Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

68 RHYS LEWIS.
The time of going arrived ; and seeing Bob getting himself
ready, Mother did not think it necessary to speak to him on the
matter. She and I started together towards the chapel, but
after we had taken a step or two she turned back, and I heard
her say, " Bob, don't be stiflf to-night, I beg of you ; " and we
then went on our way.
Eecalling that Communion, I cannot help thinking of divers
of the old characters, who have, by this time, to use Mrs.
Tibbet's phrase, " gone to their happening." There's Abel
Hughes, of whom I have said something already. A God-fear-
ing man, firm in the faith, and strong-minded, was Abel. His
one fault, as far as I am aware of, was his severity. There was
harmless Hugh Bellis, gentle, tender-hearted man, who always
wept during sermon, eager for the forgiveness of all, no
matter what the sin committed. The least religious-minded
would admit Hugh to be an exceeuiogly pious man. There was
Edward Peters, precise, and careful about the books, but
crabbed, and unpopular with the children, because he would
not allow them to leave in the middle of the service. Never a
word did he speak in public, save in connection with the col-
lections and the seat-money. A good man at bottom, who had
the confidence of the church. There was Thomas Bowen the
preacher : lively, zealous, impulsive, constantly making mis-
takes and apologizing for them. There was Mr. Eichards the
draper, a proud, showy person, at all times pushing to the fore,
and with everybody desirous of keeping him back. There was
William the Coal, poor, small of body and of miud, soft, and
easily persuadable. He was called William the Coal, because
some member or other of his family had, time out of mind, sold
coal by the penn'orth. Every winter, when work was slack,
William was constant at Communion ; but when spring came,
he would take to drinking over-much, and be excommunicated
in consequence. He was forgiven many a transgression because
he was not considered quite like other people. I heard mother
say that William had the root of the matter in him, but that
trunk and branches were too weak to withstand the cross-wind.
I was of the same opinion, for William, every time he prayed,
would shed tears, and to my boyish mind, everyone who wept
while praying must be a very pious man indeed, a notion which