Page:My people stories of the peasantry of West Wales.djvu/54



Come you then and carry him on your shoulders nice into Sion.’”

“Yea, Sara fach,” Beca says, “and speak you to Lias the Carpenter that you will give no more than ten over twenty shillings for the coffin.” Simon adds: “If we perish together, make you one coffin serve.” Neither Simon nor Beca has further use for life. Paralysis shattered the old man the day of Sara Jane's wedding; the right side of his face sags, and he is lame on both his feet. Beca is blind, and she gropes her way about. Worse than all, they stand without the gates of Capel Sionthe living sin of all the land: they were married after the birth of Sara Jane, and though in the years of their passion they were all that a man and woman can be to each other, they begat no children. But Sion, jealous that not even his errant sheep shall lie in the parish graveyard and swell in appearance those who have worshipped