SoJohnJonesandmyselfsetoffacrosstheBerwyntovisitthebirthplaceofthegreatpoetHuwMorris。WeascendedthemountainbyAlltPaddy。Themorningwasloweringandbeforewehadhalfgottothetopitbegantorain。JohnJoneswasinhisusualgoodspirits。Suddenlytakingmebythearmhetoldmetolooktotherightacrossthegorgetoawhitehouse,whichhepointedout。
\"Whatisthereinthathouse?\"saidI。
\"Anauntofminelivesthere,\"saidhe。
Havingfrequentlyheardhimcalloldwomenhisaunts,Isaid,\"Everypooroldwomanintheneighbourhoodseemstobeyouraunt。\"
\"Thisisnopooroldwoman,\"saidhe,\"sheiscyfoethawgiawn,andonlylastweekshesentmeandmyfamilyapoundofbacon,whichwouldhavecostmesixpence—halfpenny,andaboutamonthagoameasureofwheat。\"
Wepassedoverthetopofthemountain,anddescendingtheothersidereachedLlansanfraid,andstoppedatthepublic—housewherewehadbeenbefore,andcalledfortwoglassesofale。WhilstdrinkingouraleJonesaskedsomequestionsaboutHuwMorrisofthewomanwhoservedus;shesaidthathewasafamouspoet,andthatpeopleofhisbloodwereyetlivinguponthelandswhichhadbelongedtohimatPontyMeibion。Jonestoldherthathiscompanion,thegwrboneddig,meaningmyself,hadcomeinordertoseethebirth—placeofHuwMorris,andthatIwaswellacquaintedwithhisworks,havinggottenthembyheartinLloegr,whenaboy。
ThewomansaidthatnothingwouldgivehergreaterpleasurethantohearaSaisrecitepoetryofHuwMorris,whereuponIrecitedanumberofhislinesaddressedtotheGofDu,orblacksmith。Thewomanheldupherhands,andacarterwhowasinthekitchensomewhattheworseforliquor,shoutedapplause。Afteraskingafewquestionsastotheroadweweretotake,weleftthehouse,andinalittletimeenteredthevalleyofCeiriog。Thevalleyisverynarrow,hugehillsoverhangingitonbothsides,thoseontheeastsidelumpyandbare,thoseonthewestprecipitous,andpartiallycladwithwood;thetorrentCeiriogrunsdownit,clingingtotheeastside;theroadistolerablygood,andistothewestofthestream。Shortlyafterwehadenteredthegorge,wepassedbyasmallfarm—houseonourrighthand,withahawthornhedgebeforeit,uponwhichseemstostandapeacock,curiouslycutoutofthorn。PassingonwecametoaplacecalledPandyuchaf,orthehigherFullingmill。Theplacesocalledisacollectionofruinoushouses,whichputmeinmindoftheFullingmillsmentionedin\"DonQuixote。\"ItiscalledthePandybecausetherewasformerlyafullingmillhere,saidtohavebeenthefirstestablishedinWales;whichisstilltobeseen,butwhichisnolongerworked。Justabovetheoldmillthereisameetingofstreams,theTarwfromthewestrollsdownadarkvalleyintotheCeiriog。
AttheentranceofthisvalleyandjustbeforeyoureachthePandy,whichitnearlyoverhangs,isanenormouscrag。AfterIhadlookedattheplaceforsometimewithconsiderableinterestweproceededtowardsthesouth,andinabouttwentyminutesreachedaneatkindofhouse,onourrighthand,whichJohnJonestoldmestoodonthegroundofHuwMorris。Tellingmetowait,hewenttothehouse,andaskedsomequestions。AfteralittletimeIfollowedhimandfoundhimdiscoursingatthedoorwithastoutdameaboutfifty—
fiveyearsofage,andastoutbuxomdamselofaboutseventeen,veryshortofstature。
\"Thisisthegentleman\"saidhe,\"whowishestoseeanythingtheremaybehereconnectedwithHuwMorris。\"
Theolddamemademeacurtsey,andsaidinverydistinctWelsh,\"Wehavesomethingsinthehousewhichbelongedtohim,andwewillshowthemtothegentlemanwillingly。\"
