Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

I^HYS LEWIS. 157
relieved, because I was convinced, now, that tlie chair would
not break. Before leaving, he said, morosely almost, —
"No one ever spoke like that to me before, Mrs. Lewis; and
p'raps you'll want assistance from me yet."
" I don't deny the first, Mr. Brown," returned mother,
" because I hope you never before put an innocent lad in gaol.
It is no harm in the world for you to hear a bit of the truth
sometimes, and I feel very much what-d'you-call-it after
telling you what I have. But as to the other thing, namely,
that I'll come to ask you, next time, I have nothing to do but
trust in Providence ; only, if I ever throw myself upon your
good mercy, you m.ay be sure that I shall have first tried
everybody else in vain."
Mr. Brown left, fuming.
"I said nothing out of the way to him, did I?" mother
asked, when he had gone.
I replied that I feared she went a little too far, and had
hurt his feelings.
"Don't talk rubbish," she rejoined. "His skiu is much
thicker than you imagine. The Saviour and his Apostles
spoke plainer truth, a good deal, to the High Priest than I did
to Mr. Brown. I knew very well where I stood, and I'll defy
him to send me a summons, big a man as he is."
That night, Abraham Jones, the overseer at the Red Pields
Pit, came to our house to notify mother that good and constant
work was being kept for Bob by the time he came home, and that
whatever money she might stand in need of, meanwhile, was to
be had. Bob to make re-payment from his wages as best he could.
Mother having cried a little, and expressed her thanks, over and
over again, gave Abraham — a zealous Congregationalist — par-
ticulars of the parson's visit, which diverted him greatly. On
leaving, he handed mother a sovereign by way of loan. She
looked at the coin on every side and from every angle, as one
looks at an old friend whose face he has almost forgotten.
"'A good man showeth favour and lendeth,' " she said; " 'he
"will guide his affairs with discretion.' Do you know what? Ihad
nearly forgotten the sort of person our Queen was. I remember
a time when I was right well acquainted with her. I hope we'll
see each other oftener in the future. Long life and grace, both
to her and her children, is the sincere wish of my heart."