The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-28

into their old ways. mus one VIII
or opens with no less occasion than an
other for a stentorian evangelist. Last
winter. however, among the converts OF
5his hardened type appeared one noted
character who had never been brought
to the penitont's posture before, for how
eS or brief a season,
This was woman known as Gypsy
Ann; keen-eyed, d@ssheyeled, shrill-
voiced, half mad creature, held, as her
name betokened, in certain suspicion
md fear, and often a word in the
mouths of inert mothers to intimidatc
wilful children. She dwelt alone in re-
mote. ramshackle cabin, living mainly
on charity but earning little money
now and then by helping in the rough
work of the kitchens She had always
some special patrons They changed
however, from time TO time. for in her
moods she was apt TO quarrel with her
benefactors Among the most noted
Of them had once been Mrs Wampler
and Mrs Gears: but on some fancied
proyocation both were abruptly dis
missed from her regard as Il number OF
others had been dismissed, and neither
had had aught to do with her now for
many years. OF all her dislkes the bit
terest hitherto had been Of the churches.
At the name Of any particularly honored
member, her wont was 20 cry out, with a
wild gesture. "My hands 81 lily beside
his black heart" When, therefore, word
went abroad that Gypsy Ann had pre-
scented herself at the 'mounrer's bench
Osceoa quivered with interest through
all It's members. The high and the low,
the full-robed and the ragged were alike
excited; and at the next meeting the
swift runners after sensations thronged
the church.
The object and hope Of these intruders
were OF the yaguest but the entertain
ment they sought they found. In the
confidence That new life had begun for
her Ann seized the occasion TO renounce
her past, item by item, in the presence
OF the congregation. The remuneration
lacked somewhat OF the humility that
usually characterizes such performances;
but, aside from this, it proceeded quite
prosaically, and would have yielded no
particular relish to the curious, but that
toward the end she Observation-Disclosures
incidentally and as a matter OF no more
importance than any other she had
touched upon--that she was the demon
behind the mystery OF the holly-sprig
spoon. For not n few of her auditors
even this passage had no pungency
since the incident of the holly-sprig
spoon had befallen SO long ago as to be
far back Of their knowledge, but with
the larger number 1t was still well in
memory, and distinct murmur passed
through the house as Ann related how,
in revenge of an injury which she
thought had been done her by Mrs.
Gears, she stole the spoon, and then in
revenge of another which she thought
had been done her by Mrs. Wampler,
tucked it away" as she said, in Mrs.
Vampires turkey And / mind me to
this day." said she, what a time | had
the oven was so hot, and Mrs WampleT
gone from the kitchen only for a min
ute, and the spoon such an onhandy
shape. But, somehow, Satan let me sue
ceed--as he always let's us, if only we
try hard enough-and little / thought Of
all the trouble it would makel But, may
be, it's done some good, too. On account
of it, We might say, there's two churches
now where there was only one before
So perhaps, it'll be sOmewise forgiven
me-"
The ice in the min pond was thicker
last winter than it had been for years,
but ii cracked again and again under
tile weight of the crowd that gathered
the next Sunday to see Gypsy Ann bap-
fiZp1