The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-08-26
The Family eMcic.
Linka SmHlcm, the Cripple's Wife.

During some recent wnndering4 on
the Danish Peninsula. ] stumbled. one
stormy night, on Gipsey camp. In
the motley company assembled, saw
an intelligent looking man who had lost
both his feet and was particularly
struck with the appearance of the poor
cripplc's wiie--a woman OF noble ex-
preston, and who appeared devotedly
attached TO her husband. Being anxious
to know something of the history ofthis
unfortunate man, ] made few cnqu-
ries, but none of the gipsies appeared
sociablc. Presently travelling tinker
came into the tent, and was greeted MS
an old acquaintance. II was not long
before got into conversation with this
wandercr, and ! was astonshcd TO find
him not only intelligent, but even learn
ed, On his own history he did not
seem disposed TO converse ; but he very
readily told me what wanted to know
of the man who had no feet, and his
noble looking consort.
"Iinka Smnlcm" (Linka the Clip
scy,) said he, as broached the subject,
sis strong as man--that | can testify:
for once, when | attempted TO Joke n
little with her, she dealt me as sound
blow rs would ever desire to feel bot
we are not the less good friends for all
that"
"Then she is true to the poor Grip
pie = ! asked.
AS gold" he replied. "lf any one
ventures to take liberties with her, she
is as n Watchdog"
GLOW did it happen she made SO
strange match 7"
Il will tell you. Peter Lcgless, as
we call him, and | were born in the
same place"
Where Z" asked |.
II don't know exactly the tinker
answered laughing. "My mother used
10 say il was somewhere hercabouls on
the heath"
'In very large house z" observed.
"Yes, yes" said he, nodding his head /;
"a large house, with high ceiling and
wide walls. Peter and Travelled in
the same company until we were grown
up lads then We got n mind TO look
about us n little in the world. In Hold
malini we fell in with some Sma.lens
(Gipsics) OF those parts and il happen
ed that one night We camped in large
forest In the morning, when we awoke.
war was raging around MS the cannon
roared on all sides. At some distance
from The spot where we were was a
large cavern, known TO the aipsics, and
IN this VIC determined 10 take refuge
But the battle drew nearer and nearer,
the balls ratified about our cars. and
shattered the branches Of the trees a
heavy branch fell upon half.grown
eipsey lassie-the very I.inka whom
We now call Peters wife--and felled
her TO the ground. The gipsies, how
ever never stopped in their flight. No
ono cared about Linka, for she was none
Of their own but had been stolen by
them when she was child, in some
country Car TO the South. LET US see
/ if she Is dead" said Peter 10 me. NO,
let her alone :" answered !. But she
was no, dead, bat drcadfully hurt, and
( one Of her arms broken. She begged
hard that we would take her with US (;
so Peter took her in his arms, and
away we ran after the others After
{ We had reached the cavern we were
I safe enough, and Linka wHs then look
T cd to and her wounds and arm bandaged.
/ But " hen the battle was over, and we
were again TO begin our tramp, Linka
could not pot her foot on the ground
aud the gipsics promised 10 give her
some provisions and leaYe her sll alone
ia the cavern but Potter again tool
compassion On her, aud 90 be- carried
her about FOR many days, uuiil her foot
Got well 90 you zee II nie carries hin
nov. Il IS not for nothing To quil
scores f. good payment, they say"
-Wcu. and afterwards she married
him suppose
-Nes--aiirr gipsry fashion. Pciicl
and i.inka never iors0ok each oilier
Bot so,aehow 1t happ-aed ore day thai
We we're al made prisoners BY "a irooJ
Of ,olI.cr, What become of the oihcl
eipsies d. 30, auo~ BOT ~ mncb
suo1. tbsi PETER snd ! were stuck ini'
white uniforms, an3 had muskci pa
on oar ,hoai3efs, ani iha, We e. mou
sti5p-s ihan money before We iearnc'
20 & fshi ly role. Thea ue were mad
10 marh avainsi ihe fyesrh and La
La followed she frg.meni with the uthe
uomcH and lhe baggage When ~
~ere "a 90 sefs ier. abe vas aiVAg
aiaal Pcarr iyifr o. rgaie hiia canl
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