Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-03-01
ALICE
AND THE
GYPSIES
20 by d. J. walsh.)

| T/ICK-KICK-KICK went the ted
der down the long swath. Alice
| IN Potter looked with satisfaction
at her work, a whole field of
| grass curing In the hot sun. Her dark
eyes sparkled as she estimated the
value Of the crop. Next winter. when
the mows of their neighbors were
dwindllng, the hay stored in their
barn would bring good price. In
fact, her winters tuition at Gardner
high lay at this moment before her.
The Potter family, consisting of six
persons, was accomplishing what It
had been predicted It could never do
make living on the small farm be-
side the creek. Being without excep-
tion strong and healthy. they were
willing and able workers. David.
Alice's brother, managed the farm,
while their father. who had been a
carpenter before he turned to the
soil, worked at such Jobs as he could
find to do. At present Mr.. Potter was
building barn for a farmer, there
fore the entire work of haying fell
upon David and Alice The twins,
julia and John, were, of course, too
young to lend much assistance.
CHANGING in David's direction, Alice
saw, to her surprise, that he who sell
| dom wasted moment was leaning
on his pitchfork staring at something
in the distance. From her seat on the
tedder Alice turned to look in the
same direction. Down the road came
a queer prOcession-h either led
or drawing rattIe-trnp vehicles from
which pots and pals dangled and jan.
gled. Every wagon was full Of brown
skinned men, women and children clad
In colorful garments Of red and vel.
low.
The leading wagon paused and from
1t a man leaped.
"AlIcel" The twins came racing
down the field, their golden heads
cleaning In the sunlight. do you
see the gypslesT painted Julia. '"They
stopped up at the house and asked II
they might tent here. Mother said
they must ask David VIII he LET
them, do you thlnkf"
Before Alice could reply the chief
of the gypsies had reached the spot
He was tall and swarthy with rings
in his ears but rather picturesque in
his wide-brimmed hat and brown
cordurOys
"You let my people camp here by
water2" he inquired anxiously.
"No, I guess you better move on.
David answered ungraciously.
Everybody say the Move
on" he exclaimed. He made expires
sive gestures ~ ask here, there
everywhere-'Move on they tell me
can go no farther. We have very
sick child with u.s. We must stop"
"a sick childW said Alice sympa
thetically. "Oh. David. please don't
refuse himi"
David flung his sister vexed look
Finding encouragement in AIice's
words the chief turned to her.
"We make no trouble, MISS My
people very honest people," he plead
1 ed.
"YOu can go through the lane there
and camp by the creek" David said
| grudglngly Then, after earnest thanks,
'"1 ',"" """y' a' seA
should understand the ways Of gyp-
1S w. 800 o So ~ . NM" .n a'' 49, IVY.
finds that tribe on our premises he
WI De p,ope' nnstS ivu Gun uaAe
ene o'a you "uu nep. sun
"oul' "e'.' "a'e '"ous"' Vi e''ins
''o,' sup nel
nus ,ep'o,eu nl,ee was Si'en.' az
..auy '"e po's "os "inulns
.,o!sn NC '' " '"e p,".e uesis.
"a'eu W 800. ~ s"ol, ,i'e .ne
guee' p"te , len.S were pllcheu' the
no'seS ,eeuins' ca"p nre sehuing up
llS sinoAe "nu "onlen "asl'y "ashihs
s"ti"en'' III e"e eieeA.
Al dinner DaViu cohtihueu 10 grum'
Die "oou. hices interference IN tne
,hatie, Vi s'pSles' onu ueeiueu' mere
tore' 10 see LOT herseii "he'her mere
was a SICK chiid I'D the camp. hurry
ing through the meal she plucked
Dig bunch OF nasturtiums from her
hover plot ana stole away 10 the
creek
The welcome she received was IN
mistakably cordial. the women crowd
ed around her with smiles and the
children, cllnging 10 their mothers
full, swaylng skirts stared at her In
shy wonder. Alice could not under
stand word OF their argot and ap-
parently her English was almost as
uulufaIli Oihlo IN them Sill she modp