The Cardiff Times

CHAPTER V. Two New Characters. On the following morning Tydain sent for Dyrch to confer with him on State matters and about the Princess Gwennaid. Although noble ladies had occasionally left their rights and stations to join the Mystic Nine, nor ever a murmur or a secret of the Temple come from them yet had the young King thought much of what his sister was about to do. Now, partly at the suggestion of Morvran, ho was of opinion that a certain privilege might be granted her, as due to her I rank. Still, its giving lay entirely with the Druids and Berthnaidd. Again, should she live to become High Preistess, her standing in the nation's eyes would then far surpass that of a princess. Yet, had she rsadily taken to the new idea, and seemed to find much interest in it. Presently Drych arrived. Despite the years under which he stooped, his sunken eyes were bright. His beard was full, bleached with age, and almost reached to his waist while the hair on his head was of an iron-grey a.nd hung below his shoulders. He wore a dark-blue skull-cap, smI"onmtec1 with the effigy of &. white seamew-a symbol that none else might wear. The robe about his tall figure was of a paler blue than the ca.p. and gathered in at the waist by a snowy girdle, from which hung a golden representation of the emblem of life-an egg. In his hand he carried an oaksn straff, bearing on its top a sprig of mistletoe, the Druidical badge. He was accompanied by Yarvog, his deputy and the son of a dead noble. Age had not yet wrinkled the skin of his full dark face, whose ebon hair and beard were nigh as ample as the Archdruid's, his eyes being of a deep grey. His robe was white, waistbelt dark blue, and such of his face as could be seen definitely spoke of strength and some intelli- gence. He also bore a staff, but untopped by the parasitic plant. On his white cap crouched the figure of a brown eagle with outspread wings—the emblem of aspiration, for his ambi- tion was to sit in the Chair of the Sacred Circle. The thick-set breadth of his middle height seemed to shorten it, and his thirty odd years were endowed with robust health. Drych advanced with a slow measured step across the oaken floor, to a spot some ten feet of where Tydain sat. There he paused, made an obeisance of stately dignity, pride, and habitual masterliness then Varvog, halting an arm's length behind him, he, in a voice siill deeper, said, A fa,ir day to thee, 0 King. Thou did'et scud for me." I did, 0 wise Dyrch." Whereon Tydain arose and led him over the mat of foxes' skins to a seat on the right of his own chair. "There, sit and rest thyself. Thou hast lived long, and thy strength hath passed in the gathering of years and wisdom." "Snow of the mountain, 0 Tydain; age witharath; the leaf that sheltered droppeth, is trodden under foot, and forgotten: but a true friend is a haven in the sea of sorrow." Thou speakest from the full of thy know- ledge. Sit tbou, too, good Varvog—and thy chief will permit thy sitting in his presence." Ay, sit, Dyrch returned "sit, and treasure thy strength against the. day of battle; for he that goeth weak to the fight doth go as a. strong man without arras." Varvog seated himself to the right of the High Judge. Tydain resumed his scat, thoroughly I recognising the policy of being courteous to one who might soon fill the Chair of the Circle. When the matters of general import had been discussed thsre was a short silence, which the Sing broke by saying, More is there, 0 Dyrch, whereof I would speak to thee, an thou wilt let me profit by thine advice." SajT on," was his answer. "Thou arc young, and hast had little time in which to fill thy wallet for life's journey. I am old the end is near, and I have to spare. Of what wouldst thou speak. Let not the moments pn.ss without burdens. Idlers ars often tho ruin of nations." The subject is my sister." What of her ?" "Much have I come to think of her; and though she still boldest fast to become a prietess according to the rites of the bare-footed Nine, yet am I now concerned for her le;t, when some moons have passed aud the freshness of the life hath worn away, she should pine her heart out— for Gwennaid is but young, good Dyrch—to return to her former life." What wouldst thon do ?" "With thy aid, she may be given a retreat, should the life grow irksome unto her-and thou ba.;i said that in all things but love, a woman's Iieart is as a slender reed, the which all winds clo have some power to sway." 11 The welkin darkens the wind riseth, and no man can tell whence its coming or whither it goeth, and the weary traveller seeketh P. shelter. Thou has spoken truly. What is thy bent ?" To allow Gwennaid, 0 Dyrch, to take the vow for :liitecn moons, an renew it thtn. or leave the Temple on pain of death by sacrifice should she speak a secret of the place. Thy wisdom seeth my meaning." I A sudden fiash of interest passed, unnoticed by the others, over the face of Varvog. The eye of the eagle seeth afar that which the thrush cannot see anear, and the glancing Hu kaoweth all things," said the Archdruid, as one meditating on the matter. What sayst thou, good Varvog.?" the King asked. For, an repute speak truly, thou hast served thy master well and thy inner eye is that of a seer but little less than himself." What my master saiih are the words I would sneak, an I could for ever do my thoughts plod in the groove made by those of the wise Dyrch, who hath drunk of the Cauldron of Awen." he replied, too careful to vent his great vanity in the presence of Dyrch, and seeming to have small interest in the matter. Thou art loyal," said Tydain, who had soms understanding of his man. Seest thou aught against what I ask ?" Varvog—bis thoughts busy with this great help so unexpectedly put into his hands—glanced at the deeply musing face of hia chief, then answered quietly, Time hideth her sscrets from 1\ the man who hath not gleaned the mysteries of the Inner Circle, and I am yet but a servant of the Cauldron. Still I see not, 0 King, that any I evil may spring of this wish of thins." Compro- mise himself in the face of Dyrch he would not. Then thou art agreed unto it ?" With my master's leave I do consent. Thon dost not wish that thy sister, from oath to oath, be other than a prieste9R as the rest ?" I co not, nor does she." By its scent knoweth the hound the prey that is his," Dyrch murmured, then added in a louder tone, Doth the Princess aak this thing ? Ay, 0 wisest of counsellors it is her desire, her heart's need. Dost thou see aught to mar its giving ?" None," he answered. Yet who shall say where all winda blow to one point ? Only the I winds may give reply, and tha.t no man can read. I will put thv wisfi to the circle, and to Berth- naidd, and thou shalt know thsir answers. Is thare others thou wouldst ask of me ?" Not now, good Dyrch. I have already'proved my greed of goodly counsel. Without another word the Archdruid arose. Tydpjin attended him to the door of ths chamber, I and Varvog returned with him to their dwelling by the margin of the lake.

