Huw Huws, or The Welsh Labourer, chapter 1 · Welsh

I

Huw Huws neu y Llafurwr Cymreig (testun cyfansawdd)

Huw Huws, or The Welsh Labourer (composite text)

NOFEL GYMRAEG.

A WELSH NOVEL.

HUW HUWS: NEU

HUW HUWS: OR

Y LLAFURWR CYMREIG.

THE WELSH LABOURER.

Y FFUGDRAITH BUDDUGOL YN NGHYLCHWYL LENYDDOL CAERGYBI NADOLIG 1859.

The successful novel in the literary competition at Holyhead, Christmas 1859.

GAN LLEW LLWYVO,

BY LLEW LLWYFO,

Awdwr "Llewelyn Parri: Y Meddwyn Diwygiedig";

Author of "Llewelyn Parri: The Reformed Drunkard";

"Gwenhwyfar"—Arwrgerdd fuddugol Eisteddfod Freninol Merthyr;

"Gwenhwyfar"—the prize-winning epic poem at the Royal Merthyr Eisteddfod;

"Creigiau Crigyll."

"The Rocks of Crigyll."

&c., &c.

Etc., etc.

CAERGYBI: ARGRAFFWYD A CHYHOEDDWYD GAN L.

HOLYHEAD: PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY L.

JONES.

1860.

BEIRNIADAETH Y PARCH. J.

REVIEW BY THE REV. J.

EVANS (I. D.

FFRAID) , AR Y FFUGDREITHIAU YN Y GYSTADLEUAETH.

FFRAID), ON THE NOVELS SUBMITTED TO THE COMPETITION.

Derbyniais bedair ysgrif ar y testyn

I received four compositions on the subject

"Y Llafurwr Cymreig."

"The Welsh Labourer."

Y maent oll oddigerth un yn weddol ddifai o ran Iaith a Gramadeg.

All of them, except one, are fairly faultless in their language and grammar.

Yn wir, rhagora yr ysgrifenwyr mewn Iaith dda a dullwedd naturiol a destlus ar y cyffredinolrwydd o gystadleuwyr y cefais I y boen a'r pleser o edrych dros eu gweithiau.

Indeed, the writers surpass the general run of competitors whose works I have had the trouble and pleasure of examining, both in their good command of language and in their natural and orderly style.

Buasai dda genyf allu ychwanegu fod pob un yn deall y testyn, ac yn arddangos darfelydd a barn cymhwys i wneyd cyfiawnder ag ef.

I would have been glad to add that every one of them understood the subject and displayed the imagination and sound judgment needed to do it justice.

Nid wyf yn meddu gwybodaeth ddofn yn nghylch elfenau yr hyn a elwir yn Ffugdraith, ond yr wyf yn meiddio dyweyd yn ddibetrus mai nid Ffugdraith yw ysgrif Cyfaill Owain Iorwerth , na chwedlau Helynt y byd , na chyfansoddiad St.

I do not possess a profound knowledge of the elements of what is called fiction, but I venture to say without hesitation that the composition by Cyfaill Owain Iorwerth is not a work of fiction, nor are the tales of Helynt y Byd, nor the composition of St.

Baglan .

Baglan.

Cyfaill Owain Iorwerth .

Cyfaill Owain Iorwerth.

Mae y cyfaill hwn gryn lawer ar ol ei gydymgeiswyr fel cyfansoddwr.

This gentleman falls considerably behind his fellow competitors as a writer.

Mae ei sillebiaeth yn fynych yn wallus a'i frawddegau yn aflerw.

His spelling is frequently incorrect and his sentences are clumsy.

Mae yn ei waith rai sylwadau ag sydd yn anrhydedd i galon yr ysgrifenydd, ond nid oes ynddo odid ddim a adlewyrcha ogoniant ar ei ben fel awdwr Ffugdraith.

His work contains some observations that do credit to the writer's heart, but there is scarcely anything in it that reflects glory on his head as a novelist.

Y mae yn hollol ddiffygiol mewn dychymyg ac anturiaeth.

It is entirely lacking in imagination and adventure.

Gall fod yn y gwaith farmor, ond marmor Mon mewn magwyr ydyw.

