The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-08-13
In II Gypsy Camp.

Oh Long Island, New York. They live
in their wagons, which resemble circus
vans, and are III reality comfortable little
houses upon wheels. They have
windows, which work in sashes, and are
shaded at night by curtains There is
an attractive appearance to the camp.
The horses arc sleek and well kept.
There were dogs sleeping in the sun,
and as stranger entered the camp they
lazily opened one eye and then went on
with their day-drcams. The wagons
were i'll circle about fro, where there
was pot boiling, and sending out a
most delicious aroma of cooking meats
and vegetables. Under the shade of an
elm tree sat pretty gypsy maiden of
pure Egyptian features. She was
dressed in bright colors, and was playing
with two milk-white kittens, which we're
having sport upon her lap.
There are twenty-five adults in the
camp, eight females and fourteen males.
besides tho usual complement of dark
skinned children. The chief is called
Reuben. He is rs brown rs miner, is
six feet tall, and has broad shoulders
and most active tongue. In point of
profanity he could discount any man
the writer over encountered. Tho oaths
were big and polysyllabic, and broke
into his conversation like tho crack of a
ranchcro's whip. His wife sat within
the wagon at table, the floor was
neatly cnrpcted, and there was ample
furniture for comfortable housekeeping.
The walls were hung with pictures, and
there were some prints from tho illus
trated papers pasted up. The woman
was fortune teller. She has large,
dark eyes, iet-black hair and n saffron
hued skin. There were big hoops Of
Roman gold in her ears and her head
was bound up i'll n bright yellow silk
bandana handkerchief. She was anxious
to have her palm ticklcd with silver and
to read the lines i'll the palm of a visitor.
She studied tho visitors hand, muttered
to herself, and then told foolish mass
OF stuff about the prospect of news
paper mans dying rich in foreign
country, after having two wives, the
second Of which was to be the only one
he loved before he married his first wife.
Upon finishing her story, she was asked
about Mother Shipton's prophecy, and
whether the world was surely going to
be destroyed this year
"Aye," she said, "your fortune has
been told, and it will require three pieces
of silver as a present to my baby to get
an answer to the question.
The pudgy hand of tho baby was put
out for silver, about which its tiny
fingers ongerly claspcd. It's mother
intently regarded the child's grasp upon
the money, and beamcd with smile of
approval. Then remembering the qucs-
ton, she said "No, the world is not
coming to an end this year. We nre
fought better. Tho red book teaches
me that shall be notified before the
time is fixed, and rs I have not been
told, I know that the time has not
come"
Reuben passed around the camp
punctuating all that he said with cursos
clark and deep" nt the same timc
seeming to be III the best of humor, md
ready to make bargain of any sort.
The gypsy maiden with the milk-white
kittens sont most coqucttish glance Mt
the visitor, md he stepped over to tho
shade tree whore she was half reclining
on the turf. She said that her name
was Mary, and that she was born in q
gypsy camp in Vermont twenty one
yoars ago. Her mother was dead, and
her father-Reuben, tho chicf-had
married again. IT love gypsy's life,
Of course" she said, as she stroked n
kittens back; II know no other. We
break up in winter, but we como to-
gether in the spring. The farmers are
not kind to rs, because they think we
steal, but we do not. We buy and soil
and trade, as anyone does, but mostly
deal in horses. tell fortunes, too. My
customers arc young girls and their
lovers. DO we marry outside our tribe
Oh, yes, we marry anyone we love who
will have us. My sister married n
doctor, but [ don't know where she
lives. I expect to see hur some day in
our travels. But hero comes father and
I must go. If you will come out again
I will toll you more--and all about your
fortune" Springing to her feet, she
walked away with q graceful step, and
the little white kittons, tumbling over
each other, gambolcd after her.
Cnt IL Thicker.
One Sunday morning, while deacon
Of Woburn, Mass, was preparing for
church q Hanlerin0 Waxfarar or in