Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

RHYS LEWIS. 2 S3
circumstances, would be compelled to say it was of that youth's
father, who was with Abel Hughes, the people talked. The
chapel children, with whom I had lately laboured pretty as-
siduously, would wonder that the man upon his trial was my
uncle, and that the dead man, as bad as he, was my father. A
thing of that kind would not be pleasant to contemplate. I
reflected, further, that if I were to notify the police of my
uncle's retreat, it was ten to one they would not be able to
catch him, the probability being that by this time James Lewis
was far enough away, and that old Nic'las would say my story
was a lie from beginning to end. In that case I would only
be reviving unpleasant tales to no particular purpose, save
that of making many people believe I was poking fun at the
police. But what most afiFected my determination were my
mother's words: " If ever you meet with your father, try and
forget his sins; and, if you can do any good to him, do it." I
believe the spirit of that injunction applied equally to my
uncle ; and furthermore, that had mother been similarly cir-
cumstanced, she would not have delivered her brother-in-law
into the hands of the authorities. She was a good woman, and
why could I not be good, also, while keeping this secret to my-
self ? I resolved to remain silent, feeling pretty sure, at the
time, there was no danger of my uncle's showing his face to me
again. Whether the resolution was wise or unwise will here-
after appear, if I succeed in completing this autobiography.
It is no difficult matter to keep a secret when the keeper
happens to be the man whom its divulgence would most injure.
Keeping it for another's sake— there's the rub. Even the Devil
does not tempt us to disclose a thing to our own shame, or
that of our family. That is his reserve fund for drawing
upon in the future. The man who refuses to lend his tongue
to the relation of his neighbour's faults and scandals when
the relation would do ro good, apprises the world that he will,
some day, be a citizen of that country wherein there is no
"fault-upbraiding," and where angels will not object to con-
sider him one of themselves. A few days after the occurrence
noted, I began to compliment myself upon my prudence; only,
I must admit, I did not possess that feeling of unalloyed happi.
ness which a man enjoys after he has done the right, although