This, it must be said, was ever a welcome office to persons of this description, especially at a substantial house; as on such occasions as watching the sick, and laying out the dead, feasting is as prevalent as at weddings. As the paid nurses who a.s.sumed the consequence of regulars, failed to eject the volunteers, who were more numerous, they revenged themselves by giving them all the work to do except what appertained to swilling and mastication; their own veteran talents bearing the full brunt of that important piece of service, which was not to be trusted to mere mercenary recruits.

Superst.i.tion was rampant amongst these old hen-wives. All sorts of intimations concerning future events were made out of very simple occurrences. No one must go under a ladder, if they would enter the matrimonial noose. Salt was a very unfortunate article of diet, whilst candlewicks were made a medium for the discovery of a coming death. Some of these old grannies dilated upon corpse candles seen by them previous to the deaths of the young women of the house; others dilated on the awfulness of a spectral burial, where shadows of the living supported the bier of the departed towards the church-yard.

One night, between twelve and one, while the three coffins and their contents presented a woeful sight, lying side by side on the oak table, Morris, afflicted as he was, a.s.sisted his wife in supporting by the fireside his fourth daughter, whose death they also deeply dreaded, as an old cottage woman, while she basted a loin of mutton roasting before the fire, dwelt much on the certainty of supernatural appearances, ill.u.s.trating her convictions by instances of her own experience. All at once, the current of her discourse was arrested by a shudder that overcame and struck her dumb, on hearing a rumbling and irregular noise, as of falling furniture, which also terrified the group about the fire.

The noise increased, and at last seemed as if somebody was stumbling in his way in the dark.

Some shrieked, some rose and ran to remote corners, covering their head with their ap.r.o.ns, while others sat breathless, as if nailed to the bench, and dissolved in streams of perspiration, their eyes starting from their sockets-when a figure with the air and rush of a maniac darted in, tore the roasting meat from the string, and disappeared with it, uttering in a dismal hollow tone,

"O G.o.d, I am famished by these wretches!" The consciences of the farmer and his wife were dreadfully wrung, as they recollected the poor apprentice Twm, whom they had left in the depth of the malady which had deprived them of three of their children, to live or to die, as he might; nor would Morris allow anybody to rescue the meat, but s.n.a.t.c.hing a loaf from the shelf, he entreated Twm to come in and eat his fill at the fire.

But the youngster having secured the bread, re-entered his hay-loft, and with the ravenousness of a starved hound devoured his precious prey in darkness. That was the sweetest meal ever eaten by our hero.

In narrating this event in after life, he used to say that the theft of this joint saved his life. He was then as ravenous as a wolf, and was only endowed with supernatural strength for the moment, to effect his purpose. While yet the farmer, with tears of real penitence, was calling out to him, a loud scream from his wife convinced him that his fourth child was also dead.

With wild and insupportable agony, Morris fell upon his knees, and with interrupting sobs exclaimed, "I see the hand of Heaven in this, and a heavy judgment has befallen us for our cruelty to the poor boy; but he will live! he! the lad whom we treated fouler than the beast! he will outlive this pest, while I and mine perish."

The suffering of the unhappy man was pitiable and heart-rending to witness; and on the very day of his children's burial, with loud cries of remorse and sorrow, he expired.

Twm recovered, according to the farmer's prediction, which was further verified, inasmuch as the remainder of his children did not live to see the end of the year; and his wife, losing her senses, was ever after a wretched moping idiot.

CHAPTER XV.

THE return of our hero to Tregaron. His welcome from old friends, cronies, and acquaintances. Is engaged by Squire Gras.p.a.cre, and is elevated socially and physically.

