Southampton, sent to the place where the Gipsies usually encamp, hoping
to recall some of them to a sense of their duty, but was informed that
the whole of the party had set off a few days before. Early on the
following morning, a Gipsy called at the house of this lady, and offered
to tell the fortunes of the servants. She was asked if she knew the
woman who was enquired for the preceding day? She replied, that _she was
the very person_. On hearing by whose servant she was addressed, she
became almost speechless with shame, and said, _I would rather have met
the king_. On recovering, she expressed great delight and gratitude that
she was not forgotten by the lady, and declared she had been very unhappy
since she had left Southampton, and that the sin of fortune-telling
greatly distressed her mind; but that she knew not how to support her
family without it. They had undergone many hardships. The little boys,
she said, had frequently amused themselves with trying to spell the
different things about their tent, and were often wishing for their
Southampton fire. The next morning she brought them to see their kind
benefactress. The youngest of them, a fine promising boy, both as to
talent and disposition, was overjoyed at the meeting; his little eyes
were filled with tears, and he could scarcely speak. He and his brother
were immediately provided with clothing, and sent to the School of
Industry; where, in addition to the religious instruction given them,
they were taught reading, writing, arithmetic, digging, &c. Their master
has been much pleased with their progress. The mother was afterwards
induced to stay at Brighton, being allowed a small sum weekly. She has
been taught to read by some kind friends, and many hopes are entertained
of her conversion to God. A letter has lately been received, which gives
a very interesting account of her increase in knowledge and improvement
in morals.
A very promising Gipsy youth, who was placed with a coach-maker in
Southampton, after working some time, cut his hand, and then relinquished
his employment, to wander with his father, who is a rat-catcher. But it
is hoped that he, as well as others of his brethren who have returned to
their former courses, will be brought back, or find some other desirable
and permanent abode; that what has been done by this society may not
ultimately be lost. Indeed, while writing this, I am happy to be able to
state, that the morals of this young man appear very correct, and that he
has, by constant application, learned to read tolerably well since he
left Southampton. He supports himself by selling brushes, lines, and
corks, but talks very seriously of giving up his wandering habits to
return to us again.
Among the reclaimed Gipsies are three women who were notorious
fortune-tellers, and who doubtless have done much injury to the morals of
society. They are now very promising; and there is a fair prospect of
their children being saved from much sin and misery, as they are placed
at Infants' Schools, where they are gradually acquiring useful scriptural
knowledge, and correctness of habits; in which, if they persevere, by the
grace of the Redeemer, their present and everlasting welfare will be
secured. Such examples of success amply repay the Committee for the
trouble and expense already bestowed on the Gipsies; and it is hoped its
members will be stimulated to every exertion in their power by the good
done to those in a state of reformation and improvement, that the whole
wandering race may be led into the right way.
CHAP. IX. Of the plans pursued by the Southampton Committee, and the
success which has attended them, continued.
A gipsy woman, of whose reformation we have already taken some notice,
having gone to solicit the assistance of the parish to which one of her
children belonged, met with many difficulties and troubles. She was not
at this time destitute of the knowledge of religion. She had learned to
read, and had become acquainted with the Scriptures, at an adult school,
and by attending at a place of worship; and these instructions were not
thrown away on her; for although she was frequently invited to eat and
drink in the tents of the Gipsies on her journey, she conscientiously
refused, fearing that what they were partaking of might not be honestly
obtained. She informed them that her Testament had taught her better
habits than those she had formerly known. Her children helped to keep
alive her religious impressions. They often talked to her about the
school from which she had taken them, of their lessons, and the
observations of the master and mistress, on different parts of the
Scriptures, and at other times they catechised each other on the objects
that presented themselves on the road, in the same way they had been used
to in the Infants' Schools; to which they often begged their mother to
let them return. These circumstances, she has since said, made her so
miserable that she felt she _could not live as she had done_.
