Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

258 J^HYS LEWIS.
•would be able to copy tbem out pretty correctly next morning.
It's a fact, Sir. Do you think I don't know what religion is ?
He puts down four shillings a month for mother, four shillings
for himself, and a shilling for me, regularly, on Communion
book. But do you s'pose credit is given for that in the ledger
up above? It's all my eye, lad. I know how things should be
done, right enough, even if I don't do them myself. If the
gaffer fancies he can shut his conscience up in that way, I'm
wide awake enough to know we can't cheat the Almighty.
I'm as certain as anybody that it is necessary to live religious-
ly three hundred and sixty five days in the year, and not fifty
two. Father and mother would make proper honorary
members of a church if there were any. But there are none,
I know, and so it '11 be no go with them in the end."
' ' Your responsibility is so much the greater, Will ; knowing
what you ought to do and not doing it," said I.
" Do you think you're telling me anything new?" he asked.
" I learnt all that when I was a kid. I am only speaking of
the kind of rearing I've had, and what I have seen at home.
*It is enough for the disciple that he be as his father.' There's
a verse of that sort, isn't there ? "
" ' As his master,' " said I.
" Quite so," quoth Will. "It's very odd I can never repeat
a verse without making some mistake, although I know
hundreds of comic songs, right off the reel. But, with reference
to religion, father and master, it's all the same ; and perhaps it
may be father in the original, as they say. But to the point
at issue. I know what a professor should be, both on Sunday
and on Monday ; but I've seen so much humbug, fudge and
hypocrisy carried on that it's made my heart quite hard, and
filled my pockets with wild oats, which I am bound to go and
sow, I fancy. Do you know what ? I am quite ashamed to
stay in Communion. Everybody must be aware I'm not fit to
be there, and the Great King knows that my father, who
compels me to belong to it, is just as fit to be there as myself.
As a family, there is no more religion in us than in a milestone;
nor as much, for that does answer the purpose for which it was
made. You know I'm not a bad sort, by nature. I myself
have often wondered how I'm so good. I've sometimes thought