\"Wefirstofallwishtoseehischair,\"saidJohnJones。
\"Thechairisinawallinwhatiscalledthehenffordd(oldroad),\"saidtheoldgentlewoman;\"itiscutoutofthestonewall,youwillhavemaybesomedifficultyingettingtoit,butthegirlshallshowittoyou。\"Thegirlnowmotionedtoustofollowher,andconductedusacrosstheroadtosomestonesteps,overawalltoaplacewhichlookedlikeaplantation。
\"Thiswastheoldroad,\"saidJones;\"buttheplacehasbeenenclosed。Thenewroadisaboveusonourrighthandbeyondthewall。\"
Wewereinamazeoftangledshrubs,theboughsofwhich,verywetfromtherainwhichwasstillfalling,struckourfaces,asweattemptedtomakeourwaybetweenthem;thegirlledtheway,bare—
headedandbare—armed,andsoonbroughtustothewall,theboundaryofthenewroad。Alongthisshewentwithconsiderabledifficulty,owingtothetangledshrubs,andthenatureoftheground,whichwasveryprecipitous,shelvingdowntotheothersideoftheenclosure。Inalittletimewewerewettotheskin,andcoveredwiththedirtofbirds,whichtheyhadleftwhileroostinginthetrees;onwentthegirl,sometimescreeping,andtryingtokeepherselffromfallingbyholdingagainsttheyoungtrees;onceortwiceshefellandweafterher,fortherewasnopath,andtheground,asIhavesaidbeforeveryshelvy;stillasshewenthereyesweredirectedtowardsthewall,whichwasnotalwaysveryeasytobeseen,forthorns,tallnettlesandshrubs,weregrowingupagainstit。Hereandthereshestopped,andsaidsomething,whichIcouldnotalwaysmakeout,forherWelshwasanythingbutclear;
atlengthIheardhersaythatshewasafraidwehadpassedthechair,andindeedpresentlywecametoaplacewheretheenclosureterminatedinasharpcorner。
\"Letusgoback,\"saidI;\"wemusthavepassedit。\"
Inowwentfirst,breakingdownwithmyweighttheshrubsnearesttothewall。
\"Isnotthistheplace?\"saidI,pointingtoakindofhollowinthewall,whichlookedsomethingliketheshapeofachair。
\"Hardly,\"saidthegirl,\"forthereshouldbeaslabontheback,withletters,butthere’sneitherslabnorlettershere。\"
Thegirlnowagainwentforward,andweretracedourway,doingthebestwecouldtodiscoverthechair,butalltonopurpose;nochairwastobefound。Wehadnowbeen,asIimagined,half—an—
hourintheenclosure,andhadnearlygotbacktotheplacefromwhichwehadsetout,whenwesuddenlyheardthevoiceoftheoldladyexclaiming,\"Whatareyedoingthere,thechairisontheothersideofthefield;waitabit,andIwillcomeandshowityou;\"gettingoverthestonestile,whichledintothewilderness,shecametous,andwenowwentalongthewallatthelowerend;wehadquiteasmuchdifficultyhereasontheotherside,andinsomeplacesmore,forthenettleswerehigher,theshrubsmoretangled,andthethornsmoreterrible。Theground,however,wasrathermorelevel。Ipitiedthepoorgirlwholedtheway,andwhosefatnakedarmswerebothstungandtorn。Sheatlaststoppedamidstahugegroveofnettles,doingthebestshecouldtoshelterherarmsfromthestingingleaves。
\"Ineverwasinsuchawildernessinmylife,\"saidItoJohnJones,\"isitpossiblethatthechairofthemightyHuwisinaplacelikethis;whichseemsnevertohavebeentroddenbyhumanfoot。WelldoestheScripturesay’Dimprophwydywyncaelbarchyneidireihunan。’\"
Thislastsentencetickledthefancyofmyworthyfriend,theCalvinistic—Methodist,helaughedaloudandrepeateditoverandoveragaintothefemales,withamplifications。
\"Isthechairreallyhere,\"saidI,\"orhasitbeendestroyed?ifsuchathinghasbeendoneitisadisgracetoWales。\"
