come THE STORY OF GWEN. texts which were to be her weapons against the devil, and after all this to to breaking one of the Ten Commandments, which she knew by rote, was altogether too dreadful. Was this how the kind foster-mother was to be repaid for her disinterested love and care? If the matter had not been put in the bands of a "cwnstable," and the beggar taken up, poor Gwen would have been pardoned, were it only for Cadi's sake. But now the law must take its course. The dreadful day of trial duly came. Gwen looked around on the sea of faces like a frightened fawn. The scene was one of intense suppressed excitement, which came to a climax. When the plaintiff was kind enough to price the garment below 12 pence, a loud cheer rang through the court, for did not this free the poor distressed culprit from the horrid jaws of death! Such, reader, was the barbarous severity of English law in those dark days. The poor girl was, however, found guilty, and sentenced to transporation to one of the American colonies for ten years. Oh, the anguish of partings! Cadi had watched Gwen's every movement. She must check her own grief, and help her foster-child to bear 301 When Gwen learnt from her "mother" that transportation meant sending her away from home, she was almost heartbroken. "What right had they to send her away from her dear mother, who was all the world to her?" she demanded,in heart-broken accents. This was too difficult a question for Cadi to solve, but, swallowing her anguish, she gently said, "Thou hast, dear Gwen, although branded as a thief, the friend which sticketh closer than a brother. Trust in Him, and no harm shall yet come nigh thee. I shall pray for thee every day until thy return. May God forgive thee and be gracious unto thee." With these words Cadi had to leave her to the tender mercies of the constable. Left to her own reflections in her dark and dismal cell, Gwen had time to think over her dear mother's counsel. She fell on her knees and prayed :—"Oh God, Thou knowest I did not mean to take Betty Martin's skirt, and how sorry I was when I'd done it. I know now that it is right to send me away, but it is very hard. I want to ask Thee, Lord, to be very near my dear mother, for she will want some one to talk to, now that I am gone. Wilt Thou wash away my black sin, dear Lord Jesus, or will it eat my heart away before the ten years are over, so that I shall die in the foreign land, and not come back to my dear mother, who wants me so badly? Amen?" The tears came hard and fast, but bitter though they were they soothed her and seemed to wash out the dark past. Gwen was better She exhorted her to keep up her now. She would try and sleep, percourage, and do the right in the future, chance she might yet be at the old hers. Having not permission to accompsny her in the open cart which was to convey her to Carnarvon Goal, she made the best of her time to prevent the child's heart from being crushed or hardened by the dreadful future awaiting her. so that the devil could have no more dominion over her. "Much work meant little time," and when Gwen home in her dreams! In less than eight years after this trial in the county town of Carnarvon, should come back she would take her where Cadi had been accustomed, for the past thirty years, to do her marketing with head erect and conscious away to where she would not be known. were free, two young Welshmen pressed into service for the American war of Independence. One was his mother's Benjamin, her only unmarried son. The other was poor widow Glyn's only son and stay. How could Mrs. Morris part with Benjamin, and what would become of poor Mrs. Glyn if deprived of her only support? Whatever the consequencies, go they must, and that much against their inclination, for these stalwart young fellows did not believe in the policy of the English Government towards its colonies. What availed that with the pressgang? Had they not heard the news of Washington's victory at Bunker Hill, putting the English in such straits for forces? Even German mercenaries had to be hired! Before starting, however, they both determined to make their escape, even if it cost them their lives, for they could not fight valiantly for a cause of which they did not approve. The opportunity for this did not present itself until they reached the Bermudas. There they had to anchor for a fresh supply of water. The boat used for this purpose was left over night dancing up and down to gentle action of the waves upon the sides of the vessel. Now was their time! The darkness of the night, the boat in readiness, and the calm sea was all they could wish. Not even an Indian or a bloodhound could trace their track. After tossing for six whole days on the face of the great deep in their little craft, they were almost giving up the ghost, the provisions had run short and a dreadful storm was gathering. But just in the nick of time a French trading vessel espied them. Their little craft had evidently sailed south, for