New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-23

RRR SOFT TONGUE AND THE BONES
1T BROKE.

Prom Sunday at HOme.l
There was to be a grand affair at Abery
a1y, in Wales-a musical contest the sing
@rs Of Machyllyn were to compete with it
singers, and very great was the eXcitemen
chat prevailed. On the morning of tn
g5seRb day there was an influx of strangers
= special train had brought many an OLE
1ownsman, and many who were jealous TO
Ina honor Of Machyllyn, to the quaint anC
NOmantic Aberyffiy, which was built on thu
seashOre, in the centre of beautiful bay.
Knots of visitors sprinkled the market
place, and the rocks and the ruins of the
azstle and the shingly beach, on which the
tide was making its own music, so dear tC
the true lover of the sea. The gay dresses
and ribbons of the company shOne in the
san like broken-up rainbow and the old
high-crOwned Welsh hats, of which there
Uere many, heightened the interest of the
sgene-
Crossing the marketplace near the great
clock in the centre, was brOad-faced,
merry faced, strOngfaced old Welshman,
Owen Grifiths by name. He was every
bOdy's friend, and more truly "the repre-
sentative" Of the people of Aberyffiy than
was the gentleman whom they sent to Par
lament; for he was the champion of their
rights in total, and the sympathizer in their
sorrows and joys individually.
Nobody liked to think what Abervffiy
-gsuld be without Owen Grifiths; nobody
knew his age ; everybody had always re-
Hlembered him; he was as much an institu-
zion Of the place as the sea, the rocks, or
s5le old ruins. Such a smile was on his
hEOad face that morning, as he nodded to
sEue, gave a word to another, praised Winny
Watts fowls, and told Mary Jones her
fruit made his mouth water. As to the
children, they sprang up wherever he was
TO be found as naturally as weeds grow by
running water; and whether they got a
shower Of nuts, or flourish of his stick and
a threat, made with cOntradicting laugh,
that he would throw them all into the sea,
It mattered not; they were round his legs,
while he allowed it, thick and three-fOld.
who's yonderl Isn't it Richard Hughes,
Surelyl" he said to Winnie Watts, as he
noticed man busting through the crowd
aBG women and their baskets with an anxious
6ace-
A., Indeed it is" said Winny.
sfWhat Will he be doing herel Sure it's
getting time for the last practice" said
owen.
aGood day, Mr.. Grifiths. Excuse me
E&aying to talk; I'm in a wonderful hurry"
sad Richard, who was leader of the coming
gJntest on the Aberytly side.
"Bat, man, what brings you this way at
this time" cried Owen.
ooh, I'm going to see if Robert Jones
viii come and try the first TENOR" said
RIshard.
Robert Jones! What ails you to want
6Tst tenor, when you've got John PhillipsW
Richard shook his head. bad Job, Mr..
GrifFiths-bad job. John is gone off in a
heat, Just because told him he sung fat;
and doubt if Robert will come now, be-
cause he wasn't given the first place at the
outset It's wonderfully provoking, and
I'm Just bewildered about it."
"StOpi cried Owen as Richard was
hustling on his doubtful hunt after Robert |
Zones; "don't 60. He's a sulky man, and |
bringing him out of sulks is a long job |
when you are in a hurry; and he is no tenor |
worth looking for. I'd as soon bite crab |
apple as listen to him any time. It's John /
YOU must have Wait awhile, and I'll get |
him for you. He's a peppery fellow, but |
he'll come ont right with good words"
"But, Mr.. Griffiths, the practice is in less |
than an hour, Richard expostulated.
Owen waved his hand. II think we'll be
at the hall together in good tIme," he
slid. "He didn't say he wouldn't join you
zEg8in2"
mot to me, hut he did to others; and he
has not been near me since the last prac-
Very good Keep his place for him, and
make no wonder of his coming back. It'll
10 all right" said Owen, going off on his
expedition.
Sooner than man of his size could have
been expected to travel he was at the door
Of John Phillips, shoemaker by trade, and
noted tor possessing the richest tenor voice
I'm the whole district.
"What, JOhn!" he cried, you at home,
when all the band is going up yonder to the
hall i never thought, when my pony strap
broke this morning, and put it ready for
your man TO fetch and mend, that should
see you in the shop"
John looked rather forlornly about on
The piles Of sand-boots he had Just been
to the stand by the door, and said
HIGhing.
John, man surely you don't know the
timel " exclaimed Mr.. Gritfiths, pulling out
his watch. Its little more than three
guar ters till you meet, and you not dressed
an. Make haste and give over the shop to
Morgan, and come with me. ! expect to
bear you sing until you make my heart
fance again"
ar. I'LL not sing to-day, nor tonight" said
gOhn, quickly and little thickly.
1fWhy, what has got into your pipes,
Bohn 81 asked the old man. kindly.
2tPipes Oh, anything but good tunes is
IN my pipes Mr.. Griffiths. Will you please
Try a pair of sand-shoes : You spoke about
q pair last week"
mo, John, no; I'm not the man for such
WhINSs WuOn bhAAh abphv ANs Dug |
sae singing, John-yOu don't mean to say
YOU are not going to join tO-nightl Why,
should miss you out of The March of the
Hen of Harlech' as good as a hundred of
the best men if / didn't hear your beauti-
bal voice."
HIndeed, Mr.. Griffiths. and you are very
good, and kind, and civil always, and wish
svery body was the like of yOu," replied
Phillips, in a cOmfOrted tone.
els il cold, John 2" asked Mr.. Gritiths.
mo, indeed, sir; it was more OF heat
hat took" answered John, sufficiently |
a1oIliiied TO smile little at his joke.
'sTook heat : oh-what, little milf, l
faabt-a little affrOnt somewhere 81
ssNot a little affront, Mr.. Owen. Haven't
been labOring my best to do credit to the
,fuaiBg. and never kept from a practice,
nj was TO be told before everybody that
sung Fat and put them all out 1" cried
Bohn. red in the face and greatly incensed.
who put that on you, John " demanded
Owen, calmly.
l1No other than him who knOwed best
8 was nothing but spite, and envy, and
JEALOUSY: Richard Hughes it was, the leader
"a MS. who thinks his own cousin, Rice
Fughes, is a better tenor. Let them put
IN first, / hope they'll be sorry for it,"
$50 be said you sung fiat, did her, asked
s1Yes indeed, Mr.. Grifiths," said John,
R6her staggered by Ovens hearing OF the