Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

366 EHYS LEWIS.
'"Deed! And I had heard rou were awful smokers here !
But, whatever, as that man from the South said, let's go and
look what we can see. I want you to show me three things—
Bala Green, that your mother ever and always used to talk
ahout ; the lake and the clock. I heard my father, hundreds
of times, say of a safe thing that it was as right as Bala clock."
" We'll go and see the lake first, Thomas," said I, for I was
anxious to pass quickly through the town in the direction of
Llanycil, so as to escape notice. But that was a bigger job
than I had thought. Thomas insisted on stopping to look at
everything. Standing in the middle of the road, his hands
under his coat-tails and his hat tilted back upon his nape, he
shouted, " Ehys, wait a bit ! Let's take breath, boy! Well,
these trees do look funny, stuck in the street, if I was never to
move ! Here's a slap-up pub ; what's it's name, Ehys ? "
" The White Lion," I said softly, and as a hint to Thomas to
pitch his remarks in the same key.
" Oh, White Lion," he rejoined at the top of his voice.
People stopped to stare at us. Shopkeepers came to their
doors, children crowded round us, and I felt certain, in my own
mind, that from Thomas's great collar and strange appearance,
they all expected to see him form a ring and turning
somersaults in front of the hotel. I did not know what to dfr,
for shame. I felt angry with Williams who enjoyed as much
the fix I was in as he did the doings of Thomas Eartley, to
whose side he stuck close. Moving on, I heard Thomas cry
out "What's the matter with you, children? What are you
gapin' at ? Did you never see a man before ? These are the
strangest lot I ever set eyes on. I hard a deal of talk about
' little Bala children.' D'ye know what? If you don't get away,
I'll put my stick across your backs ; that I will ! Ehys, what's
your hurry ? Is it all one street this town is, Mr. Williams ? I
don't see anythin' particular about it. The shops are nothin'
to speak of, and the whole place looks quiet enough. I'd
always thought Bala was a town full of chapels, churches,
clocks and schools. D'ye know what, Mr. Williams, here's
another awful nice public. What's the name of this ? "
" The Big Bull," responded Williams.