 +Rowland Thomas, Esq., J.P., Neath 1 +Thos. H. Thomas, Esq., Bridge House, Neath 1 +William Thomas, Esq., Lan, Morriston 1 +B. P. Thomas, Esq., The Croft, Mumbles 1 +Ilted Thomas, Esq., J.P., Glanmor, Swansea 1 +Mr. Howel Watkins, Rutland Street, Swansea 1 +Octavius Williams, Esq., Northampton Place, 1 +Swansea +Robert Williams, Esq., West Cross, Swansea 1 +Thos. Williams, Esq., Sunny Bank, Aberdulais 1 +Thos. Williams, Esq., 10, Windsor Terrace, 1 +Neath +Mr. Watkin Williams, Pencoed, Bridgend 1 +William Williams, Esq., Wern House, Landore 1 +Owen Gething Williams, Esq., Sketty 1 +Sir Gardner Wilkinson, Reynoldstone 1 +David Williams, Esq., Training College, 1 +Swansea +Chas. Thos. Wilson, Esq., Brynnewydd, Sketty 1 +Owen Williams, Esq., Cwmavon 1 +Thomas Williams, Esq., Mount Pleasant, Swansea 1 +John Williams, Esq., Tyar-y-Graig, Swansea 1 + CARMARTHENSHIRE. +Mr. David Bowen, Thomas St., Llanelly 1 +George Alex. Evans, Esq., Carmarthen 1 +Rev. Rees Evans, Llandebie 1 +Rev. John Griffiths, D.D., Llandilo 1 +John Jennings, Esq., Greenfields, Llanelly 1 +John Prothero Lewis, Esq., Bryneithin, 1 +Llandilo +Rev. Prof. Morgan, Carmarthen 1 +Wm. Morris, Esq., Pontamman Cross Inn 1 +Rev. John Rhys Morgan, West End, Llanelly 1 +Henry Norton, Esq., Greenhill, Carmarthen 2 +Douglas A. Onslow, Esq., J.P., Pembrey 1 +Mr. David Rees, Stepney Place, Llanelly 1 +Wm. Rosser, Esq., C.E., Greenfield House, 1 +Llanelly +Mr. David Rees, Shipbroker, Llanelly 1 +John Prytherch, Esq., Banker, Llandilo 1 +Thos. Barton Snead, Esq., Solicitor, Llanelly 1 +John Thomas, Esq., Glamorganshire Bank, 1 +Llandilo +J. Little Thomas, Esq., Gynin House, St. 1 +Clears +Wm. Thomas, Esq., Wellfield, Llanelly 1 +Mr. Henry Thomas, Mina Street, Llanelly 1 +Rev. David Williams, Vicarage, Llanelly 1 + NORTH WALES. +George Henry Adams, Esq., King St., Mold 1 +Andrew Jones Brereton, Esq. (Andreas o Von), 2 +Mold +Andrew Brereton, Esq., 11, Edmund Street, 1 +Oldham St., Liverpool +John Griffiths, Esq., 28, Chapel Street, 1 +Liverpool +William Jones, Esq., Tyddyn House, Mold 1 +W. O. Jones, Esq., Mona Brewery, Llanfachrith, 1 +Anglesea +W. Brereton Jones, Esq., Victoria Brewery, 1 +Llangyfin, Anglesea +Rev. T. R. Lloyd (yr Estyn), Llanfynydd, 1 +Wrexham +Love Jones Parry, Esq., Madryn, Pwllheli, 1 +North Wales +Wm. Parry, Esq., Marlow Terrace, Wrexham 1 +Street, Mold +Mr. Benjamin Powell, High Street, Mold 1 +Thomas Williams, Esq., Tyddyn Waun, 1 +Llanfechel, Anglesea +John Davies, Esq., Albert Road, Fenton Stoke, 1 +Stafford +Henry Hurst, Esq., 4, Norton Terrace, 1 +Llandrindod Wells +William Morgan, Esq., Middle House, Penybont 1 +N. Bennett, Esq., Trefeglwys, Llanidloes 1 +Thos. Morley, Esq., Bryntimon, Gold Tops, 1 +Newport +Rev. Hugh Williams, M.A., J.P., Chancellor of 1 +Llandaff, Bassaleg Vicarage, Newport +Thos. Reece Thomas, Esq., J.P., D.L., Lampeter 1 +House, Narberth + +NOTES. + + +{178} This is a literal fact. + +{260} Mr. Eli, I fancy, obtained some of his facts from Pennant. + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CAMBRIAN SKETCH-BOOK*** + + +******* This file should be named 39539-0.txt or 39539-0.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/5/3/39539 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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