\"Thechairisreallyhere,\"saidtheoldlady,\"andthoughHuwMoruswasnoprophet,weloveandreverenceeverythingbelongingtohim。GetonLlances,thechaircan’tbefaroff;\"thegirlmovedon,andpresentlytheoldladyexclaimed,\"There’sthechair,DiolchiDuw!\"
Iwasthelastofthefile,butInowrushedpastJohnJones,whowasbeforeme,andnexttotheoldlady,andsureenoughtherewasthechair,inthewall,ofhimwhowascalledinhisday,andstilliscalledbythemountaineersofWales,thoughhisbodyhasbeenbelowtheearthinthequietchurch—yardonehundredandfortyyears,EosCeiriog,theNightingaleofCeiriog,thesweetcarollerHuwMorus,theenthusiasticpartizanofCharlesandtheChurchofEngland,andthenever—tiringlampoonerofOliverandtheIndependents。Thereitwas,akindofhollowinthestonewall,inthehenffordd,frontingtothewest,justabovethegorgeatthebottomofwhichmurmursthebrookCeiriog,thereitwas,somethinglikeahalfbarrelchairinagarden,amoulderingstoneslabformingtheseat,andalargeslatestone,theback,onwhichwerecuttheseletters—
H。M。B。
signifyingHuwMorusBard。
\"Sitdowninthechair,GwrBoneddig,\"saidJohnJones,\"youhavetakentroubleenoughtogettoit。\"
\"Do,gentleman,\"saidtheoldlady;\"butfirstletmewipeitwithmyapron,foritisverywetanddirty。\"
\"Letitbe,\"saidI;thentakingoffmyhatIstooduncoveredbeforethechair,andsaidinthebestWelshIcouldcommand,\"ShadeofHuwMorus,supposingyourshadehauntstheplacewhichyoulovedsowellwhenalive—aSaxon,oneoftheseedoftheCoilingSerpent,hascometothisplacetopaythatrespecttotruegenius,theDawnDuw,whichheiseverreadytopay。HereadthesongsoftheNightingaleofCeirioginthemostdistantpartofLloegr,whenhewasabrown—hairedboy,andnowthatheisagrey—
hairedmanheiscometosayinthisplacethattheyfrequentlymadehiseyesoverflowwithtearsofrapture。\"
Ithensatdowninthechair,andcommencedrepeatingversesofHuwMorris。AllwhichIdidinthepresenceofthestoutoldlady,theshort,buxomandbare—armeddamsel,andofJohnJonestheCalvinisticweaverofLlangollen,allofwhomlistenedpatientlyandapprovingly,thoughtherainwaspouringdownuponthem,andthebranchesofthetreesandthetopsofthetallnettles,agitatedbythegustsfromthemountainhollows,werebeatingintheirfaces,forenthusiasmisneverscoffedatbythenoblesimple—minded,genuineWelsh,whatevertreatmentitmayreceivefromthecoarse—hearted,sensual,selfishSaxon。
Aftersometime,ourpartyreturnedtothehouse—whichputmeverymuchinmindofthefarm—housesofthesubstantialyeomenofCornwall,particularlythatofmyfriendsatPenquite;acomfortablefireblazedinthekitchengrate,thefloorwascomposedoflargeflagsofslate。Inthekitchentheoldladypointedtometheffon,orwalking—stick,ofHuwMorris;itwassupportedagainstabeambythreehooks;Itookitdownandwalkedaboutthekitchenwithit;itwasathinpolishedblackstick,withacromecutintheshapeofaneagle’shead;attheendwasabrassfence。Thekindcreaturethenproducedaswordwithoutascabbard;
thisswordwasfoundbyHuwMorrisonthemountain—itbelongedtooneofOliver’sofficerswhowaskilledthere。Itookthesword,whichwasathintwo—edgedone,andseemedtobemadeofverygoodsteel;itputmeinmindofthebladeswhichIhadseenatToledo—