Some time after this, she made a visit to a parish in which another of
her children was born, near Basingstoke. She entered the cottage of an
old couple who sold fruit, &c. Tea being proposed, the old woman
expressed her surprise that she had not seen her visitor for so long a
time, saying she was glad she was come, as she wanted her to tell her
many things, meaning future events. She mentioned a great deal that
another Gipsy woman had told her, on which the reformed one
exclaimed--_Don't believe her_, _dame_. _It is all lies_. _She knows no
more about it than you do_. _If you trust to what she says_, _you will
be deceived_. The old woman was still more surprised, and asked _how
she_, who had so often told their fortunes, and had promised them such
good luck, could be so much altered? The woman taking her Testament from
her bosom, replied, "I have learned from this blessed book, and from my
kind friends, _that all liars shall have their portion in the lake that
burneth with brimstone and fire_; and rather than tell fortunes again, I
would starve." She then opened her book and began reading a chapter,
endeavouring to explain as she read, at which her host and hostess began
to weep. She told them that though she knew she had been a great sinner,
and was one still, yet she never had felt so happy as then. The old
woman observed, that _she_ could not say _she was happy_, and wished to
know what she must do to feel happy. The Gipsy replied, you must leave
off selling on Sundays, and go to a place of worship, and learn to read
the Testament, and to pray, and _then_ you will become happy.
This poor Gipsy woman, who was so anxious to instruct those she had many
times deceived, was soon after taken sick, at which time her distress of
soul was very great; and she then said, were she to die, her _soul could
not go to heaven_.
Many were her temptations, while in great poverty, to renew the practice
of fortune-telling. Several genteel parties have visited her, and
sometimes offered her gold, tempting her to begin again the sins she had
for ever given up; but, much to her credit, she at all times resolutely
refused all such unholy gain.
At one time some very gay young women called on her, desiring to have
their fortunes told. Her Testament lay on the table, which she had but a
short time before been reading, and pointing to it, she said--_That
book_, _and that only_, _will tell your fortunes_; _for it is God's
book_; _it is his own word_. She reproved them for their sin, and said,
the Bible had told her, _all unrighteousness is sin_. They then
requested she would not tell any one that they had called upon her. She
replied--_Oh_! _you fear man more than God_!
A few days since, this reformed woman was sweeping the pavement in front
of her house, when two female servants came up, enquiring for the house
of the fortune-teller; mourning over them for their folly, she said--_My
dears_, _she cannot tell your fortunes_. _I have been a professed
fortune-teller_, _and have deceived hundreds_. She succeeded in
persuading them to go home.
At a meeting of Gipsies held at a gentleman's house, Jan. 1830, the
youngest child of this woman said to her mother, _Mammy_, _who be all
these folks_? The mother replied, _They are Gipsies_. _Was_ I _ever
like 'em_? asked the child. _Yes_, said the mother, _you was once a poor
little Gipsy without stockings and shoes_, _and glad to beg a halfpenny
of any body_. It is a circumstance not to be lamented, that the
condition even of a little child, has been so much bettered by the
exertions of the Committee.
In addition to the encouragement afforded us by this woman, giving up
with so much decision the practice of fortune-telling, the author must
not forget to mention an instance of her forbearance of temper under
provocation and outrage. She had, when a vagrant, a quarrel with some of
her ignorant people of another tribe. Meeting with them after her
reformation, she was severely beaten by them, and had her ear-drops torn
from her ears, while they contemptuously called her _Methodist_. When
asked, why she did not bring her persecutors to justice, she replied,
_How can I be forgiven_, _if I do not forgive_? _That is what my
Testament tells me_.
The young widow we have before mentioned, continued to tell fortunes for
some time after we had taken her children; but it pleased the Holy Spirit
to awaken her conscience, and to shew her the wickedness of such crimes,
by which she was led to true repentance and reformation of character.
After the death of both the children of this interesting individual, she
went into the service of a kind and pious lady in London. For this
situation she was prepared by one of equal benevolence in Southampton,
who had her for some time in her own house for that purpose. She
continued in this situation till the lady's death, and has since been in
other service, where she has conducted herself so well as to prove she is
become a sincere servant of Christ.
CHAP. X. Some Remarks on the Sin of Fortune-telling.