CHAPTER VI. Woman Hears Astounding Plot. All that day Gwalchmai was careful to keep out of Gwyar's sight—the which h3 did merely to olaaso Echel, and in proof of hia though that peace with a spice of blame was better than wa with tha same mark. To do him justice tlr- Mmsman was no more a coward than a fool ye* he never seriously talked of fighting, nor sought it, his make being only to fight when forced, then do it well. A little after sunset he again, with that curious skulking motion used solely in p, coracle, took ZVIorvran over to the sacred islet. Shadows wore thickening as the Raven, leaving his servant lying off out of respect to the place, threaded the way with his head bowed in thought. j Owing to this close thinking Morvra.n f&iled to m(\,kl3 the sharp turn in tho path needful to gain the Temple direct, and wandered on into a bye- way that led past tho burning-ground of the sisterhood and across the islet. 0 Of his mistake he was presently warned by voices. Irsatantly he caused, lifted bi3 head, and listened. The tones were muffled, so that he could not tell words or speakers. Now he saw his whereabouts, and decided to The tones were muffled, EO that he could not tell words or speakers. Now he saw his whereabouts, and decided to go forwaid to whera a path crossed this, from j another landing place, and led straight to tho Temple. It would take Mm quite eloso to the talkers, xvho appeared to be in a small grove of stunted oaks and briars to the left 01 the narrow track, a.ud were probably some persona come i from the opposite aids of the lake to consult tho H'ghp??e.-3ts33. He would push on, gain the other path, and have these new suppliants behind him. Forward he stepped, his footsteps on the short grass and soft soil making no noise. When about to double the turning, Varvog's voice suddenly halted him with— "But I tell thee, 0 Berthnaidd, it is the open desire of Dyrch that this grant be made unto the Princess. And it cannot hurt thee, else am I too blind to see in what way the hurt may fall." < Morvran was fixed with attention. Canst thou not see that if this be done she will then have that which even I have not?" said the quiet voice of the High Priestess. Then came in turn :—" Ay, but she will not have a might of thy power. And, mark thou, Berthnaidd, she hath not the talents ever to reach thy position. Moreover, she may be the one to drop her bundle when next re-covering the Temple." Morvran shuddered, for the words, plainly made fact of a rumour. There is no wish afloat to give her other than this ?" she asked; then put others bearing on the matter, which he silenced, and said, To-morrow the Circle meets within the En- closure, where none may venture but the blue and the white robes, and. it being the wish of Dyrch, thou knowest well that the Circle will agree." She reminded him that they could not grant the privilege without her consent, True, yet why shouldest thou oppose it ?" Because I like not that my handmaids have what I lack." She brought the bowl down upon Gwyer's heau. j Bat ere long a greater thing than this may be thine," said he in a tone that again made Morvran start. What meanest thou?" she asked in evident surprise. Can I trust thee ?" So eager was he in his purpose, and thinking it now slipping away, he would shoot the bolt he had intended to keep yet awhile. Wouldst thou keep secret a good to thyself not good to me?" So low was the voice that Morvran silently crept closer. Ay. Am I not, as thyself, a store of the kept secrets of others ? Speak, an thy will be not against me I'll not bar its way." "I tell thee, 0 Berthnaidd, that, true as is thy beauty and power, I am no mere bard, but a Druid—a born priest*, and a, first servant of the roaring Beli, a master of the mysteries of the Enclosure wherein none but the elect dare go. A bard who singeth at the gates of the great am I not, but am the chosen of the mighty Hu, and already tha spirit of prophecy is mine. I tell thee I shall sit next in the Chair. Varvog will be the next Archdruid. Heedest thou my words ?" I do. And if rumours tell the truth I do be- lieve thee." The time is but little hence when I shall drink of the mystic cauldron—shall sip the three drops of magical power from the boiling pot of Awen Gwyboden, and shall be tho maker of the laws of Gwlacl vr Hud and its first hicrh judge. Long have I dwelt on the books of the Pheryllt, t and have mastered the meaning ox every reed and shoot and the fore-time rites of the Circle are mine. Even now in myself am I first of the Gleinian Nadredd (priests of the higher powers), and when I sit in Cadair, O Berthnaidd, there shall be a law for the high priestess of Ked to marry, an she wish it." In defiance of her great self-possession Berth- naidd was visibly startled by his revolutionary proposition. Morvran could not see them-only listen to the somewhat hushed yet fervid words of the Dvuid, and strand aghast at them. Now glance we i: to the grove. As Varvog paused, she raised her head, and he looked into eyes that had never flinched. So steadily did they gaze at his that the latter took on a cer- tain uncomfortable shiftiness. Had he done right or wrong in thus so abruptly trusting her with such damning knowledge? Whichever it was, he had siill to learn. Berthnaidd's face was not the one to tell him a jot—after that first slight, natural start. Instead of doing so, she seercecj to ba reading his thoughts, and his head drooped like a reed under sttady pressure. For aome time past her keen wits had rightly understood the cause of his bearing towards her. Now she in- stinctively glanced ahead and saw the full of his daring ambition. Sworn, on a. penalty of awful death, to that little isie and virginity for life, this snddeu opening to the progress of her wishes made her inwardly grasp. Outwardly, she merely kept those magnificent eyes fixed with seeming indifference on his bent face. Morvran anxiously hearkened for more, and bog an to fear their abrupt issuing from the grove. Varvog waited to know the effect of his words, hiding his growing nervousness as best he could the while Berthnaidd formed her own plans, fully aware, yet quite regardless of his state of raiad. What thinkest thou of this thing ? Doth it not seem good to thee ?" he at length asked, giv- ing her a furtive look, and but half-knowing of the caro in his tones. Ay and as I see thou speakest with true I purpose I will give thee trust for trust in thi3. I think it good—albeit the thought of so favoured a doing hath never come to me, nor do I think of using it were it mine." And should I strive to make a law of this wilt thou lend me the help that lies in thy power ?'' Ay, as I think it good, so will I aid thee, tF, I tliin'. though it then be no more to me than now. But, pray, how dost thou expect to make the circle and the nobles think with thyself ?" By the power in my hand and tongue, and I this boing but a just reward to one who hath so faithfully served Ked and the nation. For was not the goddess wife to the mighty Hu I served ?" Ay, and a likely cause to win, meseams." Ay, Berthnaidd, it shall win. It shall win or I will losa the chair to gain it, and there- with goeth my life." He wondered what so abstractedly filled her mind. Had ho known this, ard as fully under- stood as he loved her, he would instantly have cast the matter to the winds, and ceased to dream of her ever being his. Her head drooped as its thoughts got further away from the present. Morvran breathlessly waited to hear more. Varvog looked on her with eyes flooded with the feeling that had spurred him into this. In the grey twilight they formed a rare contrast. The bluo-robed woman with that band of gold about her middle—an only break in the long flow of colour from white breast to the half-naked feet then sheathed in a pair of low loose slippers—the musing subdued expression on her faco, and the calm stateliness of her figure. The dark, thick-set- yet well-pro- portioned, Druid inliis flowing white garment, his I intelligent eyes full of that warm, strong glow, rnxl the crouched brown eagle on his blue cap, all heightened and relieved by the varied greens around them. Said she at last, But what hath thy idea. to do with this favour to the Princess ?" it being a question put solely to mislead him as to her read- ing of the matter. Shall the novice have that which is denied to the highest of her kind ?" he asked, unconscious of using her argument in another way. What the King seeketh for hia sister will form a most fit stepping stone unto our desire it will be a rift in the log we would split, and a powerful aid to the splitting. Seest thou not these things ?" Ay, truly. Now thou hast opened mine eyes the things are plain to me." In other words, prompted by his passion and vanity, he again put forth his views. He came to see her for this purpose, before she could have an opportunity of giving Dyrch a flat refusal,and had met her taking exercise hence th$ir being m the Grove, which he thought safer than the Temple for ouch a talk, because of the rarity of visitors to the islet. He knew that there was but little real liking between her and the Archdruid, yot he had not intended to compromise himself so far, at present, to win her over. Just after he paused, sha, with an ensnaring touch of femininity, sa.id, "So, 0 Varvog, let it be, and thou shalt have my thanks, and "all else gladly thou canst win of me. Now must I be- gone, for I much think there is a suppliant I awaiting me—ons whom I last night bade return to me now. Have thou no fsar for the lodgment of thy secret; it shall be kept as ono guards the hidden knowledge of his shame." ) Good-nights were being said, and with all the speed he could summon Morvan ran on tiptoes back along the path, on his former way to the Temple. "The Druids were arm believers in the trans- migration of souls. tThese were the first teachers amongst the early British Diuids, their skill being principally in such arts aso ar attained by the use of Rre, i botany, and distilling herbs and roots. (To be continued.)

At Birkenhead on Saturday Elizabeth Mainley was fined £ 5 and costs for having obtained various sou. s of money by false pretences from local war Innds. Her husband, David, waa charged with aiding and abetting her. Manley had done gar- rison duty at Hounslow Barracks and Aldeisfiot, and his wife represented that ho was in South Africa. She continued to draw relief long after her husband had returned. The husband was discharged. (