theguardwasveryslightlikethoseofallrapiers,andthehiltthecommonold—fashionedEnglishofficer’shilt—therewasnorustontheblade,anditstilllookedadangeroussword。AmanlikeThistlewoodwouldhavewhippeditthroughhisadversaryinatwinkling。IaskedtheoldladyifHuwMorriswasborninthishouse;shesaidno,butalittlefartheronatPontyMeibion;shesaid,however,thatthegroundhadbelongedtohim,andthattheyhadsomeofhisbloodintheirveins。Ishookherbythehand,andgavethechubbybare—armeddamselashilling,pointingtothemarksofthenettlestingsonherfatbacon—likearms。Shelaughed,mademeacurtsey,andsaid:\"Llaweriawnodiolch。\"
JohnJonesandIthenproceededtothehouseatPontyMeibion,wherewesawtwomen,oneturningagrind—stone,andtheotherholdinganadzetoit。WeaskedifwewereatthehouseofHuwMorris,andwhethertheycouldtellusanythingabouthim;theymadeusnoanswerbutproceededwiththeiroccupation;JohnJonesthensaidthattheGwrBoneddigwasveryfondoftheversesofHuwMorris,andhadcomeagreatwaytoseetheplacewherehewasborn。Thewheelnowceasedturning,andthemanwiththeadzeturnedhisfacefulluponme—hewasastern—looking,darkman,withblackhair,ofaboutforty;afteramomentortwohesaidthatifIchosetowalkintothehouseIshouldbewelcome。Hethenconductedusintothehouse,acommon—lookingstonetenement,andbadeusbeseated。IaskedhimifhewasadescendantofHuwMorus;hesaidhewas;Iaskedhimhisname,whichhesaidwasHuw—。\"HaveyouanyofthemanuscriptsofHuwMorus?\"saidI。
\"None,\"saidhe,\"butIhaveoneoftheprintedcopiesofhisworks。\"
Hethenwenttoadrawer,andtakingoutabook,putitintomyhand,andseatedhimselfinablunt,carelessmanner。ThebookwasthefirstvolumeofthecommonWrexhameditionofHuw’sworks;itwasmuchthumbed—IcommencedreadingaloudapiecewhichIhadmuchadmiredinmyboyhood。Iwentonforsometime,mymindquiteoccupiedwithmyreading;atlastliftingmyeyesIsawthemanstandingboltuprightbeforeme,likeasoldierofthedaysofmychildhood,duringthetimethattheadjutantreadprayers;hishatwasnolongeruponhishead,butontheground,andhiseyeswerereverentlyinclinedtothebook。Afterallwhatabeautifulthingitis,nottobe,buttohavebeenagenius。Closingthebook,I
askedhimwhetherHuwMorriswasborninthehousewherewewere,andreceivedforanswerthathewasbornaboutwherewestood,butthattheoldhousehadbeenpulleddown,andthatofallthepremisesonlyasmallout—housewascoevalwithHuwMorris。I
askedhimthenameofthehouse,andhesaidPontyMeibion。
\"Butwhereisthebridge?\"saidI。
\"Thebridge,\"hereplied,\"iscloseby,overtheCeiriog。Ifyouwishtoseeit,youmustgodownyonfield,thehouseiscalledafterthebridge。\"Biddinghimfarewell,wecrossedtheroadandgoingdownthefieldspeedilyarrivedatPontyMeibion。ThebridgeisasmallbridgeofonearchwhichcrossesthebrookCeiriog—itisbuiltofroughmoorstone;itismossy,broken,andlooksalmostinconceivablyold;thereisalittleparapettoitabouttwofeethigh。Ontheright—handsideitisshadedbyanash。Thebrookwhenweviewedit,thoughattimesaroaringtorrent,wasstealingalonggently,onbothsidesitisovergrownwithalders,noblehillsriseaboveittotheeastandwest,JohnJonestoldmethatitaboundedwithtrout。IaskedhimwhythebridgewascalledPontyMeibion,whichsignifiesthebridgeofthechildren。\"Itwasbuiltoriginallybychildren,\"saidhe,\"forthepurposeofcrossingthebrook。\"
\"Thatbridge,\"saidI,\"wasneverbuiltbychildren。\"
\"Thefirstbridge,\"saidhe,\"wasofwood,andwasbuiltbythechildrenofthehousesabove。\"
