Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 3, 1892.djvu/282



Exorcism in Wales.—Some time about the year 1845, that is, when I was about ten years of age, so far as I can recollect, there was a house called Penhelyg, near Aberdovey, Merionethshire, haunted by some supposed evil spirits, which made such a disturbance, especially at night, that the old man and woman who lived there could not sleep. The old man met my father one day, and said both he and his wife were perfectly worn out and exhausted for want of sleep; they had sent for their children to return home from London, but it would not be possible for them to arrive within a week. None of their neighbours would stay with them after dark, fearing the evil spirit. If I remember rightly, there was a maidservant with them who was supposed to be faithful, and to have no part in causing the disturbance. The extraordinary noises, the rattling of the crockery as if they were all breaking, the throwing of crockery from the shelves across the kitchen on to a table opposite, without breaking any, etc., went on in the absence of the maid as well as in her presence. My father told the old man he feared no spirit, and would go and sit up there next Saturday night, so that the old people might have no care or fear, but compose themselves to rest and sleep. The old man was extremely grateful, and my father went there accordingly. After the old people and the maid retired, my father occupied himself chiefly in reading different parts of the Bible bearing upon the Sunday-school lessons in which he was always much interested, and in making notes upon the subjects of the forthcoming lessons. During the early part of the night he repeatedly heard the usual noises, and he thought he saw some of the crockery moved; but he concentrated his mind as much as he could upon his own work, and was entirely indifferent as to the phenomena of the supposed spirits. I remember very well hearing him tell my mother next day, and me many times since, that nothing was further from his mind than to do or say anything to put a stop to the disturbance, and he never even in thought asked God to interfere. He had not the slightest personal fear, and his mood was to treat the whole thing with contempt and indifference. He had no theory as to the cause of the noises, but he was certain in his own mind that no incorporeal spirit could injure him in any way, and he had the reputation of having the strongest arms and heaviest