Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

J^HYS LEWIS. 69
sticks to me still. There was Jolm Lloyd, too, of unpleasant
memory: tall, thin, sharp-featured, coarse-skinned, andfidgetty;
diligent in the "means," and always finding fault with some-
thing or somebody. "The Old Scraper," Will Bryan called
him. He was a shocking miser, on which account he never
came under church censure, for his love of money prevented
him from getting drunk, or frequenting forbidden places. He
set a rigid face against tea meetings, concerts, and every
gathering to which the token with the King or Queen's head
was a passport. He was always great on economy, and the
necessity of making provision for the future. His concern for
spirituality in religion was something tremendous, and he
doubted, very often, there was too much talk of money and of
preaching for money. Mother tried to believe that he, too, had
the root of the matter, but she feared it was worm-eaten some-
where, with the result that his leaves had become soured. Yes,
there is Seth also, the witling youth, of whom I shall have to
speak hereafter, as of one whose story marks an epoch in
my life. And there were many others I might name, a
few of whom will come under notice again.
There was an unusually large gathering at Communion
that night. Hardly anyone had stayed away. I have noticed
that the news that some is to be disciplined is always an eflFective
means of bringing the friends together. There is something in
the good of a nature similar to that which prompts those who
are differently constituted to go and see a man being hanged.
"Will Bryan and I sat next each other in the midst of the
children, and I marvelled to find him so thoroughly uncon-
cerned. The meeting was begun by Thomas Bowen, whom I
carefully listened to for any reference he might make to myself.
But he made none. Whilst Thomas was praying, Will
whispered in my ear, " If they ask us anything, let us say, like
William the Coal, that we'll never do it again, and they are
sure to forgive us." Will said a great many other things, but I
was too much occupied to notice them. The verse-recitals of
the children were taken by Abel Hughes, who, when it came to
Will's turn and mine, passed us both, by without asking us for
ours. The storm had evidently begun, and although I held mv
head down, I knew that all were looking at me, and felt