this vessel was bound for Jamaica, where, after much ill-treat ment aboard ship, they were sold as white slaves to a sugar.planter. Hard work and the hot climate soon made their mark upon them, and in a very short time, they were stowed away with many kicks and curses to die under an old shed, with no one near them to moisten their parched lips or to wipe off the dew of death from their fair foreheads! Poor Benjamin Morris succumbed to his cruel fate. But towards evening the cooler breezes somewhat restored his comrade. By-and-by he crawled out to gather a bundle of leaves, which he spread, with heavy heart, over the dead body of his friend. He wished he had strength to bury it, but this simple shroud must suffice! He must be off before the dawn came to reveal his recovered strength to the cruel planter. At dawn he thought he had but stepped from the frying pan into the fire, for a band of Indians was stealthily approaching him. Now these cannibals would surely make a meal of him, he thought, or, perchance he was too poor a bait for them, for certainly he was nothing but a bag of bones. Such were his dismal thoughts, and iudeed he cared not much what became of him. His fears, however, proved groundless, for these Indians were not of the herce Caribs. Harri Glyn was treated right royally, and to their great delight he tarried with them several days, teaching them to make Welsh fishing nets, and with his pocket-knife which he gave to them as a parting gift, he made a model fishing rod for them. Oh, that the whole world were uncivilized if civilization meant the meanness and cruelty which he had received at the hands of so-called civilized Europeans. He was now guided to a plantation where the Indians knew he would be THE STORY OF GWEN. well treated. This was, however, a day and a half's march off. Arrived there, almost dropping with fatigue, he was admitted by a kind-hearted colored housekeeper into the kitchen. After a hearty meal he fell into a heavy sleep on the settle where he sat. While he lay there asleep the mistress of the house came to have a peep at him. "What a gentle face!" she thought, "What beautiful locks!" Where had he come from? She gave orders not to disturb him until a comfortable shake-down had been prepared for him. She would see him in the morning. He was evidently an Englishman, weary and way worn. With these thoughts she quietly withdrew. In the morning he was summoned to Mrs. Maryland's parlor. She addressed him in her broken English, and when his answer came in a still more broken style, she excitedly exclaimed "Cymro yda'ch'i?" "Ie, yn wir o Gaernarvon," which means, "Are you a Welshman?" "Indeed I am, from Carnarvon." He did not notice the blush which suffused her cheek when he mentioned Carnarvon town. Her embarrassment was so great that, giving some hasty directions, she abruptly left the room. In the seclusion of her own chamber, she sat plunged in deep thought. What memories, sweet and bitter, had the mention of the name of the old town awakened in her breast! And this man, this stranger, had come so suddenly and unexpectedly across her path, who and what was he? Did he know of her story, and would he recognize in the rich planter's widow the girl who nine years before had so discredited her life's teaching, and brought such shame upon her friends and herself? She could not bring herself to face her fellow-countryman for the rest of 303 the day, but the following morning, having schooled herself to composure, she again summoned him to her presence, and drew from him his sad story. "I am glad that I am able to assist you," she said graciously in her native tongue. "Some time since I parted with my overseer, and have not yet been able to replace him. You have had sufficient experience of plantation work to be able to take up his duties, and you will soon get into our ways. If, therefore, you care for the post, you can commence at once." Harri Gyn, as may be imagined, jumped at the offer, and in a short time proved himself a thoroughly ef ficient overseer. Things which had long gone wrong from want of a master's eye were put right, and while attending to his mistress's interest he also secured the goodwill of the plantation hands, who, under the firm but gentle rule of the "buccra massa," as they called him, found themselves better off than they had been since the death of their late master, Mr. Maryland. The new overseer, however, found that he had other and far more pleasant duties to perform than looking after the negro hands. He had to attend upon his mistress during her rides about the country, and sweet and delightful he found this duty to be. This close companionship had. however, an effect upon which he had not calculated, for he woke to the consciousness that he had lost his heart utterly to this beautiful woman across whose path he had been so strangely thrown. He tried in vain to fight against his passion, and endeavored by an enforced exile from her presence to banish her from his