Notquitesatisfiedwithhisexplanation,Iaskedhimtowhatplacethelittlebridgeled,andwastoldthathebelieveditledtoanuplandfarm。Aftertakingalongandwistfulviewofthebridgeandthesceneryaroundit,IturnedmyheadinthedirectionofLlangollen。Theadventuresofthedaywere,however,notfinished。
CHAPTERXXI
TheGloomyValley—TheLonelyCottage—HappyComparison—Clogs—
TheAlderSwamp—TheWoodenLeg—TheMilitiaman—Death—bedVerses。
ONreachingtheruinedvillagewherethePandystoodIstopped,andlookedupthegloomyvalleytothewest,downwhichthebrookwhichjoinstheCeiriogatthisplace,descends,whereuponJohnJonessaid,thatifIwishedtogoupitalittlewayheshouldhavegreatpleasureinattendingme,andthatheshouldshowmeacottagebuiltinthehenddull,oroldfashion,towhichhefrequentlywenttoaskfortherent;hebeingemployedbyvariousindividualsinthecapacityofrent—gatherer。IsaidthatIwasafraidthatifhewasarent—collector,bothheandIshouldhaveasorrywelcome。\"Nofear,\"hereplied,\"thepeopleareverygoodpeople,andpaytheirrentveryregularly,\"andwithoutsayinganotherwordheledthewayupthevalley。Attheendofthevillage,seeingawomanstandingatthedoorofoneoftheruinouscottages,Iaskedherthenameofthebrook,ortorrent,whichcamedownthevalley。\"TheTarw,\"saidshe,\"andthisvillageiscalledPandyTeirw。\"
\"Whyisthestreamletcalledthebull?\"saidI。\"IsitbecauseitcomesinwinterweatherroaringdowntheglenandbuttingattheCeiriog?\"
Thewomanlaughed,andrepliedthatperhapsitwas。Thevalleywaswildandsolitarytoanextraordinarydegree,thebrookortorrentrunninginthemiddleofitcoveredwithaldertrees。Afterwehadproceededaboutafurlongwereachedthehouseoftheoldfashion—
itwasarudestonecottagestandingalittleabovetheroadonakindofplatformontheright—handsideoftheglen;therewasapalingbeforeitwithagate,atwhichapigwasscreaming,asifanxioustogetin。\"Itwantsitsdinner,\"saidJohnJones,andopenedthegateformetopass,takingprecautionsthatthescreamerdidnotenteratthesametime。Weenteredthecottage,verygladtogetintoit,astormofwindandrainhavingjustcomeon。Nobodywasinthekitchenwhenweentered,itlookedcomfortableenough,however,therewasanexcellentfireofwoodandcoals,andaverysnugchimneycorner。JohnJonescalledaloud,butforsometimenooneanswered;atlastarathergood—
lookingwoman,seeminglyaboutthirty,madeherappearanceatadooratthefartherendofthekitchen。\"Isthemistressathome,\"
saidJones,\"orthemaster?\"
\"Theyareneitherathome,\"saidthewoman,\"themasterisabroadathiswork,andthemistressisatthefarm—houseof—threemilesofftopickfeathers(trwsioplu)。\"Sheaskedustositdown。
\"Andwhoareyou?\"saidI。
\"Iamonlyalodger,\"saidshe,\"Ilodgeherewithmyhusbandwhoisaclog—maker。\"
\"CanyouspeakEnglish?\"saidI。
\"Ohyes,\"saidshe,\"IlivedelevenyearsinEngland,ataplacecalledBolton,whereImarriedmyhusband,whoisanEnglishman。\"
\"CanhespeakWelsh?\"saidI。
\"Notaword,\"saidshe。\"WealwaysspeakEnglishtogether。\"
JohnJonessatdown,andIlookedabouttheroom。Itexhibitednoappearanceofpoverty;therewasplentyofrudebutgoodfurnitureinit;severalpewterplatesandtrenchersinarack,twoorthreeprintsinframesagainstthewall,oneofwhichwasthelikenessofnolessapersonthantheRev。JosephSanders,onthetablewasanewspaper。\"IsthatinWelsh?\"saidI。
\"No,\"repliedthewoman,\"itistheBOLTONCHRONICLE,myhusbandreadsit。\"
Isatdowninthechimney—corner。Thewindwasnowhowlingabroad,andtherainwasbeatingagainstthecottagepanes—presentlyagustofwindcamedownthechimney,scatteringsparksallabout。
