Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

RHYS LEWIS. 99
"What's the matter now, Mary Lewis? I haven't killed
anybody of late, have I ? " asked Will.
"No, I hope not," replied mother. " But then you ought to
kill the old man."
" Whom do you mean, Mary Lewis ? Is it the gaffer yonder?
No, name of goodness; I shan't kiU the old hand. What
would become of me ? I should starve."
"No, Will, it ia'nt your father I mean, but the old man who
is in your heart."
" Old man in my heart! There is no old man in my heart,
I'll take my oath."
"Yes, there is, Will, and you'll come to know it some day."
" But when did he get in there, Mary Lewis ? " asked Will.
" He must be a very little 'un — less than Tom Thumb."
" He was in your heart before you were born, and he's bigger
than the giant Goliath," replied mother. "And unless you
take a smooth stone from the river of salvation, and sink it deep
in his forehead, he is sure to cut your head off with his sword."
" But how am I to drive a stone into his forehead, if he is in
my heart ? " said Will. "And being there, how can he cut my
head off with his sword ? "
" You know who I'm talking of. Will," said mother ; " it is
the old man of sin, I mean."
"0! now I understand you. Why don't you speak plain,
Mary Lewis ? But isn't there sin in the hearts of all of us,
according to the old — father yonder ? "
"There is, my son," said mother; "'and it breaks out in your
head, in the shape of that siUy ' Q. P.' "
And, at this juncture, my mother attacked fluently and un-
sparingly, the evil habit of brushing the hair off the forehead.
Will felt the rebuke, and walked almost haughtily away.
"Ehys," said my mother, after he had gone, "don't you have
much truck with Will Bryan from this time out. Pride has
taken possession of his heart. I'm surprised Hugh Bryan
should permit such a thing. If Will were son of mine, I'd'^cut