thoughts. Taking as an excuse that his continued presence would be required for some time on a distant part of the estate, he arranged to re side for a time away from the sight of the woman who had grown to occupy all his thoughts. The effort was a vain one, for he found that in his case absence but made the heart grow fonder, and he felt that the sweet pain of looking at the woman he loved but could never hope to win would be preferable to this yearning for a glimpse of her face. Filled with these sensations, he determined upon returning to flutter like the moth around the light which charmed him while it singed him. He had reached within a couple of miles of the house, when he heard a woman's scream, followed by a voice crying in agony: "Harri! Oh, Harri, save me!" Rushing in the direction of the voice, he came upon a sight which for a moment rooted him to the spot. He beheld Mrs. Maryland struggling in the grasp of a man whom he had never before seen. "You may call till you are hoarse my proud beauty," the man said, "but you shall not escape me this time! I have sworn to make you mine, and by my soul, since you will not come by fair means, you shall by foul!" With a rush and a bound Harri Glyn was upon him, and wresting the lady from the ruffian's grasp, hurled him to the earth! With a deep curse the would-be abductor regained his feet, and with uplifted knife rushed upon Harri. Mrs. Maryland had swooned, and letting her slip to the earth, the overseer turned to meet his assailant. Catchhim by the wrist he prevented the deadly stroke, but strive as he would, he found to his horror that he was no match for his opponent, whose mocking laugh showed hi to be well aware of the advantage he was gaining. Recalling a wrestling trick of long ago, and with a desperate effort, Harri succeeded in throwing the oth er, himself, however, falling heavily upon him. A groan from the rnffian, and the sudden slackening of his grasp, told Harri that the other had been injured by his fall. Struggling to his feet, he saw what had happened. The knife, intended for Harri's heart, had found its sheath in that of the stranger who had fallen upon its upward point, and met the fate he had intended for another. With only a glance to satisfy himself that the ruffian was past the power of further injuring him, Harri hastened to where Mrs. Maryland had fallen. She had not yet recovered from her swoon, and Harri lifted her head upon his arm, pressed kiss after kiss upon the cold, irresponsive lips. "Oh, my love! my love!" he cried; "would to God I had come sooner!" and again he kissed the face of her whom he deemed dead. With a longdrawn sigh she opened her eyes, and seeing who it was that supported her, cast one beautiful arm around his neck, and sobbed "Oh Harri dear Harri! Thank God you are come!" For one brief moment of happiness he clasped her to his bosom and poured his kisses upon her. "and I had thought you dead! Thank "Oh, my love! my love!" he cried; God, I came in time after all!" SHENKYN SHADRACH. My name is Shenkyn Shadrach, The stars, we call them, Ser. CHORUS. My name is Shenkyn Shadrach, My mother's name was Shan, The land where I was born in They call it Golad y gan. FROM THE WELSH OF "CEIRIOG." Mountain brooklets, pure and limpid, on towards the sea, CAMBRIA. Rippling Gazing on thee, heather blossom, There the tiny mountain songsters When Cambria with her martial strain, Summoned her children to the plain, Did ever one so love her train As Cambria? 305 When forth they rushed with courage high, You loved them when you saw them die And when the bloody field was lost- Oh! where were then your sons, your boast, They all deserved a victor's wreath, But most had found a patriot's death; All lie at rest beneath the heath, In Cambria. Llanrhedig, Sketty, Aug. 3rd, 1892. THE COMING OF THE SPIRIT. And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a rushing mighty wind.. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gaue them utterance. ACTS II. 2-4 Like the rushing of the tempest through the forests of the North, Like the roaring of the ocean when its anger breaketh forth, Sudden was the Promised Spirit in its mys tic presence heard, And the hearts of all the watchers holy expectation stirred. All unseen, unknown, it entered, where the men of steadfast faith Sat in holy peace together, waiting with suspended breath. And, as slowly passed the echo of the fleeing tempest's roll, Lo! a wondrous joy triumphant came to every ardent soul, Every eye that instant kindled with a ray of Heavenly fire, Every bosom throbbed and panted with the strength of one desire, To go forth to all the people and the glorious truths proclaim Of the Master's life and story, and the mar-vels of his name. For each tongue with language gifted, told! the priceless Savior given In the accents of the nations, taught alone by power of Heaven. And the steadfast spirits chosen for the great and wise design, Uttered every truth of Gospel with an eloquence divine. |