There may be marble in the work, but it is Anglesey marble still lying in the quarry.

Nid palas yw can' milltir o wal geryg—nid Ffugdraith fyddai can' tu dalen o ffughanes syml.

A hundred miles of stone wall do not make a palace—nor would a hundred pages of straightforward fictitious history make a novel.

Rhaid i'r Ffugdraith ddwyn argraff llaw saerniaeth yn gosod y defnyddiau yn nghyd ar ddelw adeilad o gynlluniad dychymyg celfydd.

A novel must bear the imprint of the craftsman's hand, assembling its materials into the form of a building conceived by an artistic imagination.

Helynt y byd.

The Troubles of the World.

Y mae yr ysgrifenydd hwn yn meddu digon o bertrwydd.

This writer possesses considerable liveliness.

Ceir drwy ei waith ddarluniau bywiog a naturiol, er hwyrach ei fod weithiau yn lliwio yn rhy gryf.

Throughout his work are lively and natural descriptions, although perhaps he sometimes colours them too strongly.

Bai mawr y Traith hwn yw ei fod yn amddifad o Arwr.

The great fault of this composition is that it lacks a Hero.

Dylai y Ffugdraith debygoli mewn rhan i'r gyfundraeth heulog—haul yn y canol, a phlanedau yn eu cylchoedd priodol Nid oes gan "Helynt y byd" yr un haul: man blanedau yn unig sydd yma yn gwib-grwydro.

A novel should resemble, to some extent, the solar system—the sun at its centre, with the planets in their proper orbits. "The Troubles of the World" has no sun at all: there are only little planets here, wandering about at random.

Os Mr.

If Mr.

Williams a olygid yn arwr y Ffugdraith, y mae diffyg yr awdwr o gynllun wedi cadw yr arwr gymaint o'r golwg fel nas gwelir ef ond i'w golli.

Williams was intended to be the hero of the novel, the author's lack of a plan has kept the hero so much out of sight that he is glimpsed only to be lost again.

Gresyn na fuasai ysgrifenydd mor ddoniol a ffraethbert wedi cael mold gyfaddas i dywallt ei arabedd iddi.

It is a pity that so witty and clever a writer did not have a suitable mould into which to pour his humour.

St.

Baglan.

Yr wyf yn teimlo serch at waith

I feel a fondness for the work

"St. Baglan:"

rhoddes ei ddarlleniad i mi lawer o hyfrydwch.

its reading gave me much pleasure.

Ond y mae y cyfansoddiad yn fyr mewn cynllun, dyfais, a digwyddiadau.

But the composition is deficient in plot, invention, and incident.

Evan Owen yw yr Arwr, ac y mae Evan Owen a'r ysgrifenydd yn y golwg bron o hyd.

Evan Owen is the Hero, and Evan Owen and the writer are almost constantly in view.

Buasai yn ddymunol i'r awdwr fyned yn amlach o'r neilldu, a dylasid cael golwg ar yr Arwr mewn cysylltiad â phersonau a dygwyddiadau mewn cylch helaethach.

It would have been desirable for the author to withdraw more frequently into the background, and for us to see the Hero in connection with people and events in a wider sphere.

Dylai Ffughanes Llafurwr Cymreig gymeryd i fewn y cyfryw ddefnyddiau ag a roddant fantais i'r darllenydd i ddyfod yn gydnabyddus a gwahanol deithi ac arferion Llafurwyr Cymru, neu ran o honi o leiaf, yn nghyd a'r amrywiol ddosparthiadau y deuant i gysylltiad a hwy.

A fictional account of a Welsh Labourer should include such material as would enable the reader to become acquainted with the various characteristics and customs of the Labourers of Wales, or at least of some part of the country, together with the different classes of people with whom they come into contact.

Y Llafurwr Cymreig.

The Welsh Labourer.

Wele Lafurwr wedi ysgrifenu ar y Llafurwr.

Here is a Labourer who has written about the Labourer.

Mae yr ysgrif hon yn cyfranogi yn helaeth o elfenau a theithi Ffugdraith.

This composition possesses many of the elements and characteristics of a novel.