After setting out early in the morning, and walking all day over the rugged mountain road, the heart of Twm Short Catty thrilled with delight, and the tears filled in his eyes, when, late in the evening, his own native place, the humble town of Tregaron appeared before him. Each object that met his eager gaze was familiar; not a shrub but Twm knew it, not a spot but was remembered in Twm's mind by some vagary or other practised either by himself or the renowned Watt; and although his feet were so blistered that he could scarcely move, he attempted to make his limbs partake of the new vigour which sprung up in his heart, and essayed to run, but failing in his aim, fell down completely mastered by exhaustion and fatigue. Whether, like Brutus, he was re-nerved by breathing awhile on the bosom of his mother earth, or that the thoughts within, of home and its a.s.sociation, gave him strength, he rose much refreshed, but with considerable pain continued the short untraced portion of his journey.

Entering the town, at length, just as the darkness began to veil every object, he came to his mother's door, which was open, and cast an inquiring look before he entered. Catty had long dismissed her scholars, and sat in the chimney corner with her back towards the door; whilst Carmarthen Jack was busily engaged upon an artistic combination upon the handle of a ladle. He was a thoroughly business man, as far as spoons and ladles were concerned, and on this occasion he sat sullenly busy in scooping out the bowl of a new ladle.

Twm's merry trick-loving soul is not to be subdued by his troubles; having drawn his flat-rimmed old hat over his eyes, he leaned over his mother's hatch, and in a feigned voice, begged for a piece of bread and cheese, saying that he was a poor boy, very hungry and tired, who was making his way home to Lampeter. "We are poor folk ourselves, and have nothing to give," said Carmarthen jack, rather gruffly. "Stop!" cried Catty, "he's a poor child, Jack, a bit of bread and cheese is not much, and somebody might take pity on my poor Twm, and give him as much, if he should need it."

The affectionate heart of Twm could no longer contain itself, but opening the latch, he burst forward, dashing his hat on the ground, and falling on her neck, giving the most ardent utterance to the word "mother," and after the tender pause of nature's own embrace, he cried with streaming eyes, "My good, kind, charitable mother! you shall never want bread and cheese while your poor Twm has health and strength to earn it." Warmly returning his embrace and kisses, Catty long clasped her boy, and was quite terrified to see his pale lean cheek, and altered looks. Ashamed of the exposure of his pitiless nature, Jack now came up, shook hands and condoled with him, but Twm _had seen the man_, _and loved him not_.

Twm was an excellent judge of human nature, and he knew well the duplicity and cunning of his father-in-law, and shunned him accordingly.

Twm would never fraternize harmoniously with those he did not like. In this, he was invariably honest.

After being refreshed, Catty eagerly enquired of all that had happened to him since he left home, and wept much as he detailed his narrow escape from starvation and the small-pox. By twelve o'clock next day, his tale was known to everybody at Tregaron.

The catastrophe at Morris Greeg's, of course, was considered a judgment from heaven for his miserly propensities; and Ianto Gwyn again set his poetical muse at work, and after a slight effort wrote a pathetic ballad, to the great edification of old women and tender-hearted damsels, giving a _true and particular_ account of the whole affair; to which was attached a moral on the cruelty of mal-treating parish apprentices, and stuffing them with mouldy bread and sour flummery. This interesting ballad was daily sung by Watt, the mole-catcher, to the English tune of Chevy Chase, which gained the good-will of all those old cronies who had taken deep offence at his numerous tricks.

Carmarthen Jack, although so careful of his bread and cheese, was determined not to be outdone on this occasion, but brought the graphic art to perpetuate his stepson's tale; that is to say, he carved on a wooden bowl the figures of four beings, well-attended, in bed, with the scythe of death across their throats, while in the distance a meagre boy was s.n.a.t.c.hing a joint of meat from the fire. The effort, artistically regarded, was not calculated to carry away the Royal Academy's prize; the idea perhaps was better than the execution; but altogether it gained Jack very great applause.

Right glad were all Twm's cronies to see him again at Tregaron; but dearer than all to him was the welcome of the curate Rhys, with whose books he was again permitted to make free, while he profited by his instructions and conversation. He had now been at home about three months, and recovered his health, strength and spirits to perfection; when his mother fancied he had become an eye-sore to her husband, who she thought looked at him with the scowling brow of a step-father, which Twm's conduct, she might imagine, justified, as his behaviour towards Jack had been very unconciliating, ever since the bread and cheese adventure.

