partner, and then I considered whether it would be possible
to obtain her. I am ready to acknowledge, friend, that it was both
selfish and wicked in me to wish to fetter any human being to a lost
creature like myself, conscious of having committed a crime for which the
Scriptures told me there is no pardon. I had, indeed, a long struggle as
to whether I should make the attempt or not--selfishness however
prevailed. I will not detain your attention with relating all that
occurred at this period--suffice it to say that I made my suit and was
successful; it is true that the old man, who was her guardian, hesitated,
and asked several questions respecting my state of mind. I am afraid
that I partly deceived him, perhaps he partly deceived himself; he was
pleased that I had adopted his profession--we are all weak creatures.
With respect to the young person, she did not ask many questions; and I
soon found that I had won her heart. To be brief, I married her; and
here she is, the truest wife that ever man had, and the kindest. Kind I
may well call her, seeing that she shrinks not from me, who so cruelly
deceived her, in not telling her at first what I was. I married her,
friend; and brought her home to my little possession, where we passed our
time very agreeably. Our affairs prospered, our garners were full, and
there was coin in our purse. I worked in the field; Winifred busied
herself with the dairy. At night I frequently read books to her, books
of my own country, friend; I likewise read to her songs of my own, holy
songs and carols which she admired, and which yourself would perhaps
admire, could you understand them; but I repeat, you Saxons are an
ignorant people with respect to us, and a perverse, inasmuch as you
despise Welsh without understanding it. Every night I prayed fervently,
and my wife admired my gift of prayer.

'One night, after I had been reading to my wife a portion of Ellis Wyn,
my wife said, "This is a wonderful book, and containing much true and
pleasant doctrine; but how is it that you, who are so fond of good books,
and good things in general, never read the Bible? You read me the book
of Master Ellis Wyn, you read me sweet songs of your own composition, you
edify me with your gift of prayer, but yet you never read the Bible."
And when I heard her mention the Bible I shook, for I thought of my own
condemnation. However, I dearly loved my wife, and as she pressed me, I
commenced on that ve