The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-08
Friendship for Children q Pass
port to the Good Graces Of
Parents.
Pure Loves and Lives of Gypsy Men and
Women-sound Babies and Rug
ged Children.

ago people were the little folks; 0nQs AZ
first, recall many an instance where tho
confidence and trust 80 earnestly sought
from their elders was largely, if not wholly,
the result Of the confidence and liking I
was enabled TO awaken in tho little waits Of
the camp. Indeed, can well date my Sc
cure place in the hearts of the Romany folk
to their interesting logic about that very
matter, and also the fact that got along
famously with their horses and dogs, aswell
as with their children; for it is universal
Gypsy notion that the instinct of children
aud animals is unfailing and true.
In 1868 I was lettering about large
Gypsy camp located in the woods on the
beautiful shores of Lake Michigan, about
mile north of the Northwestern university
grounds at Evanston, Illinois. Ny object
was a literary one, wholly. I felt drawn
to these people; endeavored to give that
feeling acceptable expression; but, while
they were civil enough in a general way,
wall of distrust between US. talked plainly
with one or two of the leading men and a
few of the old spae-wives about it. Their
responses were inexpressibly sodden and
disappointing. Then began on the young
men and children: l assisted the former in
Hl4 ANu0I Va A4oAA0k U0bASs Auo A1uClHhA
of these was cleaning the animals, and
the lake. A passing snorting tug
had SO frightened the horses that despite
all the efforts of the Gipsies the ami
mails would neither drink from nor per-
I thought my chance was here; for as
boy on the farm, and as an artillery pos
tillion in the army, had swum horses in
lakes and rivers as often as any Gypsy of
my age; and I succeeded at the Evanston
camp by simply inducing one of the horses,
and the next day it seemed to have forgot
ten it's fright, while all it's companions fol
lowed us into the lake as nicely as a flock
of sheep will crowd over fence opening
after bell-weather. That evening I was
honored by an invitation to stay all night
tinker. The next day had small cart
load of toys in the hands of the delighted
children, and a genuine rope-swing for
them underneath rhe great elm trees. Ny
reward for this was tent with the son Of
the chief. The next day the chief himself
invited me to supper with his family, and
genuine silverware, dug out of the dingy
recesses of shadowy wagon-beds, assisted in
the resplendence Of the occasion. After the
meal the chief took me out for saunter
along the rippling shore, and, final.
with profuse though hating apologies, a e1.
planned with many fine Gypsy presentations
why as a race they must put no trust in the
white blood, but, that in my case, 'w'ere
hever an OwsOmdever hus comes up VII ye,
any time an oft, hus'n allus gle We odd
fagot an a hextra sup for Welcome" He
added as if to clear himself from error and
fortify himself against accusation of disloy-
atty to his own, Illus AS no learnin' VII
books; but Gipsies as hus is, it the chauvies
(children) an the dngals ldogs) an gryes
lhorsesl takes kindly to the Gorgio mon
Gipsy) hus minds no longer 'owsomdever
as he comes an goes!'
This little lesson was never forgotten;
and though many, many years ago my stand
ing was so we'll assured in Gypsy camps that
effort on this line was unnecessary, have
never ceased to go literally loaded for little
Gipsies. And what brave welcome do
ohall'-''Gorgio chalv' (TLe Gipsies
friendly il the merry sound that rings in
my ears as they scamper from tent, wagon,
covert and copse, with vociferous greetings
and expectant shouts; for, bless them, they
all know that every swarthy mite of thing
bearing term is mine by hill and in dale:
by the meadow path where we gather the
buttercups and daisies; by shaded hooks
where we fish in the clear waters of melod-
ous streams; in deep wood covert where
We find the lac-like fern; in sunny hillside
pQ0ulukb Wuclc pOkCpAoI VIC RNIb GQ6 lone
grass and find, where their real owners
never found. red, ripe strawberries in
nyriads to take back to camp in rush
woven baskets of our own making: bv
hazel copses, when the first frost-fires
iane across the land, and the dainty
nuts as brown as my little friends
aces are dropping, from their wrinkled
|heaths; in the odorus woods where we
FATHER the fir and the tasseled spruce for
enewing the beds of the camp; and then,
morning, noon and night, in our orgies
With the dogs. at all manner of games, in
he swings of vine-branches or patched
Gather straps and ropes, indeed at all sorts
innocent mischief, of which am more
han once the willing victim, until often
lines the old folks hustle us all from sight:
nd again, and quainter and sweeter than
II, when the shadows fall softly upon the
amp-side and the cressets. or tent-fires
are, in the songs they have taught me and
ongs have taught them; or, firing of
hess, when the "stories'' must be told. and
rack my brain for tales of sea and land
hat will make their dark eyes glisten and
pen, until the night and sleep shut
10 chal'' can do. But that term of
ndearment follows out into the other
orld Of labor, struggle, endeavor; it pur-
mes into the haunts of men where life
ages and activities roar; it calls from
irving and winning, from race and place,
8 the sweetest OF nome. sounds to me. 1t
pines across the hills and meadows when
10 pen is tired and the brain weary. Cor
10 chal!''-'Gorgio chalv' All, it is as the
bund of summer melodies, of singing
irds, of falling waters, to him who all but
ANTS in the whitening city ways. It calls
me even IN dreams. There is surely the
ipsy faint in my blood, or am become
ipsy altogether; and would not resist if
could. So, like some Kris Kringle OF
tnlmer time, away I 60, if all else fail,
lille
All my heart seeks Natures ways,
All my sOnl goes Gipsying
Through the radiant tents of Spring.
hd scores of little brown Gipsy bows race
themeeting, and ''GorRio chair
10 chal"' rings from a score of bird-like
roats, until the thrill of it all dims my
les IN my triumphant way over which
jesse little ones lead me to the ever-welcom-
& Gypsy camp.
When one has earnestly studied Gipsy
ildren, he has gained deep knowledge
the home ways and practices of the en-
&c Gypsy race. Beginning the subject be-
nd the little ones, the extraordinary phy-
al temperance and virtue of the Gipsy
ust be considered. A certain kind of lit
nture is full of romantic incidents based
on the irregularities of Gypsy female
aracter. One and all they are CONSCIENCE
IS lbels upon the purest race that exists.
lille Gipsies are without law, as We know
no people live who more rigs,ously fol-
=. In fact and to the ultimate of spirit,
highest and purest code of
ysical and moral observance. They
isersally revere the marriage rela-