A character a day: (10) Shemi Jenkins and his hidden talent

Shemi Jenkins, servant

As an author I’m very fond of Shemi, because he is a seemingly simple fellow who works on the farm and who habitually uses his great strength in working with animals and in shovelling manure. He was born in 1782 into the Jenkins family of Blaenwaun, and he starts work at the Plas in the year 1797. He has a blossoming romance with Sian and marries her in 1810, going on to raise a family of his own. 

But he has hidden depths. The reader sees that he has special powers from the beginning, and this is recognized by both Martha and Joseph. One special talent is the ability to talk with animals, and if there are uncontrollable cattle or horses to be calmed, he is the man to send for. The Wizard of Werndew realizes quite quickly that Shemi will be his successor, and when Martha comes to appreciate his talents fully she agrees that he should go away for training as a wizard. 

So off he goes to study with Dr John Harries of Cwrt-y- Cadno. He comes back and takes over Joseph’s work and his cottage, and from that point on he becomes a sort of mentor for Martha, in spite of the fact that he is much younger than she. 

He features quite prominently in Flying with Angels, and the high point of his career comes in the terrible and comical episode in Brynberian Chapel when he turns the tables on the sanctimonious deacons who are seeking to excommunicate poor Amos from their congregation.

That is one of my favourite episodes from the whole series of novels, and perhaps this explains my affection for the character of Shemi.