Mae yn amlwg mai nid wrth synwyr y fawd yr ai yr awdwr yn mlaen.

It is evident that the author did not proceed by mere rule of thumb.

Y mae y gwaith yn arddangos dyfais i gynllunio ac adnoddau i gwblhau.

The work displays ingenuity in its plotting and resources in carrying it through.

Yr arwr yw Huw Huws. a bachgen gwych ydyw Huw.

The hero is Huw Huws, and Huw is a splendid fellow.

Cydblethir a'i hanes lawer amgylchiad a dygwyddiad a roddant olwg eang ar helynt ag oes y Llafurwr.

Interwoven with his story are many circumstances and incidents which provide a broad view of the life and times of the Labourer.

Ar yr un pryd buasai yn ddymunol i'r awdwr ddilyn y Llafurwr yn fanylach yn ei arferion wrth y bwrdd, yn y maes, yn yr addoldy, &c.

At the same time, it would have been desirable for the author to follow the Labourer more closely in his habits at the table, in the fields, in the place of worship, etc.

Gallasai yr ysgrifenydd medrus hwn ddwyn i fewn y cyfryw ddygwyddiadau ag a fuasent gyda'u gilydd yn cwblhau y darluniad o Fywyd y Llafurwr Cymreig yn ei wahanol agweddau.

This skilful writer might have introduced such incidents as would, taken together, have completed the portrayal of the Life of the Welsh Labourer in its various aspects.

Ond, paham yr ydys yn cwyno tra y mae ger bron waith mor alluog?

But why complain when a work of such ability lies before us?

Gwelir mai ffugenw yr awdwr yw "Y Llafurwr Cymreig," ac os Llafurwr ydyw mewn gwirionedd, yr wyf yn gobeithio y caiff yntau "dri chant o bunau gan ei dadbedydd " yn ychwanegol at y tri "chweugain" a dderbynia yn y gylchwyl fel yr awdwr buddugol ar destyn y gadair.

It will be seen that the author's pseudonym is "The Welsh Labourer," and if he really is a Labourer, I hope that he too will receive "three hundred pounds from his godfather," in addition to the three "score" he will receive at the festival as the winning author on the chair subject.

Poed felly y bo. I. D.

So let it be. I. D.

FFRAID.

Rhagfyr 1859.

December 1859.

HUW HUWS: NEU

HUW HUWS: OR

Y LLAFURWR CYMREIG.

THE WELSH LABOURER.

PENNOD I.

CHAPTER I.

"Er mwyn yr Amser Gynt, fy ffrind,

"For the sake of the Times Gone By, my friend,

Yr hen amser gynt.

The olden days of yore.

"

—ALUN.

MEWN Cwm hyfryd, hardd, ond annghysbell, yn "Mon Mam Cymru" wrth droed Mynydd Bodafon, yr oedd ty bychan, destlus, wedi ei wyngalchu, fel yn nythu yn ngheseiliau poplyswydd talion, a'i dalcen yn cael ei arlandu âg eiddew gwyrdd, a gardd fechan, ddel, o flaen ei ddrws.

IN a delightful, beautiful, but secluded valley, in "Anglesey, the Mother of Wales," at the foot of Bodafon Mountain, stood a small, neat, whitewashed cottage, nestled as though in the embrace of tall poplar trees, its gable adorned with green ivy, and a pretty little garden before its door.

Y ty bach, twt, yna, oedd preswylfod "William Huws yr Hwsmon," fel y gelwid y dyn a gyfaneddai yno, gan bobl y wlad; a'i wraig, Marged—deuddyn dedwydd, boddlon, a diwyd, fel y mae y mwyafrif o bobl weithgar y wlad hon.

That little, tidy cottage was the home of "William Huws the Farm Bailiff," as the country folk called the man who lived there, and his wife, Marged—a happy, contented, and industrious couple, like the majority of hardworking people in this land.

Ychydig yn uwch i fyny yn y cwm, gallesid canfod yr hen bont bren, gridwst, afrosgo, a thrwsgl, yr hon oedd wedi gwrthsefyll eira a dadmer, gwynt a llifogydd, llawer gauaf ystormus;—yr hen felin ddwfr, hefo'i chlit clat, clit clat, gwastadol a dibaid,—y llyn yn ei hymyl, gyda'i hwyaid dofion, ar yr hwn yr arferai y plant nofio eu "llongau bach," hefo'u hwyliau o blyf gwyddau.