Complete Story. A BIG HAU L. By JANE BARLOW, Author of Irish Idylls," &c. Her neighbours in general were of the opinion that Margaret Sheehan thought too much of herself altogether," and it followed naturally enough that they also considered her to think less than she ought of other people, every bit as good as she was, and maybe better." They ac- counted for her arrogance in several different ways. Some of them ascribed it to the fact that she had been brought up by an aunt in the town of Cashalcreagh, where she had grown accus- w tomed, as her cousin the WIdow Hynes said, to big shop windies and every sort of gran- deur. Others believed it was inherited rather than acquired, and reminded themselves that her mother's people, the Brennans, had always had the name of bein' very proud." Others again explained it upon the hypothesis that Mar- faret Sheehan had the notion she was the only acint looking girl in the pariah, herself and her fine silk cape." These, who were for the most part her contemporaries, often added that you "might aisy find plenty no uglier than she, if that was all that ailed her and as they had certainly bestowed more attention than anybody else upon this particular point, they may have been its best qualified judges. But everybody agreed in taking it for granted that her pride would be increased by her sister Kitty's marriage. For Kitty had lately surprised Bunoven by mak- ing a match far above her prospects, Myler Roe being the son of a strong farmer, who was actually a Poor Law Guardian, and might be- come a Justice of Peace while her father Jimmy Sheehan was merely a fisherman, with a small boat and a long family, for which his few drills of pitaties sometimes proved sadly too short between plantin' and liftin' The Widow Hynes further remarked that Margaret would be a very foolish girl if she set herself up with the expectation of getting a bridegroom equally well-to-do. And upon this text she re- lated a warning anecdote about a family of young ladies with whom her mother had lived in service, and the eldest of whom had married a Lord, an alliance which led the other sisters to entertain such exalted ideas of their own social claims that they would not look at a man unless he had a handle to his name. And what was the end of that, me dear?" the Widow would con- clude, Every single one of the half dozen of them went to her buryin' before there was any talk of her weddin', 'deed did she so—be raison of givin' themselves airs." The Widow took care that this tale with its perfectly obvious moral should be heard more than once by her young cousin Margaret, and when doing so sho had a special end in view. It is, indeed, a peculiarity of the Bunoven folk that although they may occasionally act upon abstract principles, their motives are more com- monly of a concrete sort. In the present case the Widow Hvnes's object was her nephew, Dan Molloy, and his impending wife. As Dan was a fisherman, with only a part proprietorship in a middle-sized boat, and responsible for the support of an invalided mother, he could not be deemed a brilliant parti. But he was, his aunt declared, as steady as the Rock of Cashel, and near strong enough to lift it, so he'd do right well, no fear, if he didn't by chance get drownded, and the cratburs must take their chance of that accordin' to the will of God." Moreover, he was her favourito sister's son, in itself a suffi- cient reason to rqtkco her solicitous about his concerns. And- Widow Hynes was not a person who would by any means be slack in endeavour- ing to make her influence felt where her interest promptadlts exertion. "But all the while, Biddy," said to her one day her sister-in-law Eliza Croly—in Bunoven all the*neighbours are more or less connected by birth or marriage—" I dunno rightly why you need have any call to be settin' your mind on gettin' Margaret Sheehan for Dan. Sorra a thraneen will her poor father be able to give along wid her, you may depind. Sure her mother was tellin' me herself 'twas as much as they could contrive to git together a few respectable things for Kittv, the way they wouldn't be ashamed and she marryin' into a rich family. So if Margaret's to have nothin' except her stuck-up notions, apt she'll be to take and spind every pinny she can lay her hands on, and think it's too little whatever; and that's how his earnings 'ill go on him, instead of savin' up a trifle agin the bad times, when he has the luck. It's an huiable girl Dan wants—or would if he'd any wit." 'Deed now, Eliza," the Widow explained herself, stuck-up or no, Margaret's not the grabbin' sort. If she's took up wid any notions of marryin' grand—she may or she mayn't—my belief is it wouldn't be money she'd be after. 'Twould be' just pride. And she's a good girl wid a kind heart in her, and clever too, mind you. Many a shillin' she makes be that fine crochee she's often doin' some ladies buys it off her to send up to Dublin. Dan might do a dale worse, he might so. Morebetoken he's thinkin' The boat drew up at the jetty. of her now, that's sartin. But not any great while ago he had some sort of a fancy for that Ellen Mooney, and I don't like a bone in her body, goodness forgive me for sayin' so. And I well know that if Margaret won't have him, off he'll bounce and take up wid Ellen Mooney. And that same 'ud be a bad day for himself and his poor mother, now that she's so wakely, the crathur. For Ellen haen't e'er a bit of good- nathur in her at all-a cross-tcmpered little shrimp she is." She is that," said Mra Croley, like all the rest of them Pather Mooneys. And bedad now isn't a man a quare fool to go marry among cross-tempered people? If he was me, I'd let them alone till the fish comes in to warm them- selves at the fire, as the sayin' is. For if it was nothin' else, it's heart-scalded they'll have you from momin' till night." Well, there's the raison why I'm not wish- ful Margaret would be givin'Dan the sack," said Widow Hynes, and the raison why I do be warnin' her agin thinkin' bad of marryin' a poor man. Not that I ever make mention of Dan to her, mind you. That 'ud be the right way to set her agin him for good and all. There'3 nothin' so conthrary in their minds as girls, unless it's maybe some of the dumb era- thur, If they see you're wantin' them to fancy a thing, they won't come next or nigh it. I mind last summer we had a little red calf I was thryin' to put on cocoa, because we'd run short of milk—and och to behould the fantigues of her, vou might ha' thought it was pison I had in the bucket to choke her wid. But the niinyit I set it down, and let on I was goin' away and lavin' it—sure lisr head was in it before I conld look round. So niver a word of Dan do I say before Maxgaret but I just keep talfcin' promiscuous about the foolishness of folks settin' themselves up, and the fine fortius poor people have come into now and agin after all,' and this way and that way." In this strategy Dan's aunt and advocate per- severed, and it mu3t be allowed that her deli- cately wrapped-up counseis were listened to with much patience by her cousin Margaret. That; she was a little tired of hearing ab&ut the perpetual spinsterhood of the six haughty Miss O'Reillys is more than probable, but she would go on with her crochet, and say, Och, now to think of that," and sure, they were the great gabies," at the proper places, quite alertly and affably. Nor did her polite attention flag even when the Widow proceeded to add another favourite story which turned upon a wonderful piece of good luck met with by a poor fisher boy, who was that ragged lookin', 'twould ha' took two of him to make a dacint scare-crow." It so happened that the Widow took occasion to recite this apologue one evening before a rather large audience, drawn mostly from the youth of Bunoven. The season was summer, and the weather was fine, so they were sitting about on the strip of sward, which lies green between the white-faced cottage-row and the iron-grey shingle, and makes a pleasant basking place at the close of a warm, dry day. As the Widow earner ound the turn of tHe road, with her long shadow slanting away before her nearly out to sea, and her brown, arabesque-patterned shawl over her head, and her flashing milk-can on her arm, she noticed that the most numerous group included her nephew Dan and several of the voung Sheehans, a circumstance which made her bend her steps to the left, and cross the short grass to join them. Margaret Sheehan had found a comfortable ledge with a lower one for a foot- stool, where she could crochet at ease her youngest sisters were perched near her, and Dan Molloy confronted her from an opposite bank. He had placed himself there that he might look across at her conveniently, but was a good deal embarrassed by the beams from the flushing we3t, to which Margaret had prudently turned her back. They dazzled his eyes, and burnished his red beard, and obliged him to twist his face into a uet-work of wrinkles whenever he wanted to catch a sight of anything. Other young people lounged in the shallow little recces round which the swarded ledges ran amphitheatre-wiise. It is a place where many of Bunoven's small dramas have been acted. The soft blue sea was near enough to be heard rustling on the pebbles, and the hills beyond it were far enough off to be coloured like dowers-this evening they were all a mist of lilac. The Widow Hynes sat down by Margaret's left hand, unceremoniously extruding Lizzie Sheehan, who thereupon slipped round to Mar- garet's other side with a silent grimace. Well now," said the Widow, "If I was wear in' that light buff print, I'd b3 afraid of me life to sit on the ground in it, gettin' it soiled. For once it's washed, it's desthroyed. Ne'er a tint of the colour will it keep buff niver does." "The grass," Margaret said, "is as dry as chips, and a dale claner than anythin' indoors. That's all blackened wid the ugly smoke." It's aisy talkin' agin the smoke, but I dunno It's aisy talkin' agin the smoke, but I dunno what we'd do widout it. Them that's over partic'lar," the Widow said, betrayed into some inconsistency by her disposition to exhort, may be apt to have a try before they're a great dale oulder. Them that sets themselves up thinkin' they're goin' to git richer, it's poorer they may be after all, for aught they can tell. And some- times it's the other way round. Och Dan, is it there you are ? Good evenin' to you, me lad. I thought you'd be out with the Scan- lans, but to be sure the tide's not very handy for you to-night. Ye'll ba makin' an early start to-morra. And, bedad now, if you got the same luck wid your fishin' that Thady Phelan done, it's blessing yourselves you might be, and takin' I a holiday. Wasn't I iver tellin' you what happint Thady Phelan ? Blieke not." The story of Thady Phelan was in fact familiar to all the company, but nobody entered a protest against its repetition. Their mood was placidly passive, and they felt that they could listen or not listen just as they pleased, either to the murmur of the waves or the discourse of the old woman. So she began to set forth at full length how Thady, who was a poor little gossoon of a fisher boy, widout a shoe to put his feet in on dry land," had gone out in his boat one morn- ing after the mackerel in Lanagawn Bay. And how that evening la*e the other lads, who had got back before him, law him coming along in nis old boat, without It sign of anything taken, and all began to jeer at him about his big haul. And how upon landing he showed them a small, black-looking box, which he had pulled up in his net, and which was presently discovered to con- tain some of the finest jewellery anyone ever laid eyes on, worth mints of money, so that Thady's fortune was made, and he needed never put his hand to a stroke of work until his life's end. At this point in her narrative Widow Hynes intro- duced the comparison already mentioned: There was grandeur and good luck for poor Thady now! And he that ragged lookin' 'twould ha' took- a couple of him to make a dacint scare-crow." Here across the old woman's somewhat hoarse- toned volubility a young voice struck clear and shrill. "Isn't it a rale pity then," it said, that Patsy Carr there can't conthrivo to be gettin' the like1? of such a big haul ? For I'm 'sure half a dozen of him wouldn't be any too many to dress up a sca,re-crow wid, if it was to look anyways respectable." The speaker was a girl of the name of Rosanne Mooney, a cousin of the cross tempered Ellen, and though less reprehensible, still, in the Widow's opinion, ovet-fond of takin' up other- people's words." Her sarcasm aimed at a black headed, Ibrown-faced youth, who lay with two or three others on the sunny sod close by and it reached its mark. Geriainly Patsy Carr's gar- ments were in unusually bad repair. A large hole was frayed right through the elbow of his blue woollen jersey, and the patch that had con- cealed another rent at his knee now flapped indiscreetly to the passing breezes. These defects were due less to poverty, though the Carrs owned strictly limited means, than to the fact that Patsy had nowadays nobody at home to be putting in a stitch for him. His mother had died on him not so long ago," not so long, at any rate, but that he remembered how she used to darn and mend. Perhaps Rosanne's gibe re- minded him suddenly of his loss or perhaps he especially disliked having his rags juat then held up to ridicule or perhaps it was only Margaret Sheehan's imagination that made her fancy he looked crestfallen and forlorn. Be this as it may, it is certain that when her younger sister Lizzie joined in the ensuing laugh, and then chimed in with a pert reference to Patsy's ould show of a torn cap," Margaret nudged her reprovingly, and even went so far as to whisper Whist, you gaby. If ypu don't behave yourself, I'll bid mother be callin' you in." It is possible that had the Widow and her protege noticed this bit of by-play thsy might have drawn evil auguries therefrom but neither of them did. The Widow felt that she had improved the occasion satis- factorily, and merely added a disclaimer of in- tending to "pass remarks or raise a laugh on anybody." Dan Molloy found an opportunity to express, in Margaret's hearing, his opinion that "crochee was the purtiest sort of work a girl could be doin'; a dale tastier than knittin' And soon after this the group dispersed for early hours are kept at Bunoven. It had drawn towards sunset of the following day, when Patsy Carr came rowing in along Bunoven Strand. He looked as ragged as ever, and even more disconsolate, for Hia luck had bean bad, and his prospects appeared very gloomy. Pondering abstractedly upon these he was, while he leisurely rowed homewards, till a voice hailing him near at hand startled him out of his meditations. "Patsy Carr," it called, might you have a sate you could loan me aboard your boat ?'' And who shouB it be but Margaret Sheehan, standing in her Ivifr gown, which tho golden sunglow bleached white, on the point of the sanely spit he was just passing by ? Why to be sure. and in coorse I have, Margaret Sheehan, or if I hadn't, I wouldn't bs long makin' you one," Patsy said, backing water 1 energetically, to bring his black bows sliding in on the sand at Margaret's fset. But then a vague apprehension of some thing too good to be true crossed his mind, coupled with the remern- brance of last night's scoff, which had left him a little suspicious of possible scorning, and he added, But what at all would you be doin' in the dirty old boat ? She's all fish-scales." And is it stayin' here you'd have one, to be drownded in the tide, if she was twyste as dirty ?" Margaret replied, don't you see that the say's all abroad behind me ?" This statement, though all obvious exaggera- tion, was not quite unfounded, as a narrow blue streak had really flowed in to cut off the sandy &pit from the mainland. It is true that Margaret couid almost have jumped over the tiny channel, and might have waded across with very great ease. However, like Mercutio's wound, it was of depth and width sufficient to serve a purpose. It's not havin' anythin' hurtin' a hair of your head, I'd be, Jet alone drowndin', Margaret asthore, Patsy answered, and he hastened to upholster the stern bench for her with a coil of dry net. So you took next to nothin' to-day," Margaret said, as they glided along slowly, for Patsy was in no hurry to reach the little pier. Well, now you've picked up ine, and if I was me own weight in mackerel, or sole, or whitin' you couldn't say you hadn't got a pretty middlin' haul. 'Deed thin it's a pity you haven't nor a chance of the grand jewel box Widdy Hynes was tellin' about." Bedad if I could only be keepin' yon," said Patsy, I'd think 'twas the grandest haul any man ever took, jewels or so. But sure it's landin' you here I'll have to be directly." And snre landin' isn't lavin'. when two people's goin'ashore at the one place," Mar- garet observed with the air of a person who throws out some casual and perfectly general re- mark. Patsy, however, caught it up, and twisted it into a strictly personal application with singu- lar promptness. Then would you iver think at all, macree, of takin' me to keep ?" he said abruptly, resting on his oars, while their blades dripped chains of diamonds in the sun. Glory be to goodness- sure I was always afraid of my life you'd niver look at me. And frettin' I've been this great while, for I well know me best chance in this world is to be goin' out to me brother Johnny in tho States, that's doin' nnely only I hadn't the heart to be settin' off me lone, and quittin' them that I might niver lay eves on agin, whether she minded' me or not. But och, Margaret jewel, if you'll come along wid me, 'twill be all grandeur en- tirely. Sorra another wish I have in the world, and you wouldn't disappoint me of it ?" The States," said Margaret, is a wonderful far way off. A body'd have to be thinkin' a long time anout crossin' over the Gay," an answer which was so much more decisive than Patsy had dared to hope for that he resumed his rowing in an unspeakable elation of spirits. Troth, and it's the proud man I am this day, mavour- neen," he said. Margaret and he seemed indeed to have ex- changed moods. For his downcast expression had vanished, and he bad lifted up his head with clear and confident looks, in its torn cap whereas she, whose habit • had been to hold hers rather high, now fixed her eyes on the shallow wather their keel was cleaving through, as if she were busily engaged in reckoning the dancing flecks of transparent shadow and light with which the I' ripples paved the sanded bottom. This may have been partly because about the landing-place had gathered a good few lookers-on, amongst whom, as she was fully aware, her arrival in j Patsy Carr's boat would create no small sensa- tion. In fact an officially printed announcement that a marriage had been arranged, and would | shortly take place, could scarcely have made the j situation plainer to Bunoven. Before the sun { had well finished setting it was known from one J end of the hamlet to the other that Margaret Sheehan and Patsy Carr were spakin' Sheeha.n and Patsy Carr were spakin' The news displeased nobody, except Dan Mol- loy and his aunt, the latter the more seriously, I seeing that he was likely to find consolation in what she deprecated as a domestic calamity. Besides that, she had taken a much more active j part than he in the match-making, and wa3 correspondingly mortified by the failure of her efforts.. I wisht to goodness, Nannie, I'd known what was in the minds of them two," she said, discus- sing the subject this time with her crony, Mrs Durkin. But sorra a notion had I of any such a thing. Sure who'd ha' supposed a girl like Margaret 'ud go forto take up wid that raggety young rapscallion ? If you'd axed rue, I'd ha' said he hadn't the irapidence in him to be so much as thinkin' of her, no more than if she was I the Queen of Connaughfc." For the matter of that," said Mrs Dmkjn, I could have tould you he was thinkin' of her fact enough. It's my belief she nivai put a stitch in her crochee-work that Patsy didn't see, if he was anywheres widin' sight of h6r." And I as good as advisin' Margaret," the widotv went on lamenting, to be takin' the poorest inan that axed her. and I manin' me nephew Dan, and she mauin' Patsy Carr. Bad manners to thim, makin' a fool of me. Many a time I might better ha' whisht about the Misa O'Reilly's and Thady Phelan." Accordin' to my experience," said Mrs Dnr. ian, it's little differ, good or bad, advice makes, when the talk is of llkm or lavin'. You might I be the whole day biddin' me like boiled scallops, aud ne'er a bit would I touch, for I can't abide the thoughts of thim. But I might spare mvself the throuble of telling you they was ugly things, if be chance ye have a fancy for them. They're a nasty brash," said the widow. "But all's one," she persisted regretfully. All's .one, I'd ha' held me tongue about Thady Phelan and his big haul." Next week;— A FIFTH AVENUE FATALITY." By ANDREW HAGGARD.

