Omaha daily bee., 1888-11-25

hillocks. l climbed these where l could
survey the little community a bit before
becoming one of it. The entire group
ing was an eloquent picture of willful,
hopeless vagabondism, or of helpless,
wandering restitution. For an instant
the sight coniured up innumerable
scenes of eviction where Irish families.
driven from their wretched homes and
clinging to their scant belongings,
struggled by the roadside in their first
heart-rending, desperate amazement at
English Law. Descending into the
camp, I wandered about for a long time
as if one Of the many curious daily visi-
tors. 1t was about midday, and the
meager food the camp afforded, in strik-
ing contrast to that OF the high-living
American gipsies, was being served to
several hungry groups. Settling in my
mind at which one the chief of the band
was located. / came quickly to his side,
and after passing the usual Irish greet
ing Of "Fine day!" however sunny or
gloomy may be the weather, tossed him
a half-crown, sat down on the ground
beside him, and unceremoniously asked
for a share of the beggarly repast.
tious gypsy servility. a portion of STIR
about and a bit of half-raw meat were
handed me on q battered pewter plate.
l began eating the food, which was bet
ter than We many times got with Sher-
man from Chattanooga to Atlanta in "a,
with evidences of hungry satisfaction,
and, with a kindly glance at the chiefs
shaggy-headed wife, remarked, in tones
Of praise:
"Your raunie's beenship ut the pau
piers" (Your wife is grand at the ket-
tles-i. e., a splendid cook.
A flush of responsive qualification
leaped into the haggard old face and a
light OF human good will flashed into
her keen old eyes; but gypsy wariness
as instantly eXtinguished them both.
The gypsy himself vas upon his feet
with the auickness of a STRIPPING.
"Rufiie feck ma!n (The devil take
meD calculated the man, betrayed into
his secret language in his surprise and
alarm at hearing it from another.
'Chee." / retorted, proceeding man
fully, with the s%tirabout. "Ruffie lee
Romany chals; shan droms lur Cor
gios!" mo. Silence! May the evil
one miss gipsies; but a hard road for
the rest.)
''Querap" (Who are your he asked,
trembling with excitement, the whole
camp already astlr with the eXtraor-
binary parley.
ga been riah Gorgio chal;" "a true
man and the gipsies friend); 1 answered
earnestly, chewing the half-cooked meat
with valiant energy.
That half-crown | had given him
fairly flew back to me. All, the lever
failing sense of gypsy honor to-
ward their kind, or to IN who
has b~efriended the race, was as quick
and keen among these shrikes OF the
Irish roadside hedges, as l had
ever found it among the rich gypsy
princes of America. He had me in his
rough old arms in an instant. | could
scarcely get upon my feet and name my
country and work, before from twenty
to thirty men, women and children
were showering greetings, blessings
and caresses upon me in a most embar-
RAISING and sitting degree. 1t brought
the sunlight into their wary, hunted
faces marvelously. 1t lighted up the
ragged dingle with glorious welcoming
and friendship. In truth, for the time
ii was a spell Of lightsome goodness in
these castaways' dreary lives, that /
re verently thanked God for the power
OF trausfusing into even the momentary
consciousness Of the fewest and lowliest
that live.
For nearly a week l remaiped a mem
bar OF this band, Through their trdst
which Is absolute II given at all, their
lives and ways, and the lives and ways