A little farther up the valley could be seen the old wooden bridge, rickety, crooked, and clumsy, which had withstood snow and thaw, wind and floods, through many a stormy winter; the old watermill, with its incessant, unceasing clatter, clatter, clatter; and the pond beside it, with its tame ducks, upon which the children used to sail their "little ships," with sails made of goose feathers.

Dyddiau dedwyddion "yr hen Amser Gynt," y rhai na ddychwelant byth mwy!

Happy days of "the olden times," which will never return again!

Ond fe fy'n adgof i lynu'n gariadus wrth hen olygfeydd fel hyn, a phortreadu i'r meddwl yr amser dedwydd pan oeddym blant, yn chwareu o gylch llanerchau bro ein genedigaeth, y maesydd lle'r arferem hel nythod adar, y wig lle'r heliem gnau, y gerddi lle byddem yn erlid y gloywod byw, neu'r gelltydd lle'r arferem ysbeilio nyth y cacwn, dan berygl cael ambell golyn.

But it is a pleasure to linger affectionately over old scenes such as these, and to picture in our minds the happy days when we were children, playing around the little clearings of our native countryside, the fields where we used to hunt for birds' nests, the woods where we gathered nuts, the gardens where we chased fireflies, or the slopes where we used to raid wasps' nests, risking the occasional sting.

Ond y mae hyny oll drosodd bellach; ac wrth gwrdd âg ambell un, ar ein pererindod daearol, y buom yn cyd-chwareu a hwynt "yn oedran diniweidrwydd," ni fydd genym i'w ddywed amgen nag

But all that is over now; and when, on our earthly pilgrimage, we happen to meet someone with whom we played together "in the days of innocence," we shall have nothing more to say than

"Er mwyn yr Amser Gynt, fy ffrynd,

"For the sake of the Times Gone By, my friend,

Yr hen Amser Gynt.

The olden days of yore.

"

Ond at ein chwedl.

But now to our story.

Deued y darllenydd gyda ni ychydig flynyddoedd yn ol, at yr amser pan oedd William Huws a Marged Parri yn bobl ieuainc, ac yn was a morwyn ar yr un fferm.

Let the reader go back with us a few years, to the time when William Huws and Marged Parri were young people, serving as a farmhand and maid on the same farm.

Yr oeddynt wedi cyd-wasanaethu aethu yn Modonen am amryw flynyddoedd, ac arferent siarad aml air o gariad trwy arwyddion o'r llygaid, tra yn trin y gwair ac yn cynull yr ŷd ar hyd y maesydd; a lladratasant lawer orig gyda'r nos, ar ol llafur caled y dydd, i dynu cynlluniau ar gyfer yr amser dyfodol, canys yr oedd Marged wedi cydsynio i ddyfod yn wraig i William.

They had worked together at Bodonen for several years, and were accustomed to exchanging many loving words through glances of the eyes while turning the hay and gathering the corn in the fields; and they stole many an hour in the evenings, after the hard labour of the day, to make plans for the future, for Marged had agreed to become William's wife.

Ac o'r diwedd, pennodwyd y dydd Llun Sulgwyn nesaf i fod yn ddiwrnod eu priodas.

At last, the following Whit Monday was appointed as the day of their wedding.

Aeth yr amser heibio yn gyflym; a phan ddaeth y dydd pennodedig, yr oedd lluaws o gyfeillion y ddeuddyn ieuanc wedi ymgasglu, un blaid i dŷ ei rieni ef, i'r dyben o'i hebrwng ef at dŷ ei rhieni hi, lle'r oedd y blaid arall yn dysgwyl, i wneud gorymdaith gyffredinol i Eglwys y Plwyf.

Time passed quickly; and when the appointed day arrived, a great number of the young couple's friends had gathered, one party at his parents' house, with the intention of escorting him to her parents' home, where the other party was waiting, so that they might all proceed together in a procession to the Parish Church.

