The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-11-26
THE KING AND THE Gypsy.

THE KING AND THE GYPSY.
A king of England, whose memory
we love to cherish because he cared so
much for his people, and loved and
honored the great King of kings, used
sometimes to go hunting One day
the stays had been run SO hard, that, in
order to escape from the dogs, they
swan across the river at part too
deep for the dogs to follow. In the
pursuit the huntsmen were gradually
separated, and by and by the king
found himself alone and behind, for his
horse had become thoroughly tired.
For the sake of the poor animal he
turned aside into a wood, intending to
rest until his attendants should return.
He had gone but few PAGES among
the trees, when suddenly some strange
cries as of one in distress reached his
ear He hurried on in the direction
whence he thought they proceeded,
prompted by the desire of rendering
assistance. On approaching, he could
distinctly hear the words, ooh, my
mother, my poor mother God bless
and pity my poor dear mother" Pres
entity he saw that this prayer was of
fered up by little, sun-browned girl,
as she knelt under an oak tree, her
hands stretched out, and her dark eyes
full of tears, gazing imploringly to
| heaven.
The king, who was very tender
hearted aud kindly affectioned, was
much moved, and inquired where her
mother was, and what allied her. The
little girl led him to a small tent, pitch
| ed under tree few rods further on,
and on entering he saw gypsy wo-
man, on wisp of straw, evidently at
the point of death. She was unable to
speak, and the little girl cried more
bitterly than ever. Just then an elder
daughter came running into the tent
breathless. She had been to the near
est village, which was a good way off,
and also to try and get some good
minister to come and show her the way
to heaven. But she could get none
for people in those days thought the
poor gipsies good for nothing, worth
less creatures, altogether unfit to go to
heaven. So the two girls sobbed VIC
lently as though their hearts would
break, and the dying mother seemed
very much agitated at no one caring
for her soul. But the king, whose
heart melted at their woe, exclaimed
{" I am minister sent by God Himself
to you, and He bids me say, that
though man cares not, yet He does in
deed care for your SOUL" Then, kneel
ing down by the dying gypsy and tax
} ing her hand in his, he wiped with his
! handkerchief the clammy sweat from
her brow, while he whispered in her
ear the simple story of the cross o.
Christ, of that blood that cleansett
from all sin, and of the eternal redemp
ton purchased for all believers. A ra
dent smile lit up her swarthy counte
nance, and for moment her bright eye
looked up expressive of deepest graft
tude, love and joy and gently squeez
.. ing his hand she expired quite peace
; fully. The three gazed on for some
| time unconscious that the soul haC
winged its fight. Upon this the king.
. attendants, who had been searching fol
him, came up; and imagine their sur
prise when they found the monarch o
England kneeling by gipsy's corpse
and speaking words of comfort to gip
sy children.
Their surprise was like that of thu
disciples when they found their blessed
Master talking to the woman of Sauna
J ria at Jacobs WELL But when they
. saw the king in tears they were deeply
f touched. The king took the children
, under his protection, provided for al
their wants, and had them trained up il
the nurture and admonition of the Lord