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His was not an uncommon character。 In general he was mild； indolent；
and easily managed； but once thoroughly roused； his passions were
vehement and fearful。 He seemed； indeed； almost afraid of himself；
and in common hardly dared to give way to justifiable angerso much
did he dread losing his self…control。 Had he been judiciously
educated； he would； probably； have distinguished himself in those
branches of literature which call for taste and imagination； rather
than any exertion of reflection or judgment。 As it was； his literary
taste showed itself in making collections of Cambrian antiquities of
every description； till his stock of Welsh MSS。 would have excited
the envy of Dr。 Pugh himself； had he been alive at the time of which
I write。
There is one characteristic of Robert Griffiths which I have omitted
to note； and which was peculiar among his class。 He was no hard
drinker； whether it was that his head was easily affected； or that
his partially…refined taste led him to dislike intoxication and its
attendant circumstances； I cannot say； but at five…and…twenty Robert
Griffiths was habitually sobera thing so rare in Llyn； that he was
almost shunned as a churlish； unsociable being； and paused much of
his time in solitude。
About this time； he had to appear in some case that was tried at the
Caernarvon assizes； and while there； was a guest at the house of his
agent； a shrewd； sensible Welsh attorney； with one daughter； who had
charms enough to captivate Robert Griffiths。 Though he remained only
a few days at her father's house； they were sufficient to decide his
affections； and short was the period allowed to elapse before he
brought home a mistress to Bodowen。 The new Mrs。 Griffiths was a
gentle； yielding person； full of love toward her husband； of whom；
nevertheless； she stood something in awe； partly arising from the
difference in their ages； partly from his devoting much time to
studies of which she could understand nothing。
She soon made him the father of a blooming little daughter； called
Augharad after her mother。 Then there came several uneventful years
in the household of Bodowen； and when the old women had one and all
declared that the cradle would not rock again； Mrs。 Griffiths bore
the son and heir。 His birth was soon followed by his mother's death：
she had been ailing and low…spirited during her pregnancy； and she
seemed to lack the buoyancy of body and mind requisite to bring her
round after her time of trial。 Her husband； who loved her all the
more from having few other claims on his affections； was deeply
grieved by her early death； and his only comforter was the sweet
little boy whom she had left behind。 That part of the squire's
character； which was so tender； and almost feminine； seemed called
forth by the helpless situation of the little infant； who stretched
out his arms to his father with the same earnest cooing that happier
children make use of to their mother alone。 Augharad was almost
neglected； while the little Owen was king of the house； still next to
his father； none tended him so lovingly as his sister。 She was so
accustomed to give way to him that it was no longer a hardship。 By
night and by day Owen was the constant companion of his father； and
increasing years seemed only to confirm the custom。 It was an
unnatural life for the child； seeing no bright little faces peering
into his own （for Augharad was； as I said before； five or six years
older； and her face； poor motherless girl！ was often anything but
bright）； hearing no din of clear ringing voices； but day after day
sharing the otherwise solitary hours of his father； whether in the
dim room； surrounded by wizard…like antiquities； or pattering his
little feet to keep up with his 〃tada〃 in his mountain rambles or
shooting excursions。 When the pair came to some little foaming
brook； where the stepping…stones were far and wide； the father
carried his little boy across with the tenderest care； when the lad
was weary； they rested； he cradled in his father's arms； or the
Squire would lift him up and carry him to his home again。 The boy
was indulged （for his father felt flattered by the desire） in his
wish of sharing his meals and keeping the same hours。 All this
indulgence did not render Owen unamiable； but it made him wilful； and
not a happy child。 He had a thoughtful look； not common to the face
of a young boy。 He knew no games； no merry sports； his information
was of an imaginative and speculative character。 His father
delighted to interest him in his own studies； without considering how
far they were healthy for so young a mind。
Of course Squire Griffiths was not unaware of the prophecy which was
to be fulfilled in his generation。 He would occasionally refer to it
when among his friends； with sceptical levity； but in truth it lay
nearer to his heart than he chose to acknowledge。 His strong
imagination rendered him peculiarly impressible on such subjects；
while his judgment； seldom exercised or fortified by severe thought；
could not prevent his continually recurring to it。 He used to gaze
on the half…sad countenance of the child； who sat looking up into his
face with his large dark eyes； so fondly yet so inquiringly； till the
old legend swelled around his heart； and became too painful for him
not to require sympathy。 Besides； the overpowering love he bore to
the child seemed to demand fuller vent than tender words； it made him
like； yet dread； to upbraid its object for the fearful contrast
foretold。 Still Squire Griffiths told the legend； in a half…jesting
manner； to his little son； when they were roaming over the wild
heaths in the autumn days； 〃the saddest of the year；〃 or while they
sat in the oak…wainscoted room； surrounded by mysterious relics that
gleamed strangely forth by the flickering fire…light。 The legend was
wrought into the boy's mind； and he would crave； yet tremble； to hear
it told over and over again； while the words were intermingled with
caresses and questions as to his love。 Occasionally his loving words
and actions were cut short by his father's light yet bitter speech
〃Get thee away； my lad； thou knowest not what is to come of all this
love。〃
When Augharad was seventeen； and Owen eleven or twelve； the rector of
the parish in which Bodowen was situated； endeavoured to prevail on
Squire Griffiths to send the boy to school。 Now； this rector had
many congenial tastes with his parishioner； and was his only
intimate； and； by repeated arguments； he succeeded in convincing the
Squire that the unnatural life Owen was leading was in every way
injurious。 Unwillingly was the father wrought to part from his son；
but he did at length send him to the Grammar School at Bangor； then
under the management of an excellent classic。 Here Owen showed that
he had more talents than the rector had given him credit for； when he
affirmed that the lad had been completely stupefied by the life he