VAGRANCY AT CARDIFF. Feigning Divers Afflictions. At Cardiff Police Court on Saturday (before Al- derman Jacobs and Mr F. H. Jotham) John Moreland (64) was charged with begging in Cow- bridge-road on the 12th inst. Detective Kellett said he noticed prisoner stopping several people in the street—about seven or eight in all—and pretending to be deaf and dumb by pointing to his mouth and ear. He then handed them a piece of paper. The officer suspected he was an im- postor and presently Moreland came up to him and repeated his signs and motions. The piece of paper which he handed the officer contained the following words written in pencil :—" I am deaf and dumb. I have got no friends in this country, and I belong to Norway. I had a fall from the rigging of a ship. Good England and Wales I" Witness informed him he was a police officer, and said he thought he was an impostor. I believe you can speak as well as I can," said Kellett. Can I though ?" blurted the deaf and dumb man Detective Kellett told him he would be taken to the police station, when the poor afflicted man once more recovered his speech, and said, Give me a chance this time." On the way to the station he became very violent, and had to be handcuffed. At the station Is l^d was found on him in bronze and 6d in silver, together with a scrap of paper bearing the words Hard up used presumably for professional purposes. Your Worships," said prisoner in the dock, permit me to say a few words. I was drunk, I am very sorry to say. Someone gave me the piece of paper in order to get me into trouble. Superintendent Hayward has known me for up- wards of twenty years. I have been going to sea for many years, and had a pension, coming to me." Prisoner then launched on a narration of his deeds as soldier of the late Queen, said ha had bean to West Africa, had fought the Zulus, and while employed in that pastime had had the sunstroke detailed how the Army doctors, in order to preserve his life, had inserted a silver plate in his cranium. As he confided this last piece of intelligence he made a courtly bow, so as to enable their Worships to see the location of the silver plate. Moreland wound up with a peroration in which he vowed he would instantly upon release turn teetotaler Chief Inspector Durston was tho next speaker. He said their military friend had been in that court 16 times for divers offences, such as drun- kenness, felony, etc. It was through a case of felony, your Worships, that he lost a good pen- sion. added the Inspector. You are a wicked impostor," said Alderman Jacobs, and you will go to gaol with hard labour for a month." A similar charge was preferred against one Samuel Brummell. This prisoner, who was only 27 years of age, carried on operations in Romilly- crescent, and it was his misfortune also to run into the arms of a. plain-clothes officer. He wore a pair of spectacles, and was well en- dowed as regards physique, especially about the chest and shoulders. P.C. James Wallace James deposed to seeing him stop several people and asking them for money. At last he walked up to the officer, and asked him if he could spare a copper. In self-defence he informed the Bench he was a cripple, and had been diligently search- ing for work but somehow I don't seem to get any," he soliloquised. Inspector Durston said that prisoner's feet as far as he could see were perfectly sound. And so are his hands," he said, only that they are velvety smooth." Prisoner was sent to gaol for seven day3.