Er mai Sir Fon sydd wedi dal hwyaf i gynal hen ddefodau gyda phriodasau, eto y mae bron bob gweddillion o'r hen ddulliau wedi diflanu yno hefyd erbyn hyn.

Although Anglesey has held on longest to the old wedding customs, almost all traces of the old ways have now disappeared there too.

Yr oedd eisiau diddymu rhai o honynt, am eu bod yn peri gloddest, meddwdod, ac anfoesoldeb.

Some of them deserved to be abolished, because they encouraged feasting, drunkenness, and immorality.

Ond y mae genym ni hoffder mawr at hen bethau, gyn belled ag y byddont yn gyson â gweddeidddra, moesau da, diwylliant, a rhinwedd.

But we have a great affection for old customs, provided they are consistent with propriety, good manners, refinement, and virtue.

A hen ddull da, yn ein brydni, oedd y ddefod Gymreig o ymgynull i briodasau cymydogion a chyfeillion, pawb a'i rodd, i gynorthwyo y rhai a briodid, i ddechreu ar eu byd newydd.

And a fine old custom, in our opinion, was the Welsh practice of gathering at the weddings of neighbours and friends, each person bringing a gift to help the newly married couple make a start in their new life.

Yr oedd yn cadw cysylltiadau cymydogol, yn meithrin teimlad o ewyllys da, ac yn foddion i gynorthwyo 'r gwan.

It maintained neighbourly ties, fostered goodwill, and provided a means of helping those in need.

Ond bai dybryd, yn nghyswllt a'r priodasau hyn, oedd yr yfed a'r meddwi, yr hyn a arweiniai yn fynych i ymladdfeydd a gelyniaeth gwaedlyd rhwng hen gymydogion.

But a serious fault associated with these weddings was the drinking and drunkenness, which frequently led to fights and bitter, bloody feuds between longtime neighbours.

Yr oedd priodas William Huws a Marged Parri yn tra rhagori ar y rhai cyffredin yn y cyfnod hwnw, yn gymaint ag fod y ddeuddyn ieuanc yn rhai o gymeriad crefyddol, a William wedi cadw ymaith o'r wledd bob achlysur i anweddeidd-dra a therfysg.

The wedding of William Huws and Marged Parri was far superior to the ordinary weddings of that period, since the young couple were people of religious character, and William had excluded from the festivities every opportunity for impropriety and disorder.

Yr oedd yn briodas lawen heb gael ei gwarthruddo gan feddwdod a chythrwfl; ac ar ol treulio y dydd yn hyfryd, ymadawodd pawb gyda theimladau boddlawn a charedig, gan ddymuno pob llwyddiant a dedwyddwch i William Huws a Marged ei wraig.

It was a joyful wedding, untainted by drunkenness or turmoil; and after spending the day pleasantly, everyone departed with contented and kindly feelings, wishing every success and happiness to William Huws and Marged his wife.

PENNOD II.

CHAPTER II.

"Gwalch ar hedfan,

"A hawk in flight,

Edyn buan ydyw'n bywyd.

Our life is a swift-flying wing.

"

—BARDD NANTGLYN,

Dwys yw gofidiau plant Duw,

Heavy are the sorrows of God's children,

Yr unwedd a'r rhai annuw.

Just as heavy as those of the ungodly.

—O GRONFA'R AWDWR,

—FROM THE AUTHOR'S OWN STORE,

Yn fuan ar ol ei briodi, dyrchafwyd William, o fod yn weithiwr cyffredin ar fferm Bodonen, i fod yn oruchyliwr, a dyna'r pryd y dechreuwyd ei alw, gan yr ardalwyr, yn

Soon after his marriage, William was promoted from being an ordinary labourer on Bodonen Farm to the position of overseer, and it was then that the local people began calling him

"William yr Hwsmon:"

"William the Farm Bailiff:"

a dyna'r pryd hefyd yr aeth ef, a'i wraig ieuanc weithgar, i fyw i'r Tŷ Gwyn, braslun o'r hwn a wnaethom yn nechreu'r bennod gyntaf.

and it was also then that he and his industrious young wife went to live in the White House, a rough description of which we gave at the beginning of the first chapter.