\"Acataractofsparks!\"saidI,usingthewordRhaiadr。
\"WhatisRhaiadr?\"saidthewoman;\"Ineverheardthewordbefore。\"
\"Rhaiadrmeanswatertumblingoverarock,\"saidJohnJones—\"didyouneverseewatertumbleoverthetopofarock?\"
\"Frequently,\"saidshe。
\"Well,\"saidhe,\"evenasthewaterwithitsfrothtumblesovertherock,sodidsparksandfiretumbleoverthefrontofthatgratewhenthewindblewdownthechimney。ItwasahappycomparisonoftheGwrBoneddig,andwithrespecttoRhaiadritisagoodoldword,thoughnotacommonone;someoftheSaxonswhohavereadtheoldwritings,thoughtheycannotspeakthelanguageasfastaswe,understandmanywordsandthingswhichwedonot。\"
\"IforgotmuchofmyWelshinthelandoftheSaxons,\"saidthewoman,\"andsohavemanyothers;thereareplentyofWelshatBolton,buttheirWelshissadlycorrupted。\"
Shethenwentoutandpresentlyreturnedwithaninfantinherarmsandsatdown。\"WasthatchildborninWales?\"Idemanded。
\"No,\"saidshe,\"hewasbornatBolton,abouteighteenmonthsago—
wehavebeenhereonlyayear。\"
\"DomanyEnglish,\"saidI,\"marryWelshwives?\"
\"Agreatmany,\"saidshe。\"PlentyofWelshgirlsaremarriedtoEnglishmenatBolton。\"
\"DotheEnglishmenmakegoodhusbands?\"saidI。
Thewomansmiledandpresentlysighed。
\"Herhusband,\"saidJones,\"isfondofaglassofaleandisoftenatthepublic—house。\"
\"Imakenocomplaint,\"saidthewoman,lookingsomewhatangrilyatJohnJones。
\"Isyourhusbandatallbulkyman?\"saidI。
\"Justso,\"saidthewoman。
\"Thelargestofthetwomenwesawtheothernightatthepublic—
houseatLlansanfraid,\"saidItoJohnJones。
\"Idon’tknowhim,\"saidJones,\"thoughIhaveheardofhim,butI
havenodoubtthatwashe。\"
Iaskedthewomanhowherhusbandcouldcarryonthetradeofaclog—makerinsucharemoteplace—andalsowhetherhehawkedhisclogsaboutthecountry。
\"Wecallhimaclog—maker,\"saidthewoman,\"butthetruthisthathemerelycutsdownthewoodandfashionsitintosquares,thesearetakenbyanunder—masterwhosendsthemtothemanufactureratBolton,whoemployshands,whomakethemintoclogs。\"
\"SomeoftheEnglish,\"saidJones,\"aresopoorthattheycannotaffordtobuyshoes;apairofshoescosttenortwelveshillings,whereasapairofclogsonlycosttwo。\"
\"Isuppose,\"saidI,\"thatwhatyoucallclogsarewoodenshoes。\"
\"Justso,\"saidJones—\"theyareprincipallyusedintheneighbourhoodofManchester。\"
\"IhaveseenthematHuddersfield,\"saidI,\"whenIwasaboyatschoolthere;ofwhatwoodaretheymade?\"
\"Ofthegwern,oraldertree,\"saidthewoman,\"ofwhichthereisplentyonbothsidesofthebrook。\"
JohnJonesnowaskedherifshecouldgivehimatamaidofbread;
shesaidshecould,\"andsomebutterwithit。\"
Shethenwentoutandpresentlyreturnedwithaloafandsomebutter。
\"Hadyounotbetterwait,\"saidI,\"tillwegettotheinnatLlansanfraid?\"
Thewoman,however,beggedhimtoeatsomebreadandbutterwherehewas,andcuttingaplateful,placeditbeforehim,havingfirstofferedmesomewhichIdeclined。
\"Butyouhavenothingtodrinkwithit,\"saidItohim。
\"Ifyouplease,\"saidthewoman,\"Iwillgoforapintofaletothepublic—houseatthePandy,thereisbetteraletherethanattheinnatLlansanfraid。WhenmyhusbandgoestoLlansanfraidhegoeslessforthealethanfortheconversation,becausethereislittleEnglishspokenatthePandyhowevergoodtheale。\"