The author will be pardoned, he is willing to hope, by the kind reader,
if he digress in one or two paragraphs in this part of his work,
purposely to expose the great wickedness of prognostication and
fortune-telling; as the whole is not only unsound, foolish, absurd and
false, but is most peremptorily forbidden in the Scriptures.
In the law of Moses it is commanded, that there should not be found among
the people, any that used divination, or that was an observer of the
times, or that was an enchanter: Deut. xiii. 10. In the prophecies of
Malachi, the Lord has declared--_Thou shalt have no more soothsayers_:
Mal. v. 12. Balaam and Balak were cursed of the Lord of Hosts; the
former for using enchantments, and the latter for employing Balaam in
this wicked work. _Woe to them that devise iniquity_: Micah, ii. 1.
Those who employ unhappy Gipsy women, should think on the portion of the
liar; Rev. xxi. 8: for the person who tempts another to utter falsehood
by offering rewards, is equally guilty before God. _A companion of fools
shall be destroyed_: Prov. xiii. 20. _Though hand join in hand_, in sin,
_the wicked shall not go unpunished_: Prov. xvi. 5. _The destruction of
the transgressors and the sinners shall be together_: Isai. i. 28. It
may be safely affirmed that the sin of those persons, who trifle with
Gipsy women in having their fortunes told by them, nearly resembles that
of the first king of Israel; who, by consulting, in his trouble, a wicked
woman, who pretended to supernatural power, filled up the measure of
those sins, by which he lost the protection of heaven, his crown, and his
life, and by which he involved his family in the most ruinous calamity.
Reader, have you encouraged any of these people in such crimes? If you
have so far forgotten yourselves, the commands of God, and the curse that
awaits you and those who deceive themselves the same way; reflect, before
it be too late, on the evil into which you have willingly, wilfully, and
without the least reasonable excuse, fallen, and on the guilt that must
of necessity attach to your consciences thereby. Should you never meet
those you encouraged to sin in this world, and therefore never have an
opportunity of warning them of their danger, yet must you meet at the bar
of Christ; and if then loaded with the weight of the sin in question, how
awful will be your condition! Yourself and a fellow creature turned out
for ever from God, and heaven, and hope! You may find mercy _now_, if
you, by faith in the Redeemer, _seek for it_; and who can tell but if you
sincerely pray for those you led into sin, but that the mercy of which
you part take, may find out them! May it even be so, to your everlasting
comfort!
Some have supposed that this contemptible practice was first introduced
into Europe by the Gipsies: but such persons are greatly mistaken. In
the dark ages of superstition, in which this wandering people came to our
part of the world, prognostication and fortune-telling were carried on to
an infinite extent; and so enraged were the deceivers of those days
against the Gipsies, that they proclaimed they knew nothing of the _art_;
that they were deceivers and impostors.
It were well if the Gipsies were _now_ the only persons addicted to such
wickedness; but this is not the case; for it is well known that almost
every town is cursed with an astrological, magical, or slight-of-hand
fortune-teller. There are two now in Southampton; and their wretched
abodes are visited not only by vain and ignorant servants, but often by
those who belong to the higher circles, and not unfrequently by those who
drive their carriages.
To conclude this chapter, it may be safely said, that the sort of
wickedness in question, is not only forbidden in the Scriptures, and will
add much to the guilt of an impenitent death; but that it is calculated
to give us the most airy anticipations, or oppress us with the most
unreasonable despair. _Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof_; why
should we then afflict ourselves about ill-fortune in future years? If
we _seek_, as the first great object of life, _the kingdom of heaven_,
_all _[necessary] _things shall be added_. And why should we deceive
ourselves with gay and splendid expectations? _Riches make themselves
wings and soon fly away_.
CHAP. XI. Plans suggested to the pious and benevolent for promoting a
Reformation among the Gipsies.
