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Thistlewood would have whipped it through his adversary in a
twinkling。 I asked the old lady if Huw Morris was born in this
house； she said no； but a little farther on at Pont y Meibion； she
said； however； that the ground had belonged to him； and that they
had some of his blood in their veins。 I shook her by the hand； and
gave the chubby bare…armed damsel a shilling； pointing to the marks
of the nettle stings on her fat bacon…like arms。 She laughed； made
me a curtsey； and said： 〃Llawer iawn o diolch。〃
John Jones and I then proceeded to the house at Pont y Meibion；
where we saw two men； one turning a grind…stone； and the other
holding an adze to it。 We asked if we were at the house of Huw
Morris； and whether they could tell us anything about him； they
made us no answer but proceeded with their occupation； John Jones
then said that the Gwr Boneddig was very fond of the verses of Huw
Morris； and had come a great way to see the place where he was
born。 The wheel now ceased turning； and the man with the adze
turned his face full upon me … he was a stern…looking； dark man；
with black hair； of about forty； after a moment or two he said that
if I chose to walk into the house I should be welcome。 He then
conducted us into the house； a common…looking stone tenement； and
bade us be seated。 I asked him if he was a descendant of Huw
Morus； he said he was； I asked him his name； which he said was Huw
… 。 〃Have you any of the manuscripts of Huw Morus？〃 said I。
〃None；〃 said he； 〃but I have one of the printed copies of his
works。〃
He then went to a drawer； and taking out a book； put it into my
hand； and seated himself in a blunt； careless manner。 The book was
the first volume of the common Wrexham edition of Huw's works； it
was much thumbed … I commenced reading aloud a piece which I had
much admired in my boyhood。 I went on for some time； my mind quite
occupied with my reading； at last lifting my eyes I saw the man
standing bolt upright before me； like a soldier of the days of my
childhood； during the time that the adjutant read prayers； his hat
was no longer upon his head； but on the ground； and his eyes were
reverently inclined to the book。 After all what a beautiful thing
it is； not to be； but to have been a genius。 Closing the book； I
asked him whether Huw Morris was born in the house where we were；
and received for answer that he was born about where we stood； but
that the old house had been pulled down； and that of all the
premises only a small out…house was coeval with Huw Morris。 I
asked him the name of the house； and he said Pont y Meibion。
〃But where is the bridge？〃 said I。
〃The bridge；〃 he replied； 〃is close by； over the Ceiriog。 If you
wish to see it； you must go down yon field； the house is called
after the bridge。〃 Bidding him farewell； we crossed the road and
going down the field speedily arrived at Pont y Meibion。 The
bridge is a small bridge of one arch which crosses the brook
Ceiriog … it is built of rough moor stone； it is mossy； broken； and
looks almost inconceivably old； there is a little parapet to it
about two feet high。 On the right…hand side it is shaded by an
ash。 The brook when we viewed it； though at times a roaring
torrent； was stealing along gently； on both sides it is overgrown
with alders； noble hills rise above it to the east and west； John
Jones told me that it abounded with trout。 I asked him why the
bridge was called Pont y Meibion； which signifies the bridge of the
children。 〃It was built originally by children；〃 said he； 〃for the
purpose of crossing the brook。〃
〃That bridge；〃 said I； 〃was never built by children。〃
〃The first bridge；〃 said he； 〃was of wood； and was built by the
children of the houses above。〃
Not quite satisfied with his explanation； I asked him to what place
the little bridge led； and was told that he believed it led to an
upland farm。 After taking a long and wistful view of the bridge
and the scenery around it； I turned my head in the direction of
Llangollen。 The adventures of the day were； however； not finished。
CHAPTER XXI
The Gloomy Valley … The Lonely Cottage … Happy Comparison … Clogs …
The Alder Swamp … The Wooden Leg … The Militiaman … Death…bed
Verses。
ON reaching the ruined village where the Pandy stood I stopped； and
looked up the gloomy valley to the west； down which the brook which
joins the Ceiriog at this place； descends； whereupon John Jones
said； that if I wished to go up it a little way he should have
great pleasure in attending me； and that he should show me a
cottage built in the hen ddull； or old fashion； to which he
frequently went to ask for the rent； he being employed by various
individuals in the capacity of rent…gatherer。 I said that I was
afraid that if he was a rent…collector； both he and I should have a
sorry welcome。 〃No fear；〃 he replied； 〃the people are very good
people； and pay their rent very regularly；〃 and without saying
another word he led the way up the valley。 At the end of the
village； seeing a woman standing at the door of one of the ruinous
cottages； I asked her the name of the brook； or torrent； which came
down the valley。 〃The Tarw；〃 said she； 〃and this village is called
Pandy Teirw。〃
〃Why is the streamlet called the bull？〃 said I。 〃Is it because it
comes in winter weather roaring down the glen and butting at the
Ceiriog？〃
The woman laughed； and replied that perhaps it was。 The valley was
wild and solitary to an extraordinary degree； the brook or torrent
running in the middle of it covered with alder trees。 After we had
proceeded about a furlong we reached the house of the old fashion …
it was a rude stone cottage standing a little above the road on a
kind of platform on the right…hand side of the glen； there was a
paling before it with a gate； at which a pig was screaming； as if
anxious to get in。 〃It wants its dinner；〃 said John Jones； and
opened the gate for me to pass； taking precautions that the
screamer did not enter at the same time。 We entered the cottage；
very glad to get into it； a storm of wind and rain having just come
on。 Nobody was in the kitchen when we entered； it looked
comfortable enough； however； there was an excellent fire of wood
and coals； and a very snug chimney corner。 John Jones called
aloud； but for some time no one answered； at last a rather good…
looking woman； seemingly about thirty； made her appearance at a
door at the farther end of the kitchen。 〃Is the mistress at home；〃
said Jones； 〃or the master？〃
〃They are neither at home；〃 said the woman； 〃the master is abroad
at his work； and the mistress is at the farm…house of … three miles
off to pick feathers （trwsio plu）。〃 She asked us to sit down。
〃And who are you？〃 said I。
〃I am only a lodger；〃 said she； 〃I lodge here with my husband who
is a clog…maker。〃
〃Can you speak English？〃 said I。
〃Oh yes；〃 said she； 〃I lived eleven years in England； at a place
called Bolton； where I married my husband； who is an Englishman。〃
〃Can he speak Welsh？〃 said I。
〃Not a word；〃 said she。 〃We always sp