Garthowen | Page 2

worst boy on Garthowen slopes, driving
the chickens into the water, shooing the geese over the hedges, riding
the horses full pelt down the stony roads, setting fire to the gorse
bushes, mitching from school, and making the boys laugh in chapel; no
wonder the old man turned me away."
"But all boys are naughty boys," said Mrs. Parry, "and that wasn't
enough reason for sending you from home, and shutting the door
against you."
"No," said Gethin, "but I did more than that; I could not do a worse
thing than I did to displease the old man. I was fond of scribbling my
name everywhere. 'Gethin Owens' was on all the gateposts, and on the
saddles and bridles, and once I painted 'G. O.' with green paint on the
white mare's haunch. There was a squall when that was found out, but
it was nothing to the storm that burst upon me when I wrote something
in my mother's big Bible. As true as I am here, I don't remember what I
wrote, but I know it was something about the devil, and I signed it
'Gethin Owens,' and a big 'Amen' after it. Poor old man, he was
shocking angry, and he wouldn't listen to no excuse; so after a good
thrashing I went away, Ann ran after me with my little bundle, and the
tears streaming down her face, but I didn't cry--only when I came upon
little Morva Lloyd sitting on the hillside. She put her arms round my
neck and tried to keep me back, but I dragged myself away, and my
tears were falling like rain then, and all the way down to Abersethin as
long as I could hear Morva crying and calling out 'Gethin! Gethin!'"
"There's glad she'll be to see you."
"Well, I dunno. She was used to be very fond of me; she couldn't bear
Will because he was teazing her, but I was like a slave to her. 'I want
some shells to play,' sez she sometimes, and there I was off to the shore,

hunting about for shells for her. 'Take me a ride,' sez she, and up on my
shoulder I would hoist her, as happy as a king, with her two little feet in
my hands, and her little fat hands ketching tight in my hair, and there's
galloping over the slopes we were, me snorting and prancing, and she
laughing all the time like the swallows when they are flying."
They were interrupted by a clatter of heavy shoes and a chorus of
boisterous voices, as three sailors came in loudly calling for their tea.
"Hello, Gethin! not gone? Hast changed thy mind?"
"Not a bit of it," said Gethin, pointing to his bag of clothes. "I have
been a long time making up my mind, but it's Garthowen and the cows
and the cawl for me this time and no mistake."
"And Morva," said Jim Bowen, with a smile, in which lurked a
suspicion of a sneer. "Thee may say what thee likes about the old man,
and the cows, and the cawl, but I know thee, Gethin Owens! Ever since
I told thee what a fine lass Morva Lloyd has grown thee'st been
hankering after Garthowen slopes."
There was a general laugh, in which Gethin joined good-humouredly,
standing and stretching himself with a yawn. The evening sun fell full
upon him, showing a form of sinewy strength, and a handsome manly
face. His dark skin and the small gold rings in his ears, so much
affected by Welsh sailors, gave him a foreign look, which rather added
to the attractiveness of his personal appearance.
When the tea had been partaken of, with a running accompaniment of
broad jokes and loud laughter, the three sailors went out, leaving
Gethin still sitting on the settle. This was Mrs. Parry's hour of
peace--when her consumptive son came home from his loitering in the
sunshine to join her at her own quiet "cup of tea," while her rough
husband was still engaged amongst the shipping in the docks.
"Well, what'll I say to Nani Graig?" said Gethin.
"Oh, poor mother, my love, and tell her if it wasn't for my boy Tom I'd

soon be home with her again, for I'll never live with John Parry when
my boy is gone."
"He's not going for many a long year," said Gethin, slapping the boy on
the back, his more sensitive nature shrinking from such plain speaking.
But Tom was used to it, and smiled, shuffling uneasily under the slap.
"What you got bulging out in your bag like that?" he asked.
"Oh, presents for them at Garthowen; will I show them to you?" said
the sailor awkwardly, as he untied the mouth of the canvas bag. "Here's
a