The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-06-22
SELECTED STORY.
The Soft Tongue, and the
Bones it Broke. EEe
(From Sunday at Home.)

(From Sunday at Home)
There was to be a grand affair at Aberyffiy,
in Wales; a musical contest; the singers of
Machyllyn were to compete with its singers,
and yery great was the excitement that pre-
vailed. On the morning of the great day
there was an influx of strangers; a special
train had brought many an old townsman,
and many who were jealous for the honor of
Machyllyn,t to the quaint and romantic Abery-
fly, which was built on the seashore, in the
centre of beautiful bay.
Knots of visitors sprnkled the market
place and the rocks and the ruins of the cas-
tie and the shingly beach, on which the tide
was making its own music, 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 place, near the great
clock in the centre, was road-faced, merry
faced, strong-faced cd Welshman, Owen
Griffiths by name He was everybody's
friend, and more truly ''the representative
of the people of Aberyfly than was the gen.
tleman 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. aIr.
Nobody liked to think what Aberyffiy
would be without Owen Griffiths; nobody
knew his age; everybody had always remem-
bered him; he was as much an institution of
the place as the sea, the rocks, or the old rr-
ms. Such smile was on his broad face, that
morning, as he nodded to one, gave 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 shower of nuts, or flourish of his
stick and 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 threefold
''Who's yonder? Isn't it Richard Hughes,
surely?' he said to Winny Watts, as he no.
ticed man hustling through the crowd of
women and their baskets with an anxious
face
''lndeed it is" said Winny
'What will he be doing here? Sure it's
gettir g time for the last practice" said Owen.
Good day, Mr. Griffiths. Excuse me
staying to talk-Fm in a wonderful hurry
said Richard, who was leader of the coming
contest on the Aberyffiy side
But, man, what brings you this way at
this time,'' cried Owen.
''Oh, I'm going to see if Robert Jones will
come and try the first tenor,' said Richard.
Robert Jones! What ails you to want
first tenor, when you've got John Phillips ?''
ncnaIu sHooh lis neau. BAD JOB, Mr..
Gritfiths-bad job John is gone off in o.
heat, just because told him he sung fiat:
and doubt if Robert will come now, because
he wasn't given the first place at the outset.
It's wonderfully provoking, and Pm Just be-
wildered about ito
"Stop!' cried Owen, as Richard was hust-
ling on his doubtful hunt after Robert Jones:
don't go; he's a sulky man and bringing
out OF sulks is long job when you are in a
a IS NO fap L. L.
I'd as soon bite crab apple as listen to him
any time. It's John you must have. Wait
while, and I'll gethim for you. He's pep
perry fellow; but he'll come right with good
words" .fs rENf tFf
"But, Mr.. Grfiths, the practice is in less
than an hour,' Richard expostulated
Owen waived his hand. 81 think we'll be
at the hall together in good time,'' he said.
HE dldn say he wouldn't join you again ?''
mot to me, but he did to others: and he
has not been near me since the last practice
Very good. Keep his place for him. and
make no wonder of his coming back. 1t will
be all right" said Owen, going off on his ex-
petition.
Sooner than man of his size could have
been expected to travel, he was at the door of
John Philips, ashoemaker by trade. and no.
ted for possessing the richest tenor voice in
the whole district.
What, John" he cried, 'syou at home
when all the band is going up yonder to the
hall never thought, when my pony strap
broke this morning, and put it ready for
your man to fetch and mend, that L should
see you in the shop?''
John looked rather forlornly about on the
piles OF sand boots he had just been bringing
to the stand by the door, and said nothing.
John, man! surely you know the time" ex-
claimed Mr.. Griffiths. pulling out his watch.
Its little more than three-quarters till YOU
meet and you not dressed up! Make haste.
and give over the shop to Morgan, and come
With me. expect to hear you sing until you
make my heart dance again.
mo indeed, Mr.. Griffiths, no indeed, sir.
I'll not sing to-day nor tonight" said John.
quickly and little thickly.
''Why-what has got into YOUR pines.
John? ' asked the old man. kindly
Pipes ?@Oh, anything but good tunes is
in my pipes, Mr.. Griffiths. Will YOU please
try pair of sand-shoes? You spoke about
pair last week.
mo, John, no; Pm not the man for such
light wares when think about it, But the
singing, John-you don't mean to say you
are not going to join tonight? WHY, /
should miss you out of ''The March of the
Men OF Harlech" as good as hundred of the
best men if l didn' hear your beautiful voice."
Indeed, Mr.. Griffiths, and you are very
good, and kind, and civil always, and wish
everybody was the like of you, ~ replied Phil
lips, in comforted Tone
'Is it cold, John ?" asked Mr.. Grifiths.
No, indeed, sir; it was more of a heat that
l took, answered John, sufficiently Modified
to smile little at his joke.
TOOK heat? oh-what, little milf 7
doubt-a little afront somewhere? ''
mot little affront Mr.. Owen. Haven't
been laborlng my best to do credit to the
singing, and never kept from practice, and
was L to be told before everybody that l sung
fiat and put them all out?" cried John, red
IN the face and greatly incensed.
who put that on you, John ?" demanded
Owen, calmly. a
mo other than him who knows best it
was nothing but spite, and envy, and jeal-
ousy; Richard Hughes it was, the leader of
us, who thinks his own cousin, Rice Hughes.
Is better tenor. Let them put him first. /
hope they'll be sorry for it.a
$50 he said you sung fat, did he ?" asked
Owen. - ~ ~ $1,000
eyes, indeed, Mr.. Grifiths.u said John.
rather staggered by Owens hearing of the at
front SO quietly. -..-.
wen, well: l shouldn't have thought he'd
have the courage to do it, seeing the value
your voice is to them. l shall always respect
Richard for 1t, John; he has shown himself
true friend. You have only one fault, and
he has told you ofit-you do sing fiat? ''
'ohii iooheu uoWn uemurlngly at the sand |
boots, and said nothing.
Come, come, put it by; get cool of this
heat; go to the practice, and keep up YOUR
vo.ce, so as to show them-''
No, indeed, sir, no interrupted John, very
decidedly, for he had been sent into a flame |
by Mr.. Griffiths unexpected approval of the
affrOnt.
''Well, man, well, take your own way.u
SAID owen; well make no more to do about |
it; but the loss of your tenor will make the
Men of Harlech' halt in their march. Well.
which way do go to see Morgan? Is he in
the wareroom? I'll speak to him about the
strap, for he'll do it, and it, be better give
him my directions
.Morgan's no man of mine, Mr.. Griffiiths.',
said the shoemaker who looked still more |
vexed.
How long has that been ?" asked Owen.
VINO knew the circumstances and all concern
ing it very WELL
then; yes, indeed"
Owen. - VIZ Aiii' saiu
Indeed he was; but he had an ugly tenn
per, ana he got hot when found fault: and
you know, MIR. Griffiths, | was the master
and knew my own business best i'
''Surely. surely; so he went. did ba o.,
Eyes, indeed, and in terrible nass;or
too" .-- p''sSioi'
Every foolish of him-regular work, good
pay, large family eO'o
eFYaS indaad uoru f.oI;s1 >, ,.;l -,