Nid yw goruchwyliwr ar ffermydd Cymreig yn cael eu rhyddau oddi wrth lafur dwylaw, fel y mae'r Saeson a'r Ysgotiaid; a'r unig wahaniaeth a wnaeth y dyrchafiad yma yn amgylchiadau William Huws, oedd, ychwanegu at ei gyfrifoldeb a'i drafferth, a rhoddi iddo ychydig ychwaneg o gyflog, a thy bach taclus iddo fyw ynddo.

An overseer on Welsh farms is not freed from manual labour, as is the case with English and Scottish farm overseers; and the only difference this promotion made to William Huws's circumstances was to increase his responsibilities and his troubles, while giving him a little more pay and a neat little house to live in.

Ond yr oedd Rhagluniaeth yn gwenu ar ei lafur gonest, ac yn ei fendithio.

But Providence smiled upon his honest labour and blessed him.

Cynyddodd ei gysuron yn gymesur â'i ofalon; a chawn ef, yn mhen ychydig flynyddoedd, yn dad pedwar o blant bywiog a glandeg, y rhai a argoelent gyfnerth a chysur i'w rhieni ar eu llwybr i lawr goriwaered einioes.

His comforts increased in proportion to his cares; and within a few years we find him the father of four lively and beautiful children, who promised strength and comfort to their parents as they travelled down the declining path of life.

Ond ansefydlog ydyw pob argoelion a mwynderau daearol; ac felly y profodd yn hanes bywyd William Huws yr Hwsmon, fel y cawn ddangos rhag llaw.

But all earthly prospects and comforts are uncertain; and so it proved in the life of William Huws the Farm Bailiff, as we shall show in due course.

Yr oedd William yn ymdrechu dwyn ei blant i fyny yn rhinweddol, a'i egni penaf oedd eu meithrin yn addysg ac athrawiaeth yr Arglwydd.

William strove to bring up his children in virtue, and his chief endeavour was to nurture them in the instruction and admonition of the Lord.

" Danfonai y tri hynaf yn gyson i ysgol ddyddiol, a gedwid gan hen wr o'r enw Hywel Jones—hen filwr, yr hwn oedd wedi colli un goes yn mrwydr fyth-gofiadwy Waterloo. Er nad oedd Hywel Jones yn ysgolhaig mawr, eto yr oedd yn gampus am gadw trefn a dysgyblaeth dda ar ei ysgolorion; ac ymddygai atynt mor fanwl, mor ddi-gellwair, ac mor ymroddgar, a phe buasai yn dysgyblu ar gyfer brwydr oedd i droi clorian gallu Ewrop. Un o'r plant hynotaf yn ysgol yr hen Hywel Jones, oedd "Huw'r Ty Gwyn"—mab William Huws yr Hwsmon. Yr oedd ef yn hynod am ei fywiogrwydd corfforol a meddyliol; ac yr oedd ei ddwy chwaer yn ei gael yn amddyffynwr dyogel iddynt ar eu ffordd i'r ysgol, ac yn ol adref, rhag sarhad ac ymosodiad gan neb o'u cyd-ysgolorion. Yr oedd William Huws yn ofalus am fyned a'i blant yn gyson i'r Ysgol Sul, ac i bob gwasanaeth Dwyfol o fewn eu cyraedd, gan ymdrechu planu egwyddorion crefyddol yn eu meddyliau ieuainc; ac ymddangosai nad oedd ei lafur yn ofer, canys ystyrid ei blant ef fel esamplau i'r ardal o ddestlusrwydd, gwyleidd—dra, a buchedd dda. Yr oedd Huw, yn enwedig, yn enill parch hen ac ieuanc, cyfoethog a thlawd, fel hogyn difrifol, syml, a diwyd gyda'i lyfrau yn yr ysgol ddyddiol a Sabbathol. Ac ar ol oriau'r ysgol ddyddiol, un o'i hoff fwynderau oedd palu a chwynu gardd fechan ei dad, a'i wobr benaf, a'r uchaf a ddymunai, ydoedd derbyn gwên cymeradwyaeth ei rieni, a chlywed ei chwiorydd bychain yn dweyd,—"Huw ni ydi'r gardener goreu yn y wlad!

