The Gipsies' Advocate: Or, Observations on the Origin, Character, Manners, and Habits of the English GipsiesCrabb, James
Religion
The Gipsies' Advocate: Or, Observations on the Origin, Character, Manners, and Habits of the English Gipsies
Crabb, James
Romanies -- England
Among the reclaimed Gipsies are three women who were notorious
fortune-tellers, and who doubtless have done much injury to the morals of
society. They are now very promising; and there is a fair prospect of
their children being saved from much sin and misery, as they are placed
at Infants' Schools, where they are gradually acquiring useful scriptural
knowledge, and correctness of habits; in which, if they persevere, by the
grace of the Redeemer, their present and everlasting welfare will be
secured. Such examples of success amply repay the Committee for the
trouble and expense already bestowed on the Gipsies; and it is hoped its
members will be stimulated to every exertion in their power by the good
done to those in a state of reformation and improvement, that the whole
wandering race may be led into the right way.
CHAP. IX. Of the plans pursued by the Southampton Committee, and the
success which has attended them, continued.
A gipsy woman, of whose reformation we have already taken some notice,
having gone to solicit the assistance of the parish to which one of her
children belonged, met with many difficulties and troubles. She was not
at this time destitute of the knowledge of religion. She had learned to
read, and had become acquainted with the Scriptures, at an adult school,
and by attending at a place of worship; and these instructions were not
thrown away on her; for although she was frequently invited to eat and
drink in the tents of the Gipsies on her journey, she conscientiously
refused, fearing that what they were partaking of might not be honestly
obtained. She informed them that her Testament had taught her better
habits than those she had formerly known. Her children helped to keep
alive her religious impressions. They often talked to her about the
school from which she had taken them, of their lessons, and the
observations of the master and mistress, on different parts of the
Scriptures, and at other times they catechised each other on the objects
that presented themselves on the road, in the same way they had been used
to in the Infants' Schools; to which they often begged their mother to
let them return. These circumstances, she has since said, made her so
miserable that she felt she _could not live as she had done_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account