As no event happens without a cause, so no good is accomplished without
means. It is in the power of man as an instrument, frequently to make
his fellow-creatures either happy or miserable. And it may safely be
asserted, that much of the ignorance, depravity, and consequent misery
found in the world, are occasioned by the want of a united and
persevering application of the energies of Christians, to the reformation
of the most debased classes of Society. This backwardness to perform
that which is good, with respect to our fellow men, must be accounted
for, by the want of faith in God's word, and the little influence we
allow the religion of the Saviour to have on our own hearts. It may also
be occasioned by the strong evidences we have of the corruption of human
nature, and the little good we see attend the labours of others: and we
are often likewise discouraged because our own efforts fail. On these
accounts, how often do we sigh for opportunities of doing good, whilst we
neglect the openings of Providence in little things, which would
frequently lead to the accomplishment of most important usefulness. Dr
Johnson used to say, "He who waits to do a great deal of good at once,
will never do any." Good is done by degrees. However small in
proportion the benefit which follows _individual attempts_ to do good, a
great deal may thus be accomplished by perseverance, even in the midst of
discouragements and disappointments. The first missionaries who visited
England, had to contend with all the frightful cruelties of savage life,
and the more horrid rites of Druidical worship. But now, though much
wickedness abounds in England, it is, in a religious point of view, the
paradise of the earth. May all those who wish to diffuse the genuine
influences of Christianity among the poor Gipsies, imitate the example of
the adorable Saviour, who _made himself of no reputation_, that he might
enlighten the most ignorant, and impart happiness to the most miserable.
It will not be denied that the Gipsies are capable of feeling the
influence, and appreciating the worth of the Gospel: and no one will
doubt that the earlier the plans are adopted for their improvement, the
sooner will this desirable work be accomplished.
The reader is requested to pay particular attention to the following
suggestions.
The establishment of an Institution to supply instruction to the Gipsies
by regular Ministers, or Missionaries, would be of but little use.
Indeed such a measure could scarcely be carried into effect. For the
Gipsies, beside associating in very small companies, are perpetually
driven from place to place. To supply them, therefore, with regular
instruction, a preacher would be necessary to every family; who would
condescend to their mode of life, travel when they travelled, rest when
they rested, and be content with the ground and straw for his bed, and a
blanket tent for his covering! All this would subject them to great
personal inconvenience, and at the same time be very expensive and highly
improper. Neither would it be possible for ministers to be appointed
occasionally and alternately to visit the Gipsies in different counties.
For it might often happen that, before intelligence could be forwarded to
those appointed to give them instruction, they might be removed by a
peace officer, or have set out on a journey of several miles distance.
Benevolent, zealous, and prudent persons may do much by visiting the
camps near towns; and the most suitable parts of the day for promoting
this object, are morning and evening. But the most simple and easy plans
of instruction should invariably be adopted.
To those persons who are afraid of visiting the Gipsies, lest they should
be insulted, abused, and robbed, the author may be allowed to say that
they have not the least grounds for such fears. In Scotland this fear is
quite as general among the religious people as it is in England; and in
that country the inhabitants are even afraid to prosecute them for their
depredations and crimes. In England ladies are frequently known to visit
their camps singly, when more than a mile from towns, and to sit and read
and converse with them for a considerable time, with the greatest
confidence and safety.
There is not the least prospect of doing them good, by forcing
instruction upon them. About the year 1748, the Empress Theresa
attempted the improvement of the Gipsies in Germany, by taking away, by
force, all their children of a certain age, in order to educate and
protect them; but such an unnatural and arbitrary mode of benevolence,
defeated its own object; and this is not to be wondered at: the souls of
the free resist every effort of compulsion, whether the object be good or
bad. Compulsatory instruction, therefore, would do no good among the
Gipsies. But they are easily won by kindness, and whoever wishes really
to benefit them, must convince them that this is his intention, by
patiently bearing with the unpleasing parts of their characters, and by a
willingness to lessen their distresses so far as it is in his power.
Such kindness will never be lost upon them. Nor would the author
recommend their being encouraged to live in Towns, except they are truly
desirous of leading a new life, as it is almost certain that their morals
would be greatly corrupted thereby: and they would be capable of more
extensive injury to society, should they take to their wandering habits
again.
A correspondent of a friend of the author, has just communicated the
following particulars, which prove the truth of the above remarks.