JohnJonessaidhewantednoale—andattackingthebreadandbutterspeedilymadeanendofit;bythetimehehaddonethestormwasover,andgettingupIgavethechildtwopence,andleftthecottagewithJones。Weproceededsomewayfartherupthevalley,tillwecametoaplacewherethegrounddescendedalittle。HereJonestouchingmeontheshoulderpointedacrossthestream。Followingwithmyeyethedirectionofhisfinger,Isawtwoorthreesmallshedswithanumberofsmallreddishblocksinregularpilesbeneaththem。Severaltreesfelledfromthesideofthetorrentwerelyingnear,someofthemstrippedoftheirarmsandbark。Asmalltreeformedabridgeacrossthebrooktothesheds。
\"Itisthere,\"saidJohnJones,\"thatthehusbandofthewomanwithwhomwehavebeenspeakingworks,fellingtreesfromthealderswampandcuttingthemupintoblocks。Iseethereisnoworkgoingonatpresentorwewouldgoover—thewomantoldmethatherhusbandwasatLlangollen。\"
\"Whatastrangeplacetocometoworkat,\"saidI,\"outofcrowdedEngland。Hereisnothingtobeheardbutthemurmuringofwatersandtherushingofwinddownthegulleys。Iftheman’sheadisnotfullofpoeticalfancies,whichIsupposeitisnot,asinthatcasehewouldbeunfitforanyusefulemployment,Idon’twonderathisoccasionallygoingtothepublic—house。\"
Aftergoingalittlefurtheruptheglenandobservingnothingmoreremarkablethanwehadseenalready,weturnedback。BeingovertakenbyanotherviolentshowerjustaswereachedthePandyI
thoughtthatwecoulddonobetterthanshelterourselveswithinthepublic—house,andtastetheale,whichthewifeoftheclog—
makerhadpraised。Weenteredthelittlehostelrywhichwasoneoftwoorthreeshabby—lookinghouses,standingincontact,closebytheCeiriog。Inakindoflittlebackroom,lightedbyagoodfireandawindowwhichlookeduptheCeiriogvalley,wefoundthelandlady,agentlewomanwithawoodenleg,whoonperceivingmegotupfromachair,andmademethebestcurtseythatIeversawmadebyafemalewithsuchasubstituteforalegoffleshandbone。
Therewerethreemen,sittingwithjugsofalenearthemonatablebythefire,twowereseatedonabenchbythewall,andtheotheronasettlewithahighback,whichranfromthewalljustbythedoor,andshieldedthosebythefirefromthedraughtsofthedoorway。Heofthesettlenosoonerbeheldmethanhesprangup,andplacingachairformebythefirebademeinEnglishbeseated,andthenresumedhisownseat。JohnJonessoonfindingachaircameandsatdownbyme,whenIforthwithcalledforaquartofcwrwda。Thelandladybustledaboutonherwoodenlegandpresentlybroughtusthealewithtwoglasses,whichIfilled,andtakingonedranktothehealthofthecompanywhoreturnedusthanks,themanofthesettleinEnglishratherbroken。Presentlyoneofhiscompanionsgettinguppaidhisreckoninganddeparted,theotherremained,astoutyoungfellowdressedsomethinglikeastone—mason,whichindeedIsoondiscoveredthathewas—hewasfaradvancedtowardsastateofintoxicationandtalkedveryincoherentlyaboutthewar,sayingthathehopeditwouldsoonterminate,forthatifitcontinuedhewasafraidhemightstandachanceofbeingshot,ashewasaprivateintheDenbighshireMilitia。ItoldhimthatitwasthedutyofeverygentlemaninthemilitiatobewillingatalltimestolaydownhislifeintheserviceoftheQueen。TheanswerwhichhemadeIcouldnotexactlyunderstand,hisutterancebeingveryindistinctandbroken;itwas,however,madewithsomedegreeofviolence,withtwoorthreeMynDiawls,andablowonthetablewithhisclenchedfist。HethenaskedmewhetherIthoughtthemilitiawouldbeagaincalledout。
\"Nothingmoreprobable,\"saidI。