The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-12-07
MARY OF THE HEATH.


It is by no means an uncommon
observation, that, did any one note
down the remarkable occurrences Of
his own life, those of his friends with
whom he is we'll acquainted, or such
as become known to him on good
authority, i'll the course of n few
years, how curious q collection it
would form. The following is an
example:
1t must now be nearly half a cen
tury ago, when one fine summers
day, about the hour of noon, u little.
girl, who could not have been more
than ten or eleven years old, was seen
on Il particular part of Com
mon ar heath, in Kent, (uot very far
from the house Of wealthy baronet, J
snspendlng pot on three sticks set
upright In the ground, after the man
ner of gipsies, over fire which she
had kindled beneath it. She was
dressed i'll rags, aud seemed miser-
ably poor and forlorn. The child was
alone. The singularity of the cir
cumstance excited the surprise of
two ladies, who were taking their
morning walk on that airy and agree
able common. They looked around,
expecting to see party OF Gypsies, to
whom they conjectured the child must
belong; but, though wide ana open,
not living creature, save the little
girl bolliilg her pot, was to be seen
far or near. Their curiosity was
raised and much increased, when on
nearer approach, as she turned her
head towards them, though burnt
and Drowned with the sun and wind.
they saw at glance that the face
which looked out from beneath bon
net worn out of all color and shape,
and arms which were but partially
covered with an old tattcred cloak,
were neither of the Gypsy character
or complexion. The features were
small and round, and the eyes and
hair of true Saxon origin, blue and
light brown. There was also an ex-
preston of artlessness in the connte-
nance, which, it must be confessed, is
not very generally the distinguishing
mark of the daughters of Egypt.
There was something so singular in
the solitariness of the employment
and the personal pecuiiarittiys os the
child, it was impossible that two
ladies of good hearts and benevolent
intentions could other than feel
Interested for her. They proceeded,
therefore, at once to question her,
beginning with the kindly and en-
couraging expression of "AIy dear"
as they asked her what she was doing
there.
Boiling my pot for breakfast, :"
was her reply.
"And what have you got in its"
1.-TWO turnips that I took out Of
the field"
is that all you have got for your
breakfast?"
''An. except some bits OF bread"
"Thut's very poor breakfast. To
whom do von belong?"
Nobody"
$40 nobody! and you so young!
How did yon core here, and where
are you going?"
81 don't know"
''You neither know how you came
here, nor where you are going?
What strange story! What is your
paile, anu Wnefe dlu you come from
You must have come from some
place?"
My name is Mary, and came q
long way off, but I can't tell where. -
"How did you get here?"
II walked; I have been many days
walking"
Il never heard so strange an ac-
count as you give Of yourself. Where
did you get that pot?"
u brought it away with me-"
Ihen you must have come from
some persons with whom you have
been living. Tell us now the truth.
Have you not been with Gypsies?"
A blush rose in her cheeks as she
replied; Eyes, I have been with
Gypsies.
Where are they. and where did
you leave them?"
She paused moment, looked
down, and then said, IT got away
from them, for I did not like theil
way of life"
"And when was it, and how have
you lived since you left them?"