Summary

By paying attention to Daniel Owen’s life story, some of his characters could be referred to, such as Wil Bryan, and Tomos and Barbara Bartley – suggesting that we can learn something from all of them.

Teachers’ Notes

Instructions:

The pictures should be shown on PowerPoint as the story is told.  The (  ) shows when the slide should be changed.  To attract the pupils’ attention, we recommend the first slide is already on display as they enter.

 The Main Text

(Picture 1)

Daniel Owen was born in Mold on 20 October, 1836, the youngest of six children.  He had a very difficult childhood as his father and two of his brothers drowned in an accident in Argoed coal mine when Daniel was a baby. 

(Picture 2)

In 1851, when he was twelve years old, Daniel began his apprenticeship with a local tailor.  Although he went on to spend some time at Bala College, where he studied to be a minister, he did not complete his studies and he returned to his trade as a tailor by opening a clothes shop in Mold.  Daniel had been interested in the world of literature since his early twenties and he published his first volume of sermons in 1879. 

(Picture 3)

Daniel went on to write a series of extremely popular novels during the following years, and a number of them were published in parts in various magazines.  Amongst his most recognized works are Y Dreflan (1881), Rhys Lewis (1885), Enoc Huws (1891) and Gwen Tomos (1894).

In the novel Rhys Lewis we encounter the characters Wil Bryan, and Tomos and Barbara Bartley.

Wil Bryan was a mischievous boy and a big friend of Rhys Lewis. 

(Picture 4)

There is one story of him going to the Children’s Service at chapel one evening and sitting right behind the clock in the gallery.

(Picture 5)

Now, the old deacon, Abel Huws, used the clock carefully to begin and end the service, and when the old man was praying, with his eyes closed, Wil Bryan edged forward and moved the clock hands.  When Abel Huws finished his prayer and looked at the clock, he had a shock that time had gone by so fast. He decided that he had prayed too long and he had to let the children go home – so off they went, early of course, without him realizing.

(Picture 6)

Wil Bryan had a special saying.  In giving Rhys Lewis advice, Wil would always tell him to be “true to nature”; and not try to be something different to what he was in reality.

That is good advice for all of us - to be “true to nature”. Not pretend to be someone else, but be honest, be true and be genuine.

(Picture 7)

Another two pleasant characters were Tomos and Barbara Bartley - a simple and ordinary husband and wife: whatever Tomos would say, Barbara would agree with him.

In the novel, there is an interesting passage that says a lot about their character.

Mari Lewis, Rhys’ mother, was very troubled.  Her eldest son, Bob, was in prison for taking part in a protest at work.  Mari was so worried about this that she didn’t feel able to go to chapel the following Sunday.

(Picture 8)

So there she and Rhys were, at home all day, worrying and thinking, and expecting someone from chapel to call to see how things were.  But nobody came from Chapel – no one came after the morning or afternoon service. Mari was sure that someone would call after the evening service. But no one came.

(Picture 9)

It was late at night by now and as Mari and Rhys were getting fed up waiting for someone to call, they heard a knock at the door.  Who was there? Was it someone from chapel? No, it was Tomos and Barbara Bartley, who had failed to go to bed that night without coming to sympathize with Mari in her anguish.  These two, who never went to chapel.

(Picture 10)

Through this story, Daniel Owen shows some of the hypocrisy of some of the chapel people of his day.  People saying one thing but doing another.

Again, this is something we should try to avoid in our school community – hypocrisy - saying one thing and doing another! Pretending that we’re friends with some pupils, and then saying nasty things about them behind their back; speaking up against bullying in class, and then picking on someone mercilessly in the yard at break time. That’s hypocrisy!

Prayer: O God, help us to be honest and true before You.  Keep us from being hypocrites.  Make us faithful and obedient to You. Amen.