H.M.I.: Some Passages in the Life of One of H.M. Inspectors of Schools — John Shaqi
H.M.I.: Some Passages in the Life of One of H.M. Inspectors of SchoolsSneyd-Kynnersley, E. M. (Edmund McKenzie)
History
H.M.I.: Some Passages in the Life of One of H.M. Inspectors of Schools
Sneyd-Kynnersley, E. M. (Edmund McKenzie)
Education -- Great Britain; School management and organization -- Great Britain
The Druid admitted his dislike. “The Bishop couldn’t say ‘Hollalluog’
(Almighty) to save his mitre; and he is worse than Jeroboam; he makes
priests of the lowest of the people. Five Calvinist preachers has
he ordained in two years; the last couldn’t speak decent English;
he was reading the Second Lesson in church the other day, and he
came to the chapter in St. Luke, you know, where it says ‘there came
down a storm, and they were filled with wãt-ter; and were in’--(he
was following the words, you know, with his fat, greasy forefinger,
and he stopped suddenly, and went on slowly, as if the ice were
thin)--‘_gee-o-par-dy_.’ English or Welsh, the Bishop is no good.”
“Druid, Druid,” said the good Rector gently. I saw he did not like
to hear the Chief Ruler thus spoken of, or his dissenting brethren
scornfully entreated. “You must remember that we don’t get the pick of
the chapel for our converts.”
“No, indeed,” said the other, quite unabashed, “nor of the
schoolmasters either. Have you met William Williams, Rhos, yet, Mr.
Inspector? He went to preach a Harvest Festival sermon for old Howell
the other day. Mr. Howell, you know, Rector of Llanfochyn, is rather an
old swell,” he added, for my information, “and Williams was a British
schoolmaster....”
“And an excellent young man,” interposed our host.
“Oh yes, indeed, I was not saying anything against him; I would not
do it whatever; but he is not quite of the same ways of acting as
old Howell,” said the narrator, pleading for his story. “Well, he
came, and he preached a very excellent sermon, I am sure; and whilst
they were in the church a storm came on, and when service was over it
was still raining very hard, and Howell said, ‘Look here, Williams,
you can’t go home in this weather, let me put you up at the Rectory
to-night.’ Of course he was much obliged, and they had supper, and
so on, and then Howell showed Williams his bedroom, and there was a
nightshirt, you know, and everything, they thought; and Williams, when
he was asked whether he had got all he wanted, says, ‘inteet it iss
fery kind of you, Mr. Howell; eferything, thank you,’ and they said
‘good-night.’ But in about five minutes Howell comes back, and knocks
at the door; ‘Sorry to disturb you, Williams, but it occurs to me that
you would not have a tooth-brush, and I have brought you one.’
“Williams took it, and looked at it, and he says, ‘Well, indeed, Mr.
Howell, it is very kind of you, and I am much obliged; yes sure; but I
do feel that I am depriving you and Mrs. Howell of it.’”
The Druid could hardly have found a more appreciative audience. Notably
the Rector gasped for breath, and wiped away many tears of pure
delight. Harry and David Nantgwyn (I have already got into the habit of
speaking thus of him) shouted for joy, like the morning stars; and the
Squire chortled in his glee.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account