Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

RHYS LEWIS. 381
whom we could depend ; and divers of us, as the time
approached, found ourselves in a serious fix. Notably was
this the case with me. During my four years of college life
Miss Hughes was wondrous kind in asking me to spend vaca-
tion time at her house. But I foresaw that the circumstances
would be different after I had finished my course, or rather
after I had left college. Even if she were willing to receive
me again into her home, I considered it would be shameless
presumption to take advantage of the fact. I could not bear
the notion of playing the part of gentleman-idler during the
week, and going about to preach upon the Sunday. Williams,
my fellow-lodger, was precisely in the same predicament, and
many were the serious " confabs " between us as to what we
were going to do. At times he would treat the question jocu-
larly.
"What wonder is it, tell us," he said to me one night, "that
Methodist preachers should cast about them for some old gal
with plenty of tin ? Look at us two : we shall be leaving Bala
within the month, and what are we to do for a livelihood ? I
swear no one shall say of me that I did nothing through
the week besides wearing a frock coat. I see you have a much
better chance than I. Four years in college has so spoiled my
hands that I needn't think of re-commencing my old occupa-
tion, but as for you, you can put an advertisement in the
Liverpool Mercury : —
Wai^ted— By a young man who has spent four years at col-
lege, who knows a little Latin and Greek, and a lot of Divinity,
a situation as draper's assistant. Can preach well. Salary no
object, provided he gets his Saturdays to go to, and his Mon-
days to return from his teithia*
" As for me, I see nothing left me to do but to try for a situa-
tion on the railway as ticket collector, unless I * go out to the
Blacks,' as your old friend Thomas Bartley says. What if you
were to try and creep up the sleeve of the Bishop of St. Asaph,
and I were to do the same with the Bishop of Bangor, eh ? It
Sabbatli journeyiiig.— TiiANSLATou-