MANUAL TRAINING IN SCHOOLS. Exhibition of Work at Swansea. At the Training College, Nelson-terrace, Swansea, on Saturday, an exhibition of children's work in hand and eye training was opened. The proceedings were presided over by Mr D.Roberts, chairman of the School Board, and among those present were a number of sisters of mercy from the convent at Gresnhill, Mr A. G. Legard (H.M. inspector of schools), Principal Salmon, Mr W. L. Daniel (president of the Welsh Federation of School Boards), Mr J. Allan Williams (chairman of the Llanelly School Board), Mr H. P. Charles (chairman of Neath School Board), Mr R. E. Hughes (H.M. inspector of schools), &c. Mr Legard, in opening the exhibition, said it was a collection oi work done in various schools, and brought together in order that the public might judge of manual training in general and also of the particular manual training in their own schools. Teachers might ask, Why should a new subject be introduced into the curricula of the elementary schools ? It was not long since elementary science was introduced, teaching chil- dren to observe tha facts of nature without an in- termediary. All now agreed that elementary science teaching had proved most valuable. Manual training was quite a proper sequel. It was to Froebel, the inventor of the kindergarten system, that the idea of manual training was due. He desired to turn the natural activity of children to good account. He was also a deeply religious man, and wished to bring out all that was best in the nature of the-children. What a change had taken place in their educational system. He (Mr Legard) could remember when geography, history, and grammar were taught with more re- gard to gaining knowledge than to improvement of the mind. The present idea was that children would learn very much more by doing than by reading. He thought, however, that education in hand work was a better description than manual training. They would see from that exhi- bition that the work was progressive, and that the manual work was very closely associated with drawing. They should on no account lose sight of the ideas of beauty and art. Other* addresses followed, and the exhibition wa3 thrown open.

-c: SOUTH WALES PRINTING WORKS Sick and Provident Fund. On Saturday evening Mr J. Duncan, J.P., pre- sided over the 35th half-yearly general meeting of members of the above society in the South Wales Daily News Office. The committee sub- mitted the accounts for the half-year, which showed a satisfactory result of the work of the society. There had been an increase of £185 15s 3d in the capital of the fund, which now amounted to £2.277 7s. The cost of sickness for the half- year had been JE20 8s 4d, and this had been met by a deduction of 2s per share. Withdrawals from tue provident fund are about the average, amounting to £184 7s 5d, and from the sick fund £8 16s had been withdrawn by members leaving the establishment. The receipts had again been satisfactory, including £123 13s sick fund sub- scriptions, and JE132 provident fund deposits. The interest on t.ho investments of the society amounted to £5693 8d for the half-year, and this being more than sufficient to pay 5 per cent. interest on provident fund accounts the com- mittee added interest at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum. Tho report and accounts were adopted on the proposition of the chairman. An additional collector was appointed to facilitate the increasing business of the society, and the meeting terminated with votes of thanks to the Messrs Duncan for their liberal donation to the funds of the society, and to Mr J. Duncan for his presence in the chair.

HORSEWHIPPED BY A WOMAN. The Newbury magistrates were engaged for some time on Friday with a case of assault, the defendant being Mrs Ferris, wife of a pensioner from the Metropolitan Police, living at Myrtle Villa, in the suburbs of that town, and the com- plainant another Metropolitan Police pensioner named Thomas Shepherd, who lived in the same neighbourhood, and was formerly caretaker of the General Post Office at Newbury. It transpired that a few days ago Mrs Ferris abused Shepherd, and then belaboured him with a horsewhip, striking him severely across the head several times. Mrs Ferris's husband was standing near, and Shepherd appealed to him to come to his assistance and take his wife away. Ferris leisurely walked up to his wife and seized the whip. Mrs Ferris then began kicking Shepherd most violently, and struck him a severe blew in the face. The defence was that Shepherd had given provocation by making improper overtures to Mrs Ferris on several occasions at her house in the absence of her husband, but this was strongly denied by the plaintiff. Defendant was fined JEl and costs.

SOUTH MON. LIBERAL ASSOCIATION. At a meeting of tho executive of the above association, held on Saturday at Newport, MrD. A. Thomas, M.P.. presiding, tha question of organisation was mliv discussed, and is was decided to appoint Mr Lewis Richards, rate col- lector, of Blaina, as secretary and registration agent, with Mr Lewis Davies, secretary to the North Monmouthshire Association, as advising agent. The question of organisation in the divi- sion was afterwards fully discussed, and it was decided to appoint a. local secretary in each of the 25 polling districts in the constituency. A special committee, consisting of the chairman, Alderman Raffan, and Mr G. Jones, Revs. D. Bevan Jones, W. E. Robinson, and T. G. James, with the treasurer and hon. secretary, I waa appointed to carry out the organisation pro- j gramme. The question of selecting a Literal candidate for the division was deferred until the reorganisation scheme has been brought into I operation, when the constituency as a whole would be more fully represented than it was at present. Colonel Herbert, C.B., D.S.O., the probable candidate, was, however, asked to attend as a delegate the meetings of the National Liberal Federation at Bradford, and the other delegates to the same gathering were Mr D. A. Thomas, M.P., Mr J. Mumford, and the secre- tary. Delegates were also appointed to the con- ference of progressive educationalisis as fol- lows —Mr D. A. Thomas, M.P., Alderman Raffan, Messrs J.R. Jacob, and D. Roger Evans, and Revs. T. G. James and W. E. Robinson.

Mr Kruger, as everyone know3, is a constant smoker it is not perhaps so well UllaCl:5tood that he has only ones tasted alcohol in his lite. That was at Bloemfontein after tho signing of the al- liancs with the Free State Urngcr is said to have taken off a. bumper of champagne and put down the glass with a face of disgust. Fizz est et nb bo«te doceri.

