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
that moment another Gipsy girl, much older, came, out of breath, to the
spot. She had been at the town of W---, and had brought some medicine
for her dying mother. Observing a stranger, she modestly courtsied, and,
hastening to her mother, knelt down by her side, kissed her pallid lips,
and burst into tears. 'What, my dear child,' said his Majesty, 'can be
done for you?' 'Oh, sir!' she replied, 'my dying mother wanted a
religious person to teach her, and to pray with her, before she died. I
ran all the way before it was light this morning to W---, and asked for a
minister, _but no one could I get to come with me to pray with my dear
mother_!' The dying woman seemed sensible of what her daughter was
saying, and her countenance was much agitated. The air was again rent
with the cries of the distressed daughters. The King, full of kindness,
instantly endeavoured to comfort them: he said, 'I am a minister, and God
has sent me to instruct and comfort your mother.' He then sat down on a
pack, by the side of the pallet, and taking the hand of the dying Gipsy,
discoursed on the demerit of sin, and the nature of redemption. He then
pointed her to Christ, the all sufficient Saviour. While the King was
doing this, the poor creature seemed to gather consolation and hope: her
eyes sparkled with brightness, and her countenance became animated. She
looked up; she smiled; but it was the last smile; it was the glimmering
of expiring nature. As the expression of peace, however, remained strong
in her countenance, it was not till some little time had elapsed, that
they perceived the struggling spirit had left mortality.
"It was at this moment that some of his Majesty's attendants, who had
missed him at the chase, and who had been riding through the forest in
search of him, rode up, and found the King comforting the afflicted
Gipsies. It was an affecting sight, and worthy of everlasting record in
the annals of kings.
"His Majesty now rose up, put some gold into the hands of the afflicted
girls, promised them his protection, and bade them look to heaven. He
then wiped the tears from his eyes, and mounted his horse. His
attendants, greatly affected, stood in silent admiration. Lord L--- was
now going to speak, when his Majesty, turning to the Gipsies, and
pointing to the breathless corpse, and to the weeping girls, said, with
strong emotion, 'Who, my lord, who, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto
these?'"
CHAP. XVI. Further interesting Correspondence.
"Dear Sir,
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account