Page:My people stories of the peasantry of West Wales.djvu/119

This page has been validated.

THE DEVIL IN EDEN


holes,” was the reply, “the birds of the air their nests, but I have nowhere to lay my head.”

Old Ianto turned his face upon the figure on the ground, saying:

“For what you say that? Dear, dear, has not the little Big Man said, ‘Ye are of more value than many sparrows’?”

“Nowhere to lay this old head,” the tempter repeated through his thick lips.

“Welshman too!” exclaimed Ianto. “Not religious are your words, man. What for you don’t know that you utter these vain things in the Garden of Eden? Open your eyes, and look you. Does not this river break out into four little heads? Saw you Shop Rhys as you came by? There the Creator placed Adam, and was not Adam the first sinner? Behind you is the evil tree, boy bach. See you how crooked the old trunk is! And here just is the spring that gave Eva fresh water to brew tea.”

107