"He regularly sent the three eldest children to a day school kept by an old man named Hywel Jones—a veteran soldier who had lost one leg at the ever-memorable Battle of Waterloo. Although Hywel Jones was no great scholar, he was excellent at maintaining good order and discipline among his pupils; and he treated them with such strictness, seriousness, and dedication, as though he were drilling them for a battle that would decide the balance of power in Europe. One of the most remarkable children at old Hywel Jones's school was "Huw of the White House"—the son of William Huws the Farm Bailiff. He was remarkable for his physical and mental vigour; and his two sisters found him a reliable protector on their way to school and back home, shielding them from insults and attacks by any of their fellow pupils. William Huws was careful to take his children regularly to Sunday School and to every religious service within their reach, striving to plant religious principles in their young minds; and it seemed that his efforts were not in vain, for his children were regarded throughout the neighbourhood as examples of neatness, modesty, and good conduct. Huw, in particular, earned the respect of old and young, rich and poor alike, as a serious, simple, and industrious boy, devoted to his books at both day school and Sunday School. After the hours spent at day school, one of his favourite pleasures was digging and weeding his father's little garden, and his greatest reward, the highest thing he desired, was to receive his parents' approving smile and hear his little sisters say, "Our Huw is the best gardener in the whole countryside!"

"

Ond yr oedd cwmwl du, trwch, wedi dechreu ymgasglu uwch ben amgylchiadau William Huws.

But a thick, dark cloud had begun to gather over William Huws's circumstances.

Pan ddaeth adref un noson, yn lled hwyr, yr oedd Marged, fel arferol ar ol gorphen ei llafur o gylch y tŷ, yn eistedd wrth ei throell, ac yn nyddu yn galonog, ac, ar yr un pryd, yn dysgu'r Salm Gyntaf i'r ddwy eneth leiaf; a Huw a Mari—y ddau hynaf—yn brysur gyda'r gwersi a roddodd yr hen Hywel Jones iddynt i'w dysgu erbyn tranoeth.

When he came home one evening, rather late, Marged, as was her custom after finishing her household tasks, was sitting at her spinning wheel, spinning cheerfully while at the same time teaching the First Psalm to the two youngest girls; while Huw and Mari—the two eldest—were busy with the lessons that old Hywel Jones had set them to learn for the following day.

Edrychodd William Huws arnynt oll gyda golygon tyner, a gallesid canfod, ond sylwi, fod pruddglwyfedd, anarferol iddo ef, yn argraffedig ar ei rudd, ac yn llechu yn nyfnder ei lygaid gloywon.

William Huws looked at them all with tender affection, and anyone who observed him could have seen an unusual sadness imprinted upon his face and lurking in the depths of his bright eyes.

Eisteddodd y tad; a rhedodd y ddwy eneth leiaf ato, gan ddringo ar ei liniau, a'r ieuengaf yn difyru ei hun trwy dynu ei bysedd bychain meinion trwy ei gernflew.

The father sat down, and the two youngest girls ran to him and climbed onto his knees, the younger one amusing herself by running her tiny, slender fingers through his beard.

Tybiodd William Huws na welodd mo'i blant yn ymddangos haner mor garuaidd erioed o'r blaen, a gwasgai hwynt at ei fynwes, gan ollwng ochenaid wedi haner ei thagu wrth geisio diangfa o'i galon.

William Huws thought that he had never before seen his children appear half so affectionate, and he pressed them to his breast, letting out a sigh that seemed half stifled as it struggled to escape from his heart.

"Beth ydi'r matter, William?"

"What's the matter, William?"

gofynodd Marged Huws.

Marged Huws asked.

"Wyt ti ddim yn iach? Y mae golwg sal arnat ti!"

"Are you feeling unwell? You look ill!"

"Na, nid wyf fi'n sal, Marged," ebe William.

"No, I'm not ill, Marged," said William.

"Ond," efe a ychwanegodd—

"But," he added—

" 'mhlant bach i—gwell i chwi fyn'd i'ch gw'lâu: mae hi'n dechreu myn'd yn hwyr."

"My dear children—you had better go to bed; it's getting late."