Men fail to sncceed by attempting too much or too little a medium in all cases is safest. It is the peculiar faculty of fools to discern the faults of others at the same time they forget their own. Of One Mind.—Young De Bore (hunting for something to say) I wish I had lived in the knightly days of old.—Weary Fair One So do I. Accounted For.—" This poet says of his lady, She slew me with her eyes.' Well, I sup- pose she had been looking daggers at him." Asked.—He Look here, I'm getting tired of doing nothing but paying bills t—His Wife Well, what do yon want to spend the money too ? -T Suiting the Season.—Wife Winter is over and spring has come.—Husband: All right; pack away my light overcoat, and get out my winter one. Distinction With Difference.^—One of His Friends Does he write for publication ?— Another Oh, no I Merely for circulation among the editors. Works Both Ways.—First Poor Man (born poor) It takes money to make money.—Second Poor Man (born rich) Yes, and it takes money to lose money. Almost as Good.—She I wish I could be as contented as you !—He Oh I'm not contented —only I don't think it worth while to worry about it} With a Drawback.—A. So you told Mrs C. that she looked as young as her daughter ? I suppose that pleased the old lady ?—B. Yes— but it lost me the daughter. More Practical.—" What ten books would you take if you had to pass the rest of your life on a deserted island ?" Oh, I wouldn't take books at all. I'd take things to eat." As a Reviver.—" Did you do nothing to resus- citate the body ?" was recently asked of a wit- ness at a coroner's inquest. Yes, sir, we searched his pockets," was the reply. What More.—" You say that the operation was successful, but the patient died. What do you mean by that ?" He lived long enough to pay his bill. What more could you ask ?". Ever the Same.—She was married to her third husband, and they had been having a quarrel. I guessed how it would be, William," she said. You are as bad as all the others 1" "Of Two Evils," &c.—Rich Man I have de- cided to make no will.—Lawyer Then the law will divide your estate.—Rich Man Well, that is better than letting the lawyers divide it. Sure Signs.—Patient Doctor, I don't know what is the matter with me. I can't sleep, have no appetite, no interest in business—.—Doctor Well, why don't you propose to the girl ? Their Trademarks.—" Men of my profession are very good story tellers," remarked the barber. Yes," assented the smarting sufferer in the chair, and they sometimes illustrate their stories with cuts." Should Be.—" Do you think that lawyer whom you retained to upset your father's will will be | successful ?" Why, certainly." II What makes you think so ?" Why, he's the fellow that drew the will up for my father." Light on It.—Jack Tom says he has pro- Eosed eight times and not one girl wo old have im.—Will: What a contrarv lot they must be. —Jack Oh, I don't know. You see, he proposed to the one girl eight times. Reason Enough.—Black That fellow Sharp- leigh is the moat insufferably conceited man I ever saw. What has he ever done to gain such a high opinion of himself ?—White I Relieve he once found a mistake in a newspaper. Cause and Effect.—First Farmer How did Silas Marks come to lose his farm ?—Second Far- mer He thought his neighbour's fence was en- croachin' on his land, an' the very fust lawyer he spoke to about it thought so too. One Satisfaction.—Major: And you still re- fuse to marry me ?—Miss Flint My dear Major, I wonldn't marry the best man living.— Well, you have at least one satisfaction—that he has offered himself." As an Illustration. —" She started to say something about a kiss, and-" Young Higgins smiled in well-warranted appreciation of his own smartness —I took the words right out of her mouth." Without Doubt.—" Is the correspondent of that newspaper a well-informed man?" "I should say so. Half the time he's the only per- son in the world who knows whether what he says ia true or not." Stopped Worrying.—" Mrs Ii. used to "Worry terribly when her husband was away on his busi- ness journeys, but she's got over it." "Con- quered her nervousness, I suppose ?" Oh, no succeeded in making him have hia life insured." Hopeful Signs.—Green Gibson doesn't seem to bs getting rich at poultry farming.—Brown No, but all the same, he says bis hens have taken to eating their own eggs, and he has hopes that they'll become self-supporting. Elsewhere as Well.—Dealer; Well, air, of course you mast tako the '03s or leave 'im.- There^ 'e is, with all 'is himperfections on his head," as the poet says.—Prosaic Customer Ah, your friend the poet can't have looked at his legs. By Subtlety.—" I wish to see a bonnet," said the elderly Miss Antique. For yourself, miss ?'' inquired the French milliner. "Yes," "Marie, run downstairs and get me hats for ladies be- tween eighteen and twenty-five." Bonnet sold. One or the Other.—Mr Minka What a hag- gard, harassed, woe-begone face that lady has. I wonder what's the matter.—Mrs Minks Poor thing Either she's lost all her relatives in some terrible catastrophe, or else she can't find a spring bonnet that is becoming. To the Point.—" Young man," said the young lady's father, you have boasted several times that yon possess an honoured name." Yea, sir," replied the suitor haughtily. Well, may I inquire what bank it will be honoured at, and for how much." Worse Than Ever.—" I had nine children to support, and it kept me bUBY," said Smith to Jones, as they met, but one of tho girls got married. Nowl have-" Eight ?" interrupted Jones. No, ten, counting the son-in-law," said Smith with a sigh. As an Example.—" It's always dangerous to jump at conclusions," said the careful man. You are liable to make yourself ridiculous, to say the least." Quite right," replied the com- mercial traveller cheerfully. I jumped at the conclusion of a ferryboat once and missed it." Easily Solved.—" Now suppose," suggested the master, that you took a piece of beefsteak and cut it into halves, then cut the halves into quarters, the quarters into eighths, and the eighths into sixteenths, into what could the six- teenths be cut ?" Hash," responded Tommy, whose mother kept a boarding-house. Held a Record.—Manager of Firm Your former employer tells me you were the quickest book-keeper in the place.—Applicant for Situa- tion (dubiously) He does ?—" Yes. He says you could throw the books in the safe, lock up, wash, and get ready to go home in just one minute and ten seconds." A minister of a Highland parish preached one day on the duty of unqualified truthfulness, and was a little surprised to receive a visit from a parishioner who was well known to the gangers as a maker of" sma' still whisky. "I ha,ve come to-day to thank ye for yon sermon ye preached," he said. I will aye speak the truth efter this. Yo see, on Monday morning I got a visit frae the gauger. Hae ye ony whiskey here ?' he demanded. Oh, ay,' says I, nae doot I hac some whisky.' And where is it?' he inquired. 'Oh, jist below the bed there,' says I. Weel, what dae ye think ? I tell't naething but the naked truth, and the cratur never as much as poked his stick below the bed, though lie looked at every ithtsr pairi o' the hoose. I'm thinkin', sir, yo are are quite richt that it is aye best to tell the truth. I maun thank, ye, sir, for the sermon. It has dune me good. Honesty is the best policy efter a'. I'll aye tell the truth.'

DR. PARRY'S NEW OPERAS, On Saturday night, in response to an invita- tion from Mr Tom Stephens, a number of musi- cal gentlemen from various parts of the county met at the Park Hotel, -Pontypridd, in connec- tion with the suggested performances of Dr. Joseph. Parry's operas The Maid of Cefn Ydfa" and His Worship the Mayor." Dr. Parry attended, and gave selections from the first- named piece, and explained that the librettist was Mr Joseph Bennett, of the" Daily Tele- graph, "who was now staying at Penarth, and intended paying a visit to Cefn Ydfa. Dr. Parry was urged to concentrate all his efforts for the present on The Maid of Cefn Ydfa," and with a view of getting thi3 opera produced in various towns in the Principality a representative com- mittee was elected to further the matter, includ- ing Messrs Tom Stephens, conductor of the Royal Rhondda Glee Society; T. Richards, Mountain Ash M. O. Jones, Treherbert; Dan Davies, Merthyr Councillor Edward Williams, Pontypridd Henrv Evans, Dowlais Taliesyn Hopkins, Cymmer; Rhys Evans, Porth; W. Morgan,Pontypridd R. Howells, Aberdare and others, with Mr Ted Hughes, Llwvnypia, as j secretary. It is intended to bold similar meet- inga at Swansea and Bridgend. j

To err in opinion, though it be. not the part of I wise men, ia at least human. 1

Dymunir i'n gohebwyr Cymreig gyfeirio eu go hebiaethau, llyfrau i'w hadolygu, &c., fel j canlyn: Dafydd Morganwg, Morganwg House Llantwit-street, Cardiff."

