Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-12-05
The Soft Tongue, and the
Bones it Broke.

There was to be a grand affair a,
Aberyffly in Wales-a musical con
test; the singers of Machyllyn wer'
to compete with it's singers, and yer!
great was the excitement that pre-
vailed. On the morning of TIT
great day there was an influx o
strangers /; a specia! train had bro
many an old townsman, and many
who were jealous for the honor ol
| Machyllyn, to the quaint and roman
tic Aberyffly, which was built OF
the seashore, in the centre of a
beautiful bay.
Knots of visitors sprinkled the
market place and the rocks and the
ruins of the castle and the shingly
beach on which the tide was max
ing it's own music, so dear to tht
true lover of the sea. The gay
dresses and ribbons Of the company
shOne in the sun like a broken.uI
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 a
broad faced, merry faced strong fac
cd old Welshman, Owen Griffiths
by name. He was everybody's
friend, and more truly "the repre-
sentative" of the people of Abery-
fly than was tho gentleman 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
Aberyff1y would be without Owen
Griffiths; nobody knew his age /;
everybody had always remembered
him ; he was as much an institu-
tion of the place as the sea, the
rocks, or the old ruins. Such a
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 nat
urally as weeds grow by running
water; and whether they got show
er of nuts, or flourish of his stick
and a threat, made with a contra
dieting laugh, that he would throw
them all into the sea, it mattered
not; they were round his legs, while
he allowed it, thick and threetold.
"Who's yonderi Isn't it Rich
ard Hughes, surely 7" he said to
Winny Watts, as he noticed man
hustling through the crowd of wo-
men and their baskets with an anx-
ious face.
"Indeed it is," said Winny.
"What will he bs doing here!
Surely it's getting time for the last
practice" said Owen.
"Good day, Mr.. Grifiths. Ex-
cuse me staying to talk-rm in
wonderful hurry" said Richard, who
was leader of the coming contest
on the Aberyfny side.
"But, man, what brings you this
way at this time y cried Owen.
"Oh, Pm going to see if Robert
Jones will come and try the first
TENOR" said Richard.
"Robert Jones! What ails you
to want a first tenor, when you've
got John Phillips;r
Richard shook his head. "Bad
job, Mr.. Griffiths-bad job. John
is gone off in heat, just because 1
told him he sung fiat; and l doubt
if Robert will come now, because
he wasn't given the first place at
the outset. It's wonderfully pro,
voking, and I'm just bewildered
about it."
"Stopw cried Owen, as Richard
was bustling Cn 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 hurry and he is no tenor worth
looking for. Pd as soon bite crab
apple as listen to him any time.
It's John you must have. Wait a
while, and I'll get him for you. He's
q peppery fellow, but he'll come
right with good words"
"But, Mr.. Grifiths, the practice
is in less than an hour" Richard ex-
p0stulated.
Owen waved his hand. ~ think
we'll be at the hall together in good
time," he said. ale 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