I've been a Gipsying / or, Rambles among our Gipsies and their children in their tents and vans

by George Smith

I’VE BEEN A GIPSYING

OR
RAMBLES AMONG
OUR GIPSIES AND THEIR CHILDREN
IN THEIR TENTS AND VANS

BY
GEORGE SMITH of Coalville.

POPULAR EDITION, ILLUSTRATED.

London
T. FISHER UNWIN
26, PATERNOSTER SQUARE, E.C.
1885

All Rights Reserved.

Other Works by GEORGE SMITH of Coalville.

THE CRY OF THE CHILDREN FROM THE BRICKYARDS OF ENGLAND. Haughton & Co., Paternoster Row, London. Cloth gilt, Illustrated, 3s. 6d.

OUR CANAL POPULATION. Haughton & Co. Cloth gilt, Illustrated, 3s. 6d.

GIPSY LIFE. Haughton & Co. Cloth gilt, profusely illustrated, 5s.

CANAL ADVENTURES BY MOONLIGHT. Hodder & Stoughton. Paternoster Row, London. Cloth gilt, Illustrated, 3s. 6d.

To

THE RIGHT HON. LORD ABERDARE.
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF STANHOPE.
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF SHAFTSBURY.
THE RIGHT HON. THE MARQUIS OF TWEEDDALE.
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF ABERDEEN.
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF DERBY, K.G.
THE RIGHT HON. EARL GRANVILLE, K.G.
THE RIGHT HON. THE MARQUIS OF SALISBURY, K.G.
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF HARROWBY.
THE RIGHT HON. LORD CARRINGTON.
THE RIGHT HON. EARL CAIRNS.
THE RIGHT HON. W. E. GLADSTONE, M.P.
(First Lord of the Treasury.)
THE RIGHT HON. SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, M.P.
THE RIGHT HON. SIR WILLIAM V. HARCOURT, M.P.
THE RIGHT HON. W. E. FORSTER, M.P.
THE RIGHT HON. SIR RICHARD A. CROSS, M.P.
THE RIGHT HON. SIR CHARLES W. DILKE, M.P.
THE RIGHT HON. A. J. MUNDELLA, M.P.
THE RIGHT HON. LORD JOHN MANNERS, M.P.
THE RIGHT HON. GEN. SIR H. F. PONSONBY, K.C.B.
THE RIGHT HON. LORD RICHARD GROSVENOR, M.P.
THE RIGHT HON. LORD KENSINGTON, M.P.
THE RIGHT HON. SIR M. H. BEACH, BART., M.P.
THE RIGHT HON. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.
THE HON. LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL, M.P.
THE RIGHT HON. G. SCLATER-BOOTH, M.P.
SIR H. J. SELWIN-IBBETSON, BART., M.P.
SIR HENRY T. HOLLAND, BART., M.P.
SIR JAMES C. LAWRENCE, BART, M.P.
SIR E. A. H. LECHMERE, BART., M.P.
J. T. HIBBERT, ESQ., M.P. T. SALT, ESQ., M.P.
SAMUEL MORLEY, ESQ., M.P.
JOHN WALTER, ESQ., M.P. WILLIAM RATHBONE, ESQ., M.P.
THOMAS BURT, ESQ., M.P. ALEX. M^CARTHUR, ESQ., M.P.
COL. W. T. MAKINS, M.P.
A. PELL, ESQ., M.P. J. CORBETT, ESQ., M.P.
HENRY BROADHURST, ESQ., M.P.; AND FRANK A. BEVAN, ESQ.

My Lords and Gentlemen,—I have taken the liberty of dedicating this volume to you as being a few of the right-minded and right-hearted friends of neglected children in our midst; and also to all well-wishers of our highly favoured country, irrespective of sect, class, or party. May its voice be heard!

With the cries of the gipsy children and many prayers, I send it forth on its mission.

Very respectfully yours,
GEORGE SMITH, of Coalville.

Welton, Daventry,
Michaelmas, 1884.

“General Sir Henry F. Ponsonby has received the Queen’s commands to thank Mr. George Smith for sending the copy of his book for Her Majesty’s acceptance, which accompanied his letter.

“Privy Purse Office, Buckingham Palace,
June 20, 1883.”

“10, Downing Street, Whitehall.
May 29, 1883.

“Sir,

“I am directed by Mr. Gladstone to thank you for sending him your work entitled ‘I’ve Been a Gipsying.’

“I am Sir,
Your obedient servant,
F. Leveson Gower.

“George Smith, Esq.”

“30, St. James’s Place, S.W.
May 25, 1883.

“Dear Sir,

“Accept my best thanks for your book, which cannot fail to be most interesting, both on account of the subject and of the writer. Your good works will indeed live after you.

“I remain, faithfully yours,
Stafford H. Northcote.

“George Smith, Esq., of Coalville.”

PREFATORY NOTE.

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.