The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-04-19
THE GIPSIES.
Intervl wing q e n III -.

| NA'NAI wv AAsppSAS>A upO1 ~ CSluup VI
Gipsies who had just come from Texas,
upon trading tour, and had struck
camp on the overflowed ridges border
ing the main bank Of tho river above
and below the road leading from the
Trenton ferry. a number Of spring
wagons, in good condition, rude cover
ings made Of blankets stretched over
| bows, open at one end and closed at the
other, and quite number Of horses
and mules met our gaze. This, thought
we, does not look like want and beg
gary. Our curiosity to know how these
people lived and found a subsistence
was heightened by the scene which lay
before sss, and we, therefore, inquired
If they had homes. Some Of us have,
said one Of the men, and nice little
farms, too, situated around Dayton,
Ohio.
When did you leave home? we in
quired. Last Fall, was the response !;
we came down with a lot of horses.
Did you travel all the way by land |?
No, we came to Vicksburg by water,
and struck across the country. How
far west have you been? To Waco,
was the answer. What do you think
OF Texas? 1t is Il fine country, where
the people are willing to sell what land
they do not want. What do you think
Of this country? we asked, looking in
tho direction OF the fields on the east
bank. "A fine country, was the answer.
Do you want to buy a nice horse ?
asked one Of the several men who had
gathered around US.
The men were we'll built, free-talking
and shrewd, and well-up in sonversa-
tional lore. They looked sunburnt and
rather negligent in attire, but displayed
good address, readiness Of rcpartee and
a general adaptation to tho everyday
transactions OF life.
We answered our interrogater that
we did not want pony. Looking
around us, we saw several well-kept
horses and ponies tied to the bushes.
some Of them being protected with
blankets and howing careful grooming.
From this, and what passed during the
interview, we readily understood that
the men are horsc-traders and derive
their income chiefly from that business.
Accompanying the party were seve-
raj women and children. All seemed
to be at home on the grass. Busy
tongues, merry laughter and systematic
pursuit of tho duties of camp life
| marked the scene before us. The little
folks were dressed in good clothes that
displayed motherly care. The women
were busy preparing an carly supper,
and went about their duties in q way
that demonstrated contentment with
their lot and interest in what lay before
them.
What, inquired wc OF the men, do
you call yourselves People, said he,
| call us Gipsies; but never saw n Gypsy
in my life. We are Englishmcn.
We had seen Englishmen, but never
| any so peculiarly marked in complex
ion, hair, voice and manner as these
people were. Their skin varies from
| light swarthy to deep bronze; their
hair, without exception, is black and
| glossy, the women's hair rivaling i'm
beauty that OF the proudest belle in
upper-tendom. But what struck us
most forcibly, as showing what had
been their life and how human wants
conform to natures laws, was the pccu
liar searching sound Of their voices
Every word and syllable feel from thci,
lips clear and distinct, and with bu
little effort they could be heard con
versing among themselves more than :
hundred yards distant. Among tn,
number was a woman past middle age
: who, as we left, pressed upon us tn,
Importance Of allowing her to tell on
fortune. She was pouring out her tea
a little negro boy sat near her. Sh
spoke in broad Irish accents: will tel
, you something, sir, which will bencf
you. We told her that our purpose wa
5 not so much to ascertain what our for
: tune would be as what hers had been
Z We asked her if she was not an Irish
I woman. o, no, sir; we came fror
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