Page:My people stories of the peasantry of West Wales.djvu/120



The tempter opened his heavy eyelids and said: “You male alive, now why you are not a preacher?”

Ianto’s heart rejoiced.

“Iss, indeed,” he said, “this is the Garden spoken of in the Book of Words. The nice Respected Ruler of the Lord in Capel Sion says that Eva ate of the sour apples on the tree. Does not Abel Shones still pray for Eva?” “Who is Abel Shones, whatever?” asked the tramp.

“He is the officer for Poor Relief,” answered Ianto. “Wise indeed is Abel. Dear man, you should hear him praying! Asking the Big Man to help him find out wrong-doers.” “Ho, ho, and you say like that!” said the tempter.

Then Old Ianto sang, and this is what he sang:

“Iss, iss, dear man. This is the