Читать книгу I've been a Gipsying. Rambles among our Gipsies and their children in their tents and vans онлайн

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When I was invited, my friend Pether said: “You could not mistake the house. Over the door it reads, ‘J. Pether, the Ratcatcher and Butcher.’ If you ask any one in Loughton for ‘Scarecrow,’ ‘Poshcard,’ ‘Shovecard,’ or ‘Jack Scare,’ they will direct you to my house. I am known for miles round.” Of course I had no difficulty in finding my friend, with so many names and titles. On arriving at the door my big friend came hobbling along to open it. If my little hand had been a rough, big, cocoa-nut that he had been going to “shie” with vengeance at somebody’s head, he could not have given it a firmer grip. Fortunately he did not break any bones in it. I had not been long seated upon the bench before his “poorly” wife came downstairs. The best cups and saucers were set on a coverless table, and the cake, which was a little too rich, was placed thereon. By the side of the fireplace upon the floor was their poor crippled son of about sixteen years, who had lost the use of his arms and legs, but had retained his senses. Tea was handed out to us, and I did fairly well. I enjoyed the tea, although I felt pained and sorrowful to see a sharp youth confined at home under such sad circumstances. They did their best to make me happy and comfortable. At our table sat one of Mr. Pether’s sons, who was in the militia. He had a kindly word for almost everybody in the regiment to which he belonged, especially for the Duke of Connaught, who had a kindly word for him. The Duke asked him one day if he would like to join the Line, to which young Pether said “No.” “The Duke is a gentleman, and pleases everybody,” said Pether, the young militiaman. “Verily, this is a truth spoken by a gipsy soldier,” I said to Pether senior. “Yes, governor,” said Mr. Pether; “and the Queen is a good woman, too.” To which I replied, “There could not be a better; she is the best Queen that England ever saw.” This brought a smile upon their faces over our hot gipsy tea.