With this impression, Catty once more waited on Squire Gras.p.a.cre, to solicit that some employment should be found for her boy, as she could not afford to keep him in idleness. The tale of his sufferings at _Gwern Ddu_, interested the squire in his favour; and he felt some reluctance to send him again as a parish apprentice. The worthy curate, Rhys, had also spoken a kind word in his late pupil's favour; and Carmarthen Jack, gaping, hat in hand, looked as if he would say much to get rid of his step-son, could he hit on words to his purpose. Amused by his simplicity and awkward gestures the squire asked him,

"Well, Jack, what would you advise me to do with Catty's boy?" This plain question met with as blunt an answer, "Make him your servant boy, sir, if you please." "And so I will, old hedgehog!" cried the squire, slapping him on the shoulder, "Your oratory has settled the matter."

Accordingly, our hero next appears as the squire's man at Gras.p.a.cre-Hall.

This was an agreeable change in life to him, where he lived, as they say in clover; and by his good temper and turn for mirth, gained the good-will and admiration of his fellow-servants, particularly the girls, with whom he became an especial favourite. Behold him now in the seventeenth year of his age, with his looks and habits of twenty, gay, happy, and as mischievous as an ape; kissing and romping with the girls, caring for none of them, but showing attentions to all, while he jeered and mocked the cross-grained and disagreeable, and whenever he could, raised a laugh at their peculiarities. His employments at the squire's were various, among which, waiting at table every day, neatly dressed, and carrying his master's gun, and attending him during his shooting excursions, formed the princ.i.p.al.

To these, Squire Gras.p.a.cre, who since the death of his wife was ever wench-hunting, aimed to add the n.o.ble office of pimp, which Anglicized, means, the honourable office of wench-procurer, to satisfy the l.u.s.tful appet.i.te of the squire. Twm, however, had been swayed too long by the counsels of Rhys the curate, to lend himself to any such service; and having by his conversations with him, and by the tenor of his readings, imbibed a taste for romantic honour, he was not without a secret hope that his great father might some day own him, and destine him to a very different sphere in life. With the growth of these notions, rose in his mind a distaste for servitude, and an ardent longing to shine in a sphere allied to literature and respectability.

CHAPTER XVI.

TWM goes the way of all flesh, and "falls in love." So does the Squire, with Twm's maiden. Twm defeats his master's scheme. The adventures of farmer Cadwgan's a.s.s. Twm makes his exit from Squire Gras.p.a.cre's "local habitation."

The squire and his man Twm returning one evening from grousing on the hills, in their descent towards the valleys had to pa.s.s by a small farm-house, inhabited by a tenant of the squire's, who whispered Twm, "This is the keep, the close, that contains better game, and can afford livelier sport than any I have had to-day." Twm by his silence testified his ignorance of his drift; but he resumed, "What! you don't understand me? haven't you seen this farmer's plump partridge of a daughter, the pretty Gwenny Cadwgan, you young dog! I am determined to have that bird down, some way or other, and you must help me. She is fine game, and well worth bringing down. She will take time, I know, but if she should be shy why then

"I'll weedle, coax, and try my arts, For I can play a thousand parts; When she shall weep, I'll laugh and sing: The devil to my aid I'll bring.

She'll ne'er resist me long, I ween, For many a victory I have seen; The wench will kick, but what of that?

I'll bear the brunt: she's plump and fat."

Before Twm could reply, the squire alighted and entered the cottage, at the door of which the farmer and Gwenny Cadwgan, now grown a fine and blooming young woman, met and welcomed their landlord. Some oaten bread, b.u.t.ter, and cheese, and a cup of homely-brewed ale were put before him; and while he ate, the pretty Gwenny carried a portion to Twm, as he held the horses in the yard. While he received the welcome food from the hand of the happy smiling girl, he perceived the blush with which she gave it, and felt in his breast certain sensations no less new than agreeable.

