Satan Appearing To A Young Man

: STORIES OF SATAN, GHOSTS, ETC.
: Welsh Folk-lore

A young man, who had left Pentrevoelas to live in a farm house called

Hafod Elwy, had to go over the hills to Denbigh on business. He started

very early, before the cock crew, and as it was winter, his journey over

the bleak moorlands was dismal and dreary. When he had proceeded several

miles on his journey an unaccountable dread crept over him. He tried to

dispel his fear by whistling and by knocking the ground with his walking
br />
stick, but all in vain. He stopped, and thought of returning home, but

this he could not do, for he was more afraid of the ridicule of his

friends than of his own fear, and therefore he proceeded on his journey

and reached Pont Brenig, where he stopped awhile, and listened, thinking

he might see or hear someone approaching. To his horror, he observed,

through the glimmering light of the coming day, a tall gentleman

approaching, and by a great exertion he mastered his feelings so far as

to enable him to walk towards the stranger, but when within a few yards

of him he stood still, for from fright he could not move. He noticed

that the gentleman wore grey clothes, and breeches fastened with yellow

buckles, on his coat were two rows of buttons like gold, his shoes were

low, with bright clasps to them. Strange to say, this gentleman did not

pass the terrified man, but stepped into the bog and disappeared from

view.



Ever afterwards, when this man passed the spot where he had met the Evil

One, he found there money or other valuables. This latter incident

connects this tale with Fairy Folk-Lore, as the Fair People were credited

with bestowing gifts on mortals.



More

;