Country life -- England; England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
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?’ ‘O 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 sate 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 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 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 had been riding through the forest in
search of him, rode up, and found him comforting the afflicted gipsies.
It was an affecting sight, and worthy of everlasting record in the
annals of kings.
“He 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 going to
speak, but 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?’”
GIPSIES OF FASHION.
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