Dododd Marged Huws Fibl Mawr Peter Williams ar y bwrdd, fel arferol, o ba un y darllenodd William bennod; ac ar ol darllen, adroddodd pob un o'r plant ryw air, neu ryw adnod, a gofiasant o'r bennod.

Marged Huws placed Peter Williams's Large Bible on the table, as usual, and William read a chapter from it. After the reading, each of the children recited a verse or passage that they had memorised from the chapter.

Canwyd un o Emynau Sant Pantycelyn, ar hen dôn Gymreig.

One of the hymns of Saint Pantycelyn was sung to an old Welsh tune.

Offrymodd William Huws weddi daer, syml, a diaddurn, mewn diolchgarwch am fendithion blaenorol, ac ymbil dwys am barhad o fendithion, a nodded, ac amddiffyn dyfodol; gyda chyflwyno ei dylwyth, gyrph ac eneidiau, i ofal Tad pob trugaredd.

William Huws offered an earnest, simple, unadorned prayer, giving thanks for past blessings and fervently pleading for their continuance, as well as for future protection and defence; committing his entire family, body and soul, to the care of the Father of all mercies.

Tybiodd Marged Huws ei bod hi yn canfod rhywbeth annghyffredin hyd yn nod yn ngweddi ei gwr y noson hono, ac fod y Psalm, a ddetholodd i'w darllen, wedi cael eu dewis oddiar ryw reswm neillduol.

Marged Huws thought she detected something unusual even in her husband's prayer that evening, and that the Psalm he had chosen to read had been selected for some particular reason.

Ond ni soniodd hi air am hyny hyd nes yr aeth y plant i'w gorweddleoedd.

But she said nothing about it until the children had gone to bed.

Yna dywedodd

Then she said

"Beth sy', Wil bach? Y mae rhywbeth yn pwyso ar dy feddwl!"

"What's wrong, dear Wil? Something is weighing on your mind!"

"Oes, wir," ebe William,

"Yes, indeed," said William,

"yr wyf wedi bod mewn tipyn drallod er's dyddiau bellach; ond mi gedwais fy ofnau rhag i ti eu clywed, am fy mod yn rhyw obeithio y buasai pethau'n troi allan yn well na 'r dysgwyliad. Ond, yrwan, y mae trallod go drwm yn ein bygwth."

"I've been in some trouble for several days now; but I kept my fears from you because I was hoping things might turn out better than expected. But now a fairly serious calamity is threatening us."

"Wel, beth ydi o? Paid a'i gadw i ti dy hun. Gallaf fi gyd—ddwyn pob baich hefo 'ch di."

"Well, what is it? Don't keep it to yourself. I can share every burden with you."

"Roeddwn i wedi dyall er's cryn amser fod fy meistar mewn cyfyngdra, ac fod rhyw bobol, yr oedd o yn eu dyled, yn bwgwth dysgyn ar ei eiddo. Ac heiddiw, y mae beilïod yn Modonen!"

"I had understood for some time that my master was in financial difficulties, and that certain people to whom he owed money were threatening to seize his property. And today, the bailiffs have arrived at Bodonen!"

"Beiliod yn Modonen!"

"Bailiffs at Bodonen!"

ebe Marged, gyda braw.

said Marged, in alarm.

"Oes, yn wir, wel 'di. Y mae pobpeth i gael eu gwerthu —fy meistar yn myned i golli ei ffarm, a—a—a—"

"Yes, indeed, there they are. Everything is to be sold—my master is going to lose his farm, and—and—and—"

Petrusodd William fynegu ychwaneg; ond dywedodd Marged—

William hesitated to say any more; but Marged said—

"Gad wybod y gwaethaf, Wil."

"Let me know the worst, Wil."

"Wel, yr wyf finau i golli fy lle, ac wedi cael rhybudd i 'madael oddiyma erbyn Gwyl Mihangel nesaf!"

"Well, I too am to lose my position, and I have been given notice to leave here by next Michaelmas!"

Yr oedd hyn yn ormod hyd yn nod i Marged Huws ei ddal heb wylo.

This was too much even for Marged Huws to bear without weeping.

Huw Huws, or The Welsh Labourer: I