BARDDONIAETH. YR EIRA AR Y DDAEAR. Lien lan fel arian yw'r eira—daenwyd, O dyner olygfa Pnrdeb gwyneb daear ga' Lliw chweg, hanfod llwch Gwynfa.. Melincrythan. Noah. Y W A WR. Yn dawel draw o borth y nos Y Wawr a ddaw fel geneth dlos I barth y dydd mewn gwenwisg fawr, A'i godrau'n cyrhaedd hyd y 11awr. A gwenu mae dros fryn a phant, A chwerthin'n ol mewn cerdd wna'r nant. Y ser, nos deulu'r wybren fry I gilio ant pan welant hi. A chor y wig dan wenau hon, Darawant gaingc o fawl yn lion. Ac esgyn mae dros lawnt y nen Fel tywysoges hardd ddi-len. Yr hon a ddaeth o borth y nos Yw mam y dydd sy'n paentio rhos, A bywyd welir yn mhob man O'r dynryn tlws i'r mynydd ban. Melincrythan. Noah. MAE'R GWANWYN YN D'OD. Mae'r Gwanwyn yn d'od, Rhydd adar eu cerddi Diflana yr od, Blodeua y gerddi. Blaenorydd yr haf Yw'r gwanwyn mawledig; Bu natur yn glaf Drwy'r gauaf rhewedig. Fe wisga pob bryn Eu gwyrddion wasgodau, A'r gauaf bryd hyn Ymgilia mewn dagrau. Ffarwel, auaf dig, Teyrnasa y gwanwyn, Ac adar y wig A unant mewn emyn. Daw'r blodan'n ddiri" Yn mreichiau llawenydd I ddangos mewn bri Waith dwylaw'r Creawdydd. Y goedwig lom, brudd, Mewn glesni ymwisga, A huan y dydd O'r nen a'1 mawryga. Pob dyffryn a fydd Yn Eden flodeuog, Gan Lygaid y Dydd A briall dihalog. Rhwng ir-ddail y llwYl1 Bydd adar yn nythn; Deorant mewn swyn, Daw'r cywion i'w lloni. Y fronfraith a'i chan Adseinia y dyifryn, A'i mynwes ar dan Yn swynion y gwamvyn, Mae'r deryn du lloa Yn trwsio ei daunau, Bydd telyn ei fron Yn fyw o ganiadau. Uwch murmur y nant, Ar frigau y tew-lwyn, Adseina per daiit Y gog ei dau nodyn. Daw'r wenol yn lion Uwch tonau chwyddedig, Yn ysgafn ei bron, I Walia fynyddig. Gwenynen yr haf A gaf yn ei helfen, Wrth sugno'r mel braf 0 flodau'r ddaearen. Mae'r Gwnwyn yn d'od I daenu prydferthwch Anfarwol ei glod Ar Iwm-dir anialwch. Mae'r Gwanwyn yn d'od, Yn ieuanc a. dedwydd, I fyny bo'i nod!" Medd calon awenydd. Mae'r Gwanwyn yn d'od, Ar edyn awelon, Ei sedd is y rhod Fydd myrdd o bwyaion. Mae'r Gwanwyn yn d'o3 Ar fynwes y flwyddyn; Anwylaf ei glod, Mae'n dyner fel plentyn. Mae'r Gwanwyn yn d'od, Yn dyst i'r ddynoliaeth, Fod nefocdd yn bod, Ac ail enedigaeth. Mamdaia. Llinos Wyre. Y GWANWYN. Wanwyn, Feirdd! hai, ati weithian, Ymddihunwch fawr a byeban; Chwyddwch fwrn y cerddi newydd Rodaant hunlief i'r G-olygydd; Dyma adeg wir ddymunol, Rybu nwyf y "gan amserol." CaJed Auaf a,'i ddig gilwg Giliodd yinaith, daeth i'r golwg Wyneb tirion Gwanwyn hvgar I adferu gwyneb daiar, Ac i wisgo a gogoniant Eden ddeiliog bryn a cheubaati Gwelid er ys tro ajgoelion Agoshad y tymhor hylon, Yn y mynych haul belydrau Ddyddiol dreiddient i'n haneddftU) I ddidderbyn-wvneb ddannod Llwch a llwydni esgeulusdod. Ynddynt hwy 'r osdd oenadwrt At ein gwragedd i ymhoewi, Ac ymarechu fraich a chalon Ga.n ddefnyddio addas foddion I lanhau o ben bwy gilydd, Dy a dodrefn rhag cywilydd. Rhaid iu adbapuro muriau, Adnewyddullwyd ddaiiuniau, A thrwy yni ac ymroddiad Adgyweirio pob maluriad: Golchi, 'scwrio, 'scubo, rhwbio, Er cael pobpeth i ddysgleirio. Gwelid y llafurwr diwyd, Er drwy'r dydd wrth ei gelfyddyd Yn yr hwyr, ar ol noswyiio, Yn ei ardd yn palu hono, Ac yn parotoi'r gwelyau Cywraih i'r gwahanol liadau. Yn ffenestri'r dilledyddion Ini roddid llawn arwyddion Fod y tymhor gwych yn ago3, Tra y gauaf eto'n aros: Ond gadawaf dref a maelfa, Nid yw'r Awen gartref yma.. Af i'r niaes, y ddol, a.'r goedwig— Awen-lwybrau bendigedig t I fwynhau pur hyfrydoledd, Ac i yfed gwir orfoledd, Yn yr olwg ar amrywiaeth Ac aur-degweh Creadigaetb." Natur yma 0 fy neutl1 Yn ogonawl sydd yn gwena, Wedi gwisgo'i ddillad newydd, I orchfygu awen prydydd, Ac i wneyd yn egwan hollol Ddawn a gallu ddarfelyddol. Rhodiaf allan'yn y borau, Pan ddaw'r haul o'i "ddwyraJu ddorau," Ar ei ymdaith hyd aur-ba.lmant Mewn rhwysgfawredd a gogoniant I ddihuno a. goleuni Fyd yn gorwedd yn ei dlysni. Wele'r gwlith fel perlau purl&n Yn addnrno mynWGa Anian, Yn eneinio pob blaguryn, Yn coroni pob glaswelltyn, Er cyfleu i r meddwl ardeb 0 hanfodol ferthwch Purdeb. Awel dyner, falmaidd wasgat Ber-aroglau dros y ddaiar, Tra/n cusanu telaid ruddiau Heirdd flodionos a pherlysiau,— Dyma gyffvr annghymmarol Er adferiad nerth corfforol. Meillion tyner a briallu, A man flodau heb rifecli, Ynt yn brydferth hyd fy Uwybrau Yn addurno y twmpathau— Byw deleidion yn ymloni Wedi newydd adgyfodi. Cor y wig mewn lIawen afiaeth A ddyhidla fel gerddoriaeth Ar fy nghlustiau nes fy swyno I ymarog ac annghofio Fod hc-lyntion byd a bywyd Yn fy pgalw i ddychwelyd. I Abertawe. R. Aeddwen Evanv. PENTREF LLEDROD. Ar ddyffryn cul, prydferth y Wyre aysgodol, Yn nghanol tawelwch dwfn-dreiddiol y wlad, Mae pentref hardd Lledrod a'i fythod henafol, Yn destyn swyn-hudol i'r Awen fyw, fad. Edmygaf lanweithdra ei furiau claerwynion A'i geinion dihafal sydd anwyl i mi; Caiff sedd yn iy mynwes yn gynes a hylon, Tra. gwaed yn fy nghalon bydd Lledrod mewn bri. Bu gynt mewn dinodedd, heb feirdd na Ilenorion I loni'r trigolion di-fywyd, di-nod; Caf heddyw bregcthwyr, offeiriaid, a bairddion, A llu o gerddorion yn datgan ei glod. Os ydyw'n wasgarog. blodeua ei grefvdd, Llaw Duw mewn ilawenydd yn uchel a'i cwyd; Eneinied y Nefoedd a gwlith yr wybrenydd Hoff Ledrod mwyn dedwydd a Chapel Rhyd- lwyd. Mae'r Eglwys a'r fynwent lle'rhuna'm cyfoedion Ger ymchwydd yr afon ddolenog ei tbaith; Ar edyn yr awel dychweia r adgonon Am lu o auwylion,—try'n ddagrau fy iaith. Daw'r Gwanwyn i wenu o amgylch y Pentref, A'r lwydlas Gog adref i Walia mewn hedd; Ond ni ddaw'm cyfeillion sy'n huno mewn tangnef Yn ol byth i'w cartref o lanerch y bedd. Hen Bentref dyddanus, Edenaidd ei swynion I Ymglyma fy nghalon am dano o hyd, Fel eiddew bythol-wyrdd am goedydd tal-gryfion, Tra, dwfr yn ei afon a haul awch ein byd. Esgyned ei feibion ialentog i fyny, Ar edyn athrylkh yn uchel en clod Daw'r adeg caiff Lledrod ei wir anfarwoli, Tra'r Wyddfa a.'r heli,—" I fyny bo'i nod." Willesden. Llinos Wyre.