There is in the neighbourhood of Harz, at Nordausen, a colony of Gipsies,
to whom a Missionary has been sent from Berlin. His last letter speaks
very favourably of their disposition to receive the word of life. The
manner of his introduction to them was by no means likely to ensure him a
favourable reception. "Here," said the person who brought him among
them, "you have a Missionary, who is come to convert you; now mind and be
converted, or you shall go to prison." The effect this foolish speech
produced on the Gipsies may be easily imagined, and likewise how useless
it rendered the situation of the Missionary who desired to labour among
them. They took to flight whenever they saw him approach, and thus,
humanly speaking, there appeared not the least prospect of success, as
the seed of the word could not so much as be sown. But HE, who alone is
able to turn the heart, mercifully looked upon the work, and directed him
to the right means effectually to bring it about.
The Gipsies were obliged to cultivate the land on which they were
permitted to reside; but being quite ignorant of agriculture, they were
at a loss how to proceed. The missionary undertook himself to give them
advice and assistance in the work. Seeing the success that attended his
labours, they began to be much more diligent in the cultivation of their
grounds, while their confidence daily increased in their missionary, and
they became more accessible and willing to be taught. At last they asked
him for what reason the people at Berlin had sent him among them? and
when he told them, they were overpowered with gratitude, and melted into
tears. Their attachment to him and the friends who had sent him, became
stronger and stronger. In some cases, it may be true, the conquest of
their prejudices against the missionary, might proceed from the
advantages they reaped by attending to his advice; and this is much to
their credit, and is a most desirable improvement. It is hoped they will
soon be led to attend sincerely to his religious instructions.
A gentleman resident in one of the towns of Hampshire, was agreeably
surprised one sabbath morning, by seeing a number of Gipsies at public
worship; and on being induced to converse with them, was pleased to find
that they regularly attended divine service at Southampton, and other
places. He directed them to move their tents into a more commodious
situation in one of his own fields. This unusual act of kindness, which
however required no great sacrifice on his part, made so deep an
impression on the hearts of this people, as is not likely to be
forgotten: they will speak of his kindness as long as they live. This,
as well as the instances we have mentioned already in this work, and many
more which we may not notice, shew that we are not without opportunities
of observing their gratitude for those favours that have been bestowed
upon them.
They receive with willingness one of their own people, who is now a
reformed and pious character, living at Southampton, and whom we have
named in a former page. They now rejoice, too, in the assurance that a
great number of good Christians pity and love them, and are seeking to
promote their present and everlasting happiness.
It is therefore much to be wished, that committees of ladies or gentlemen
were formed in every town in the kingdom, and their attention directed to
this neglected class of British subjects. An active person might be
found in every place, to act under the sanction of such committees, who
should visit their tents, instruct them in the Scriptures, and pray with
and for them (the latter he should never neglect) by which means he would
gain their confidence, and would always be looked on as a friend. Such a
person should not be ashamed to speak kindly to them when he meets them
in the street, or on the road. Indeed at all times he should converse
with them plainly and affectionately about the great love of the
Redeemer, in coming into this our world, to suffer and die for guilty
sinners, of whom they make a number. But all the labour should not be
confined to one person. Every member of these committees should be alive
to this good work; as also all Christians, and especially ministers.
But should there not be sufficient energy and benevolence in all towns to
form a committee, two or three who are well disposed to the object, may
unite together and accomplish a great deal. And should there not be
found more than one person thus benevolently disposed, let not that one
be discouraged. The single talent must not be neglected, should it be
only the power to give a cup of cold water, or to speak one word about
the water of life to a necessitous and perishing Gipsy; for it may not,
cannot be in vain. Reader, are you doing what you can in this humble
way? It may be, you would rather ascend the pulpit and preach to
well-informed Christians, or visit the ignorant in your own town! This
is well; but the other should not be left undone. The wanderers in the
wilderness are not to be forgotten; the outcasts of society are to be
sought after. Let us imitate our adorable Redeemer, _who went about
doing good_, and who sought those who were not the least desirous of
finding him. As an encouragement to British Christians, who are alive to
the happiness of the Gipsies, they should know that there are many among
them desirous of a new mode of life, as will appear by an application
lately made to the author.
"_Bristol_, _Oct._ 11_th_, 1830.
"My dear Sir,