The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-12-08
FORTUNE TELLING AND THE
GYPSIES.

1t is pretty little tent made of
weather-stainedc canvas, and suggest
i've of all sorts of dense forests, and
lonely prairies. that tent in which live
the fortune telling gypsies; a strange,
pretty little tent, looking all the more
picturesque from being situated at the
head of the lake.
At night, its fire may be seen from
ever so far off, and around it, walk the
gypsies.
One thinks of the Weird Sisters in
Macbeth, as she watches the shajowy
forms go around. and round the GRIM
son faggots.
But in the day time. the scene is less
vivid.
The tent is open at both ends; and
standing in one of the entrances and
obstructing the passage. is an iron
stove with a large CRATE.
How inartistic and civilized!
At night. you though. of the gypsies
chanting charms over burning caul-
dron, and now you find the "shadowy
FORMS" were but going around and
around in Search of a saucepan or tea
kettle, and the fire that made such big
impression, was only the red Goals in the
CRATE!
But if the stove is common place.
the fortune teller herself, is handsome,
and looks just like gypsy. She is
somewhat large, with rich, dark COM
| plexion, intense brown eyes, and black,
black hair. Several chubby gypsy child
red play near the margin of the water.
They too. are good looking; that is.
they have bright eyes and very red
Hips. But the "dust of ages"covers the
roses on their cheeks. Outside of the
tent, the husband and another man Sit.
smoking, on broken down wagon.
They seem contented, and strange to
say, not in the least excited over the
fortunes which the woman is telling.
And how does she tell them?
At first, she keeps quiet, as if she
s.could look into the seeds of time and
say which grains will grow and which
will mott Then, she takes your left
hand and reads its lines; every now
and then, however, glancing at your
face. ..Can you look me in the eyes
and say you don't like brunette man
better than blonde?' she asks. You
answer you like the brunette better.
He is away from here, "she continues,
..but you will get letter from him
within week. Can you say you and
the brunette have never written?''
"No! mo. All, but the lady is laugh
ing; she jokes. You and the brunette
haze written, but a few letters, three OF
, four have been lost; rival stole them.'
, Then the lady laughs sure enough
You will marry the brunette man, y
she says. do you go with blonde
: girl, you think your friendp" s.Yes!''
"Ah. go no more with her, she is a
deadly enemy. There is money COM
ing to you.'' she continues. money
that you don't expect; present too
. You will cross water-not in trouble,
> but Joy. Your life will be happy in
!. the main part, but you will have little
sorrow; the hand says so; little sor,
row. There it is" and she points tc
the life line; the line beginning be
. tween the thumb and fore finger, and
/. reaching to the wrist. ..Yes, the lint
says sorrow; see, it is broken. the sor
row will be in early life." Now put
your thumb in the middle of YOU
t palm and say after me these words
Here follow three words IN Heather
j Chinese. or dog Latin. A'There-yo,
: shall have health. wealth and bappin
ess." And bright smile is on thu
: handsome gypsy face. Then the ex
b preston becomes pleading. s.Can'
o the kind lady give me bit Of ribbon
!, something bright and pretty. M.
poor little girl SO wants bit of rib
bon.n Poor little gtrl, poor it'll
G gypsy girl. You look at her. and de
termine to hunt up piece ribbon.
On leaving the tent, the rest of tn
party meet you.
q What did she tell you, what di'
s she tell you." they ask.
You look very mysterious and keel
most of it to yourself, and know tina
she will tell each one the same thing
{ and you know the men all laugh a
!, the humbug; that is very silly. and yo1
know it is the finest sport on earth, AM
that every time gypsy comes to tow
i lyon will have your fortune told. 70
even il you can learn palmistry out Q
: 4 book, isn't it fun 70 60 to pIa
T where the scene is well laid and th
actress good; and, where You, ycul