Thus, while each other made brief allusions to their days of childhood, a tear started in the eyes of Twm, on seeing which the bright eyes of Gwenny were also suffused, till the pearly drops over-ran her fresh ruddy cheeks. Her father then calling her in, she suddenly shook hands with, and left our hero, who in that hour became a captive to her charms, while the innocent girl herself then felt the first shooting of a pa.s.sion that daily grew, in sympathy with his own.

The squire having finished his hasty lunch, he remarked to his tenant Cadwgan in a hurried manner, that he should have company the next day to entertain at his house, and would thank him to let his la.s.s come to the hall to a.s.sist in attending on them. The farmer of course, a.s.sented in words, for what small farmer would dare to deny his landlord such a favour, though his heart might tremble with apprehensions?

After the squire's departure, Cadwgan became deeply distressed at the predicament in which he found himself; to deny his landlord, was probably to lose his farm; and to a.s.sent to his specious proposal, was to endanger, if not utterly ruin the innocence of his darling daughter; as since the death of Mistress Gras.p.a.cre, more than one of the neighbouring damsels had to rue their intimacy with the squire, who inveighled them to the hall with all sorts of arts, pretences, and excuses, and then contriving that he should be alone with the object of his l.u.s.t, had paid them a little of that "delicate attention" which he had previously recommended to the father of Twm. The poor farmer pa.s.sed a restless night of bitter reflection, and saw daylight with an agonized spirit; but the active mind imbued with honourable ideas, never fails in due season to work its own relief.

When Twm appeared next morning on horse-back before his door, with a pillion behind, Cadwgan's terrors had vanished, his indignation at the premeditated injuries intended him, was roused, and with braced nerves, and a firm heart, he determined to deny the squire, and abide the consequences, be what they might. But honest nature was elsewhere at work in Cadwgan's favour, and unknown to him, had raised a friend to save him from the impending perils, to the preservation of both his farm and his more precious daughter, in the person of young Twm Shon Catty.

On his journey home the last evening, while listening to his master's commands, and hearing his plan to inveigle the innocent Gwenny, Twm was mentally engaged in studying some mode to preserve her from his clutches; and at length heroically determined to save the object of his admiration, even at the risk of losing his place, and being cast again on the wide world. He fed his fancy all night in dwelling on her beauty, and the merit of preserving her, while he ardently enjoyed in antic.i.p.ation the sacrifice he was about to make for her sake.

The morning came, and the squire gave the dreaded order, "Take the horse Dragon, put a saddle and pillion on him, and bring the farmer's la.s.s behind you here; tell Cadwgan not to expect her back to-night, but she shall be brought to-morrow, and by that time, Twm, we shall have shot the plump partridge, and found her good game, I doubt not." Although Twm had been preparing himself to give a doughty reply, and so commence the heroic character he had modelled, yet when the moment came, his resolution failed him, and the high-sounding words were not forthcoming; although the determination to disobey remained as strong as ever. He rode off, through Tregaron, and up the hills, in a melancholy mood, without any settled purpose, except that of straightforward resistance to the orders he had received. As he jogged on listlessly, he was suddenly roused from his reverie by the braying of Cadwgan's a.s.s, that was grazing in a green lane, which he was about to enter. Such an animal being a rarity in the country, Twm, with surprise, audibly muttered, "What the devil is that!"

An old woman at that moment opening the gate, which she civilly held for our hero to pa.s.s into the lane which she was leaving, hearing his words, replied, "It is only Cadwgan's _a.s.s_." Twm, whose thoughts ran entirely on the farmer's fair daughter, mistaking what she said, rejoined, "Cadwgan's _la.s.s_, did you say?" "You are very ready with your mocks and pranks, Master Twm," cried the old woman, slamming the gate against the b.u.t.tocks of the horse, "but you know very well that I said Cadwgan's _a.s.s_, and not _la.s.s_! for I should be very sorry to compare the good and pretty Gwenny Cadwgan to such an ugly ill-voiced animal." Twm was amused at the error he had made, made the good dame the _amende honourable_, bade her good day, and rode forward with new spirits, for this little adventure had furnished him with the means of deliverance for little Gwenny, and a defeat to his master's unlawful desires.

