Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

JRBYS LEWIS. 97
character -wlio was in tlie habit of calling Ms father " gaffer,"
"governor," and the like. I do not deny but that this aptitude
for finding descriptive names for people -n-ould have been a
special talent in Will, had it been turned to right use. Some of
these satirical designations have stuck to their owners to this day ;
but it would be ill were I or anyone else to specify them. I did
not take any particular notice of this tendency in Will until on
one occasion he referred to my mother as " the old Ten Com-
mandments." This offended me greatly, and Will perceiving I
did not like the name, never used it again. Thinking the matter
over to-day, I cannot help seeing some appropriateness in the
designation, for my mother was ever and always giving us com-
mandments of some sort, and charging us to do this thing or
that. When I reflect that my mother was a woman of some
penetration, I rather wonder she should have permitted me to
associate so much with Will Bryan. On second thoughts,
however, I see nothing in the world to wonder at. I never, in
my life, knew a lad who had such a knack of putting himself oa
good terms with everybody. His impudence, his handsome,
cheery face, his bold, brave bearing, his musical voice, and
smooth, witty tongue, were weapons which he used to some
purpose always. He understood my mother to a nicety. I
heard her, more than once say, when low-spirited, that a visit
from Yv^ill wo aid half cure her. I have seen her smile, and
obliged to use a strong effort not to laugh outright, at some of
those pleasantries of Will's for which, had I used them even in
the self-same words, she would have boxed my ears. I know
she often felt she put up with too much of this kind of thing in
Will, and, as a salve to her conscience, she would give him bits
of good advice in return. Let the following conversation serve
as an illustration of many such : —
"Will, my son, you'll do a deal of good or of harm in this
here world. I hope to goodness you'll get a little grace."
" There's plenty of it to be had, isn't there, Mary Lewis ? But
I never like to take more than my share of anything, you know."
"Don't talk lightly, Will; you can never get too much
grace."
" So the gaffer yonder savs, always; but it is'nt a good thing,
you know, Mary Lewis, to be too greedy."