Welsh Journals

at something concerned with the chapel. Then I, in reply, broke out, saying She might say anything she liked of me, but she should not scoff at the chapel and my religion in my hearing and I struck the table and walked out of the Hall. Not long afterwards her husband sent me a present of one of his old overcoats as a peace- making gift, 1 believed. But the overcoat, bless the mark did not put out my wrath. On the contrary 1 had a row with my parents because they would not let me send it back I would tight my own battle without the help of either squire or dame. If the reader calls these incidents petty, I shall agree with him with all my heart. But if he remembers that I would have given my life at that time to pass the examination, and that it was hard to have no help to pass except that of an elementary schoolmaster, and little leisure for study except every other day, he will admit that the trial was sore and the temptation sharp." Even yet I cannot admit that to master it and make it crouch beneath my foot," was an insig- nificant matter, even though it was very small. The refusal was a very wholesome act, and I could go on my way rejoicing. The examination for the Queen's Scholarship was in December, and it was coming near. Can- didates who had not been pupil teachers had to .be at least 18 years of age, and, unless they passed in the first class, must pay an entrance fee of £ 10. These conditions being fulfilled, the student, cnce he hfid entered the college, was maintained altogether by the authorities, who, in turn, received Government grants for that and other purposes. But there was one other condition of a preli- minary kind-a condition that was in practice purely formal. The candidate had to produce a certificate of character from the minister of his church. As I have said, the Calvinistic Methodist Church in our little village had no minister. My 0 Voice, that calls through east and west, Shaking the drowsy hearts of men- Unresting Voice that cries for rest In wind and tide, by hill and glen I hear winds cry and waters cry Of your unfathomable desire, And 'deep' within my being I Burn with the same insatiate fire. Ever the brillant, restless line Of cloud and wave and star and sun, Of wind and fire and white moonshine, Swings past, and deep sea-currents run. At evening on the lonely hills Strange lights gleam out and voices cry When the long, wavering twilight spills Its coloured glories down the sky; father, therefore, naturally asked the Rector, who knew me from my baby-hood, to give the re- quired certificate. He refused, exhibiting thereby the narrowest and unkindest bigotry. My father never forgave him or attended the Parish Church services any more. At first the obstacle looked very serious but a little ciiquiry brought out the fact that a chapei elder's certificate would serve -the turn equally well; and that was easily obtained. At last the day of the examination arrived. I had the right to compete, for I had just turned eighteen. My two brothers equipped me for the examination in the manner I have already de- scribed, and I faced the ordeal as best I could. We stayed at the College during the days of examination, and became more or less acquainted with one another. 1 was appalled by thei look of cleverness that my competitors carried and by their confidence; and I found out that while I had begun to prepare only some 18 months be- fore, and that under difficult circumstances, they had been preparing under much better conditions for four, five, or even six years. I did my best, but I had no jot or tittle of hope. One day one of the College teachers, Mr. John Thomas, called me up to him when I was leaving the table at which all the candidates dined together. It was to tell me that I was doing very well, but that it was a mistake to disfigure my papers by writing above the top line and beneath the lowest line.* I took his action to spring from sympathy with a candidate whom he knew had no chance of enter- ing and his kindness altogether overpowered me. I wept like a child; I was much over- strained. *[H.J. wrote above the top and below the lowest ]in_- becan.-e (rightly or wrongly) he thought tlip amount of paper allowed to candidates was limited, and had more to say than he had room for.] (To be continued). A SINGER TELLS OF TWO VOICES. And ever sounds that ancient call, 'I hrough earth and fire and air and tide, Where dim waves break and slow winds fall, Mysterious, wild, unsatisfied 0 immemorial Voice, be still Follow no more your ceaseless quest- I heard the White Host on a hill Cry that there never shall be rest. Till all the tides are gathered up, And every wind is rocked asleep, And the old, sorrowful Moon's pale cup Slips down into the shadowy deep Dim, old, forgotten Powers shall rise Up through the faery silence then, Calming with their proud, quiet eyes, The sad, impetuous hearts of men. Mona Douglas.