Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

1 68 RHYS LEWIS.
talk so that yow can understand me. Do you find any change
in your disposition and mind, these days, difi'erent to what you
used to, we'll say three months ago ? "
" A great change, 'deed to you, Abel Hugheb," replied
Thomas Bartley.
" Well, tell us, in your own way, what it is," said Abel.
" You never met my worse at speakin', Abel Ilughes; but
before I began comin' to chapel, Barbara nor me never thought
anythin' on the blessed earth about our end. But now there isii"t
a day goes over our heads that we don't talk about it. I think
a good deal of what'll happen to us when we go from here—
will Barbara and I be together, and shall we be comfortable ? "
"That's right, Thomas," said Abel. "What do you think
you must get here, so that you may be made comfortable after
going from here ? "
" Well," replied Thomas, " I can't tell you, guzzactly. But
I'm thinking ifs trust in Christ, as Mary Lewis says."
"Don't change your mind as to that, Thomas bach," said
Abel. " You and I, and all of us, will be quite safe if we only
trust in Him. You had a son, Thomas, who has gone to Him,
without doubt. Seth, innocent as he was, got to know the
Man ; and I cannot wish you both, or myself, better than to be
able to tell, as clearly as Seth did, where he was going to."
At mention of Seth great tears fell down Thomas's cheek, so
choking his utterance that it was quite impossible to get
another word from him. Barbara's check apron became wet
with the same kind of moisture. Abel Hughes was a stern
man, but he had a large heart ; and when he wept, his teais,
like summer rain, took effect on everything round about, save
the rocks. So happened it this time, for he was completely
overcome. Presently regaining his composure, he asked the
church to signify its assent to the reception of Thomas and
Barbara Bartley into membership. Before any hand could be
raised, John Lloyd asked whether Thomas Bartley was an
abstainer ?
" Hark at the old Scraper," said Will Bryan in my ear.
Abel, without taking it upon him that he had heard John
Lloyd's question, declared the Bartleys to have been duly
admitted.