The farmer's mind being made up, as before observed, to refuse the attendance of his daughter at his landlord's, he was astonished to hear Twm say, "Master Cadwgan, it was Squire Gras.p.a.cre's order to me, that I should saddle this horse, come to your house, and, with your consent, bring your _a.s.s_ to him, on the pillion behind me." Cadwgan stared doubtfully, and Twm resumed, "I hope you are too sensible to question or look into the reasonableness of his whims, and will be so good as to catch the strange animal, which I pa.s.sed on the road, that we may tie him across the pillion."

Cadwgan immediately concluded this to be a providential mistake of the young man's, that might have the most desirable effect of relieving him from his apprehended trouble, and with a ready presence of mind said, laughing, "To be sure it is no business of mine to look into the oddness of his fancies, and he shall have my a.s.s by all means."

"Put an L to a.s.s, and 'twill be _la.s.s_," said Twm seriously, and with emphasis, "and such is the squire's demand; but," said the youth with, rising enthusiasm, "I will risk my life to save your daughter from his snares, and will feign that I thought he said _a.s.s_ instead of _la.s.s_, to be brought on the pillion." Affected by this instance of generosity, the farmer, as well as his lovely daughter, burst into tears, thanking and blessing him; whilst the former told him that if he lost his place through the adventure, his home was always open to him. Twm was not slow in thanking them for their kindness, but a smile from Gwenny rewarded him more than anything said, or anything promised could do.

While Cadwgan went out to catch the long-eared victim, Twm spent a delicious half-hour in the company of fair Gwenny; and took that opportunity to protest the ardour of his affection for her, and vowed that whatever fortune favoured him with the means of getting a livelihood independent of servitude, it would be the glory of his life to come and ask her to be his own. The maiden heard him with streaming eyes and heaving breast, nor withdrew her cheek when her lover imprinted on it affection's first kiss; she considered it as a sacred compact, the seal of a true lover's faithful covenant; one never to be broken by the intrusion of another.

Cadwgan at length returned, with his charge in a halter, grumbling and abusing the beast at every step, in consequence of having led a pretty dance in chase of her. With the a.s.sistance of Twm and a neighbouring cottager, he now tied the animal's legs and lifted her into the seat of the pillion, a situation that her struggling and resistance indicated to be more elevated than comfortable. Twm, however, rode on slowly with his grotesque companion, without the occurrence of an accident, till they arrived at Tregaron; when the whole town, men, women, and children, came to enjoy the strange sight, amidst roars and shouts of laughter. The a.s.s either was not comfortable, or she felt her asinine dignity a.s.sailed, and therefore "he haw'd" her disapproval of the proceedings. She further manifested her displeasure by making a strong attempt to reach terra firma, eventually thinking it unjust to make her ride when she was perfectly able and willing to walk.

Straining every nerve to liberate her captive limbs, she at length succeeded in breaking the cord by which she was fastened to the pillion, and tumbled in a heap to the ground, where she struggled hard, and soon shook off every remnant of her hempen gyves; and in all the pride of high achievement and newly acquired freedom, ran with all her might through the town, brandishing her heels to right and left whenever any person approached to impede her career, till through a long narrow lane she reached the mountains. Here she seemed to defy her numerous pursuers; but after a long chase, which lasted till dusk, she was surrounded, secured, and placed in her former situation behind our hero on the pillion.

At length he reached Gras.p.a.cre Hall, and made his approach at the back of the house. His step-father a.s.sisted him and his companion to alight, leading the latter to the stable, while Twm went to inform his master of his arrival, and the cause of his long delay. A tremor suddenly seemed to paralyze poor Twm, well knowing the wrath his disappointed master would shower down upon his devoted head. He mentally thought he should be thankful to anybody who could liberate him out of this dilemma; but after his fit of apprehension had lasted a few minutes, he plucked up his courage and his breeches at the same time, exclaiming, "Well! he can't kill me for it:" and thus self-comforted he entered the house.