Year: 1875

THE QUEEN OF THE GYPSIES.


Children OF the Forest Frightened OF by m


esting Ceremony on Account OF the


Weather.


A large number of young persons
gathered ut the gypsy encampment on
the old Cove road just beyond the Kings
county penitentiary, to attend the corona
tion of the king and queen, who recently
came from England to be the leaders of
the tribe of wanderers that every few
years spread their tents on Long Island.
There were, says the New York Sun,
only two families in the encampment
near Brooklyn, but about forty wagons
were expected from Jamaica, Hampstead,
and Flushing, and from New Jersey, and
all of these were to choose their king
and queen. Uriah Wharton, half
breed, has been king of the tribe for
many years, but short time ago he left
with his family to go off alone. He is
nearly seventy years of age, and has
been in this country twenty five years.
He gave up the leadership because he
was so old, and the gypsy families were
to meet tc attend the marriage of their
new king and queen. The husbands of
the families-the Boswells and the
Sparrows-were off trading horses.
Sparrow's wife was in the city telling
fortunes, and Mrs. Boswell was in charge
of the throng of bright, funny gypsy
children who were frolicking around on
the grass. She said that she was very
much disappointed that the other fami-
lies had not arrived, because they were
lonely.


Young Wharton, stalwart son of the
former chief, arrived early in the day,
expecting to meet the other families
there, but he supposed that they had
been kept away by the threatening rain.
Mrs. Boswell looked every inch gypsy
fortune teller. She wore long Egyptian
earrings and other antique jewelry. She
said tnat she had been seven years in
this country, and had travelled from
Maine to Georgia, and around to Illinois
and back. She pointed with pride to
her daughter Hevira, beautiful girl,
who was making bright eyes at the young
men. She wore q coral necklace, with
her name on the gold clasp, and on nearly
every finger there was o jeweled ring.
Her dress was much soiled, but her feet
were covered by bright theatrical shoes.
She was full of mischief, and was trying
to make her lover, Wharton, jealous.
She said that she liked Wharton better
than any American she ever saw. If she
married white man he must be splen-
did, handsome man, with plenty of
money, and he must have large park
with tent in it, for her to live in. CT
won't live in house." said she. CT
was five years at school at Epping
forest, near London, but loved to be
outdoors more than I did to be inside.
A number of gypsy girls were there with
me. L will never go into q city to live,
because my mother and my sisters could
not live with me. They could not stand
it. have some objections to Wharton !;
he doesn't drink, and is rich, but he will
play quoits. There he is, ut it now.
Why won't he go into his tent and read
read poetry and nice things"


The organist of DR.. Eggleston's church
and his betrothed lady friend went up to
have the expectant BRIDES fortune told.
Hevira took her behind the tent and first
said that she was very beautiful then
she told her of the line of life along the
center of her hand, and how few marks
there were on it, showing that she had
led an easy life. She would be married
soon, and to some one not far off. Then
the young miss came from behind the
ooito thitu DluShihSiy Sstiu IllhI Sue udu
been told of something that had already
happened, and, looking sweetly at the
organist, added :"a and something that
is to happen, to-" The young man
went to have his fortune told, and came
back in a sulk, while the gypsy maid tip
toed behind him, making faces, and
laughing out of her eyes. The king and
queen did not come, and some one sug-
gesied that the report was an advertising
job. Then the matron of the band said
very soberly: eff you thought there
would be grand sights, you are mistaken.
ALI we do is to gather together and Sc
lect our leaders, and then move off," A
little gypsy boy who had been busy
making nickels by playing Yankee
Doodle on his teeth by knocking his
lower jaw against the upper played a
parting tune as the visitors hurried away
to avoid the approaching rain.


On the Beach.