Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-07-20
THE SOFT TONGUE, AND THE
BONES IT BROKE.
From Sunday at Home

lhere was to be grand affair at
Aberyffly, in Wales-a musical contest;
the singers of Machyllyn were to com
pete with its singers, and very great
was the excitement that prevailed. On
the morning of the great day there
was an influx of strangers: a special
train had brought many an old towns
man, and many who were Jealous for
the honor of Machyllyn, to the quaint
and romantic Aberytily, which was
built on the seashore, in the center of a
beautiful bay.
Knots of visitors sprink led the mar
ket-place and the rocks and the ruins
of the castle and the shingly beach, on
which the tide was making its own mu-
sic so dear to the true lover of the sea.
The gay dresses and ribbons of the
company shone in the sun like broken
up rainbow and the old high crowned
Welsh hats, of which there were many,
heightened the interest Of the scene.
Crossing the market-p place, near the
great clock in the center, was a broad
Welshman, Owen Gritfiths by name.
He was erybody's friend, and more
tru Y :" the representative of the peo-
pie of Aberytily than was the gentle
man whom they sent to Parliament: :
for he was the champion of their rights
in the total, and the sympathizer in
their sorrows and joys individually.
Nobody liked to think what Aberyt fly
would be without Owen Griffiths no.
body knew his age everybody had al
ways remembered him he was as
much an institution of the place as the
sea, the rocks, or the old ruins. Such
smile was on his broad face that
morning, as he nodded to one, 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 threat, made with a
contradicting laugh, that he would
throw them all into the scl, it mattered
not; they were around his legs, while
he allowed it, thick and three-fold.
Who's yonder? Isn't it Richard
Hughes, surely?" he said to Winny
Watts, as he noticed man hustling
through the crowd of women and their
Indeed it is" said Winny.
"What will he be doing here ? Sure
it's getting time for the last practice" !"
said Owen.
"Good day, Mr. Gritfiths. Excuse
me staying to talk-I'm in a wonderful
hurry" said Richard, who was leader
of the coming contest on the Abery tflv
side.
But, man, what brings you this way
at this time ?" cried Owen.
"Oh, Pm going to see II Robert Jones
will come and try the first tenor" said
Richard.
Robert Jonesl What ails you to
want first tenor, when you've got
John Phillips?"
Richard shook his head. "Bad lob,
Mr.. Grittiths-bad job. John is gone
Oft in heat, just because | told him
he sung flat; and | doubt if Robert
will come now, because he wasn't given
the first place at the outset. It's won
dertully provoking, and I'm Just bewil-
dered about it,
Stop " cried Owen, as Z chard was
hustlingon his doubtful hunt after Rob-
ert Jones; don't go. He's sully
man, and bringing out of sulks is a long
job when you are in a hurry; and he is
no tenor worth looking for. Id as
soon bite a crabapple as listen to him
any time. It's John you must have.
Wait while, and III get him for you.
He's peppery fellow, but he'll come
right with good Words
I" But, Mr.. Griffiths, the practice is in
less than an hour" Richard expostu-
lated.
Owen waved his hand. ~ think we'll
be at the hall together in good time
he said. HE didn't say he wouldn't
join you again."
"Not to me, but he did to others
and he has not been near me since the
last practice"
"Very good. Keep his place for hun
AMI make no wonder of his coming
back. It'll be all right" said Owen
going off on his expedition.
Sooner than a man of his size coulo
have been expected to travel he was al
the door of J ohm Phillips, shoema kel
by trade, and noted for possessing the
richest tenor voice in the whole district
"What, John |" he cried, "you al
home, when all the band is going uE
yonder to the hall -? never thought
when my pony strap broke this morn
ing, and put it ready for your man tt
fetch and mend, that | should see yor
in the shop"