Page:My people stories of the peasantry of West Wales.djvu/270



marvelled at the familiarity between Bern-Davydd and the Big Man. “Sure,” they said, “he is as important as God.”

The third day the Judge of Sion commanded his flock to him, and he said to them: “Boys, boys, glad was the Big Man that I spoke to Him. Do you know what He said? ‘Large thanks, Bern bach. Religious are you to remind me of the sin of Evan Rhiw. The man has a clean heart, and an adder in his house.’ ‘Big Man, don’t you vex me,’ I said. ‘Whisper you me the name of the adder.’ The Big Man said, ‘Maltida. Evan may sin again, grievously, but I will restore him to Capel Sion, and I will bless him abundantly, for his freewill offerings to my Temple are generous.’ Little boys, He went back to Heaven in a cloud, and the cloud was no bigger than the flat of this old hand.”

The night of the Hiring Fair Evan drank