Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

158 liHYS LEWIS.
CHAPTER XXI.
Time passed, as it always does, bringing with it, as it always
brings, not only its troubles, but its consolations. Through the
kindness of overseer Abraham, our cupboard was no longer
empty, the lions no longer raged within my stomach. The
nearer the prospect of Bob's release, the brighter did my
mothers face become. And yet I knew from her talk and
demeanour that she was not without her fears for his appearance ,
for the effect of an unjust imprisonment upon his spirit, and a
thousand and one other things which a careful mother troubles
herself about under circumstances of this kind. John Powell
had already come home, and although he could not give much
account of Bob, the two having been confined apart, mother,
by "pumping and stilling," had been able to extract enough
from him to make her look forward with fear and anxiety to
the day of my brother's return. Before that day came round,
two things happened which cheered her greatly. Not to en-
large (as I sometimes say in my sermon, although I deliver
myself of every word I originally intended), I will merely touch
upon the occurrences.
The visits which our revered old deacon, Abel Hughes, paid
to our house were of such common occurrence that I took but
little notice of them, save on some special occasion like the one
I have already chronicled. But I have good reason to re-
member one visit, about a fortnight before Bob came out of
gaol. Mother and he had been conversing for some time ; I,
wholly heedless, being occupied in writing at the table near the
window, for yoa must know I had not forgotten Bob's advice
to apply myself to the work of self-improvement, so that I
might not become a collier like him. My attention was
suddenly arrested by Abel's saying to mother : —
*' It is high time, Mary, for that boy to think of doing some-
thing, especially as matters are as they are with you now."
"I am of the same mind as you exactly, Abel," replied
mother. " But what he is able to do, I don't know. He isn't
strong, nor much of a scholar."