As Filled Up. Ths census has lately been taken in Italy. the King filled up his paper like the rest tc Victor Emmnauel of Savoy, son of the 180 I Humbert, bom Nov., 1869, at Naples; Catholic possesses houses and estates J.8 b1 business King of Italy, and is able to read." Also the Queen's:—■ Elena, daughter of Nikolaus Niegos, born Jan., 1873,- at Cettinje, wife of above Catholic Queen and is able to read' Suited Both. Friend Given up housekeeping and goøÐ hotel, eh ? How do you like hotel life ? ill McTiff First rate. Never was so h&tftf my life. Indeed And how does your wife like it' As much as I do." Where are you staying ?" I'm at the St. Charles, and she's at St. George." Making It Clear. d In a northern suburb of London lives an German who has two dogs, of which he is fond. One is a pup, while the other is quits ol"' but, as sometimes occurs with dogs of differed breeds, the old dog is much smaller than t" six months' old puppy. Dare vas somedings funny apoud deni I alreatty," said their owner, who was showiPS them to a friend the other day. Dot leedlest vasdcpiggest." His worthy spouse, realising that her had not ma.de the poiut quite clear, thought sh had better come to hi3 assistance. Yon must excuse mine husband. she sa* De English languidch he knows not goot. he means is dat de youngest dog vas de oldest- Hard on Bill. To have plenty of medicines and no skill ÍJI choosing them is rather worse than having at all. An old whaling captain used to with him on his voyages a big medicine-ck06; and a list of directions. One of the rules raP. For sore throat with fever give a tablespoo of No. 15." Well, it so happened," explained that when a certain patient came to want 15 I found it was all used up. So I gave the a dessert-spoonful of No. 5,' ana another No. 10 and 1" don't think the chap that up the table could have been good at figures- else, what's just as likely, the medicines were il1 shams. Either way, it waa hard on poor He died in half an hour, and that's the long ø,J'" short of it." Overdone. Recently a young man of the period called an old curiosity shop and found the proprie | in an agony of distrar.'tion. The poor fellow broken into a thousand pieces a Sevres I'll buy tha broken bits," said the with a twinkling in his eye. But the vase is past mending." Never mind. Put the fragments into a bO securely fastened, and send it to Miss t Then, throwing down a sovereign, the prodigal left the shop, saying to himself, Not a bad idea 1 Miss will think vase got broken on the way, but 1 shall gettJj credit of having presented it to her. Two days later, quite elated with his happj thought," he called upon Miss "í have received your singular preseøt, said the lady coldly. "Singular?" i xes look And she showed her astonisk?^ visitor each broken piece of the vase care^ folded in tissue-paper. The shopkeeper had exceeded his duty. Solving It. of Inquests are sometimes very funny remarked a man recently returned from Weste^ America. I remember one in the early day9, my county in Kansas. A man was found dead the side of a small stream out on the prairie- '-g mark was found on his well dressed body 5 *Z0 gun was fully loaded in his hip pocket, and sum of 25 dollars was found in his pocket boo&- O course the coroner took charge of money. A jury was empanelled and after ing its deliberations found that the man c^e8fjf died of heart failure. The coroner proJUE, paid from the dead man's pile the 12 dollars <* for expanses and discharged the jury. -oa The 13 dollars remaining bothered him. argued that to tarn that 13 dollars over to county to be held in trust for the man's pos3 relatives would be the same aa throwing it The man was a stranger in those parts. ^'oSaj, bly he had no friends. The coroner was, ho\ve^ equal to the occasion. He declared himself satisfied with the verdict and called the jury gether again. They sat on the body a time and found exactly the same verdict, but coroner's mind was at ease. The money exhausted." Quite Friendly. • An elderly man, whose attire, frayed stained, patched and torn, bore evidence of "■ i he had been worsted in the struggle of life' ,\g £ whose inflamed countenance showed a too cl, acquaintanceship with the whisky-bottle, stopped in the'street by an old friend who once been his boon companion, but was reformed character. I say," said the latter. I'm glad I've you. Will you do me a great favour ? I your help." ,f J "Certainly. If I can," was the reply. øh- don't think, though, I can assist you very 110,1 But what do you want me to do ? t Well, you see, I'm going to spenk to-nigh M tho Temperance Hall, and I want you t° there most particularly. Here's a ticket! j# you promise me to come, and—er—take a s0a the front row ? Very well. I will,"said the other. tell me now—honour bright—what do you me there for ? Is it to reclaim me ? tJ1/ H'm. Well, yes. I wish to win you uf the li<juor if I can. But—I s'pose it's best to truthful always—you see, I'm going to speak my past misdoings, and I want you to be prominent place so that I can point you oat, J g in a friendly way, and say, Gentlemen, t I the sort of creature I once was 1' Proof of His Innocence. j A curate up North, says rumour, has fum^s # another example of pseudo apology at his own pense. Having preached a very clever sermon the Sunday, he called upon a certain colonel the Monday especially to ask his opinion- '£1 tht "How did I like the sermon?" sa raj colonel. Very much, indeed. It's one or favourites." "One of your favourites?" stammered <' curate, slightly puzzled. I do not understaU0^ The colonel regarded him with a twink'0 the back of his eyes. Of course, I won't word," he said, but I know very well that stole it, and also where you stole it from." ..jf Sir 1 said the curate, and he spoke out the whirlwind of his righteous I am not in the habit, sir, of stealing my mons. I fe&r you are labouring under take, and—er forgetting yourself, sir. I 10 ask you to apologise." ht The colonel was silent a moment. said "It may be that I have made a Wait a moment. I will make sure. Going to his bookcase, ho tcok down a tome of sermons—a rare and almost forg°jj ft!> work. He turned to a certain page, jif apologetic, humble look came upon his lace'/fSp, f lanced up at the curate. I beg your ? It, e said. I apologise. You did not stc»' after all, for I find it is still here. My air my mistake Beating the World. of It is dangerous to boast about the beauty f a climate, as was once proved to me," re'fLf08' writer. I wa3 visiting a friend in an out-oi' ^o way country place. He said to me, climate like ours. We get days and weeks out any ram we sit qn the lawn till 10 o'd Fogs ? Bless you, no Clear, bracing «''T;, for an hour before sunrise. It beats ths When I awoke on the following 1110 „jil/ there was something which looked uncocw* like a fog over the country. My host apoloJ,} ,.tIf, said it was the first he had known for two ye and that it would lift. it Sure enough, it did lift, and before m? was blowing a gale. The severest w ind I oldest inhabitant could recollect set lasted three days. Several houses were unr<^?^ and considerable darnage was done to Z? crops. nrft crops. nrft When I left I had a had cold, my suffering from neuralgia, caught while s'"jki3? on the lawn,' and my host wac full of rh^1 qV f pains. As we shook hands in parting C claimed— "'Catch me bragging about our Xt* again It's as dangerous as trying to child show off 1" After Rehearsal. a Shortly after William J. Bryan, M known American politician, began to 0? law in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the bogin,1pn^ hia career, it got noised about that h<? v.-ss speaker, and he was .somewhat in rf— meetings in small place?. ct(L One night he was asked to speak at a c0.n„j<< school house. He drove over and was by a little weazened Irishman, wrio intro hiuiself as the chairman of the meeting. Now, I'll tell you what I want you t0 XP' said Mr Bryan to the chairman after exchanged greetings. I have driven J pt** to lecture to your people. Of course I <1° 'V Sfi$ pect any fee, but when you \);t r- < "tl you to 'say, Ladies and gentlemen— now be addressed by Mr W. J. Bryan, young attorney of Lincoln. I think the vertisement I shall get is no more than nf,v tfe* The chairman agreed, and they introduction several times, until' 1 was sure he had it letter perfect. meeting was called to order. ,Tj When Mr Bryan's turn camo the y rose, started t o speak, stoppad, started then looked at M-* Bryan in a helple^ s~' way. Go on," whispered Bryan. ,*1aI U The chairman took a long breath and 11 Ladies and gentlemen—-Mischur 0' j » shpake." IV r.,