When he was further initiated, he was consulted in important matters and
met with better success; generally giving satisfaction by his wise and
sagacious answers. In the meantime his parents sorrowed after him, as
one that was no more, having advertised him in all the public papers and
sent messengers after him to almost every part of the kingdom; till
about a year and a half afterwards, when Carew, hearing of their grief,
and being struck with tenderness thereat, repaired to his father's
house. He was so disguised they did not know him, but when they did
their joy was beyond expressing, tenderly embracing him, bedewing his
cheeks with tears and kisses, and all his friends and neighbours showed
every demonstration of joy at his return. His parents did everything to
render home agreeable to him; but the uncommon pleasure he had enjoyed
in the community he had left, their simplicity, freedom, sincerity,
mirth, and frequent change of habitation, and the secret presages of the
honour he has since arrived at, sickened and palled all other
diversions, and at last prevailed over his filial duty, for one day,
without taking leave of his friends or parents, he went back to them
again, where he was heartily welcomed, both to his own and their
satisfaction, they being glad to regain one who was likely to become so
useful a member of their community.
CHAPTER II.
_Carew's First Adventure in his New Profession._
Carew being again initiated among them, at the first general assembly of
the gipsies, took the oaths of allegiance to their sovereign, by whom he
was soon sent out on a cruise against their enemies. Carew now set his
wits to work how to succeed: so equipping himself with an old pair of
trousers, a piece of a jacket, just enough to cover his nakedness,
stockings full of holes, and an old cap, he forgot both friends and
family and became nothing more or less than an unfortunate shipwrecked
seaman. In this, his first excursion, he gained much credit, artfully
imitating passes and certificates that were necessary for him to travel
unmolested. After a month's travel he happened to meet with his old
school-fellow Coleman, who had once left the gipsies' society, but, for
the same reason as himself, returned to them again. Great was their joy
at meeting, and they agreed to travel some time together; so entering
Exeter, they, in one day, raised a contribution of several pounds.
Having obtained all he could from this stratagem, he then became a
plain, honest farmer, whose grounds had been overflowed, and cattle
drowned; his dejected countenance and mournful tale, together with a
wife and seven helpless infants being partakers of his misfortunes,
gained him both pity and profit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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