Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-25
Gypsy" SMITHS LIFE FROM BOYNOMAD TOA MAN EVANGELIST

worn in the eastern counties OF Ehsiaiu'
Gipsy says that the garment hdu
great advantage, however, the poehs,s
were large and spacious. a, b nnss oss in
trouble He was in a large plum ire
and had not only gorged himself Win lmo
fruit. but had filed his pockets as wen,
He was in a very happy frame OF him.
when the owner of the land appeared at
the foot Of the tree and extended most
messing invitation to the trespasser 70
come down and converse. Gypsy say
did not want to do 1t, but that. reaHzins
the impossibility OF remaining aoisi u p
in the branches. he finally descended he
received a Gaming which he has not ior-
gotten to this day
His First Trousers.
AS he grew older Gypsy became ambi-
tious TO own q garment better and greater
than a smock frock. He ionged TOT q
real pair of trousers. His father. ne
says, gave no enthusiastic ehcoul ase,,, IT,
to that ambition, but promised that were
his son a good boy he should nave
pair He kept his word. for one DAY ne
took a pair of his own, sliced them on az
the knee and gave them TO MS eIatea on
sprine. The father was six feet tail ana
weighed more than POO pounds. while the
son was small and thin. Consequently
the new garment was OF conslderaoiy
mora than generous proportions ihis
made no difference however. They were
genuine sure enough trousers, and they
were proudly donned and worn for
long, long time.
A few years later the great change In
his life came upon him. From a wander
ing nomad with no religion he became
converted into a deeply religious. God.
fearing youth, who soon became convinced
that II was his mission to spread the Cos.
pei among those whom 1t had not yet
reached His first contact with religion
occurred when he was about fifteen years
old His father had become disguised
with the wild life of the camp and one
Sunday he, his son and three brothers
went to the Primitive Methodist Chapel in
Fitzroy street. in Cambridge. where an
exhorter urged his congregation to come
forward and be converted. Gypsy says he
believed the minister to be aiming his re-
marks directly at him. He tried to hide
himself behind pillar in the chapel. The
minister however. pointed in his direction
and cried out He died for YOU; are
you saved?" No" cried the boy; that Is
what I want" Gypsy left the chapel
convicted sinner and few weeks later
became a converted one.
And with his own conversion came tho
overwhelming desire to convert others.
Everywhere ne went he preached. he
was as yet ignorant. He did not kno"
how 10 read or write and his mode OF ex-
preston was naturally crude. Neverthe-
less he persisted. Travelling from village
to village and from house TO house SELL
ing the baskets and clothespins wnlcn ms
father made, ne lilNdiidDiS sciiSaca H'S
bargain with a dissertation on religion
Realizing the handicap that his lack OF
education imposed upon him. he deter
mined to overcome this obstacle, and de-
voted himself to study. He obtained
three books the Bible an English die
tionary and Prof. Eadie's Biblical die
tionary all of which were given to him.
From these he learned to read. After
which he began to practice defamation.
Whenever the opportunity offered itself he
would go into a field, and there with no
other auditor than the waving grain. he
laid the foundation for the eloquence
which has since swayed SO many thou
sands.