MY strong sympathy with the gipsies and their children would not allow of
my following the example of daisy-bank sentimental backwood gipsy
writers, whose special qualification is to flatter the gipsies with
showers of misleading twaddle to keep them in ignorance; but I have
preferred for my country’s welfare the path that has been rough, steep,
trying, and somewhat dangerous, and open to the misconception of those
little souls who look only at gipsy life through tinted or prismatic
spectacles.
I have throughout tried to give both the lights and shades of a gipsy
wanderer’s life, and must leave the result for God to work out as He may
think well.
There may be within these pages smiles for the simple, sighs for the sad,
tears for the sorrowful, joys for the joyous, ideas for the author,
simple hints for the thoughtful, problems for the inquisitive, prayers
for the prayerful, meditations for the Christian, plans of action for the
philanthropist, and suggestions for the statesman and lawgiver.
The Brickyard, Canal, and Gipsy Children—as well as my humble self—will,
as they grow up into a better state of things, ever have cause to feel
thankful for the kindly help rendered to the cause by the publications of
the various sections of the Christian Church, including the Church of
England, the Presbyterians, the Wesleyans, Congregationalists, Baptists,
Primitive Methodists, Unitarians, Methodist Free Churches, Methodist New
Connexion, Roman Catholics, The Friends, Bible Christians, The Religious
Tract Society, Christian Knowledge Society, Sunday School Union, Messrs.
Cassell, and other Publishers, the Weekly and Daily Press throughout the
country, almost without exception, together with the various editors and
other writers whose name is Legion.