Reader, I gently take you by the hand. We have met, but in the pages of this book. Yet, if you have followed us in our wanderings, we have made some sort of acquaintance. Perhaps we may meet again—perhaps not;—farewell.
CHAPTER XLIII.
So farewell,
The students’ wandering life! Sweet serenades
Sung under ladies’ Windows in the night,
And all that makes vacation beautiful!—
To you, ye cloistered shades of Alcalá,
To you, ye radiant visions of romance,
Written in books, but here surpassed by truth.
Longfellow’s Spanish Student.
ALLURING PROMISES—COMPLIMENT TO ENGLISHMEN—TRUE SKETCHES OF GIPSY LIFE—THE GIPSIES’ ORIGIN—YET A MYSTERY—ESMERALDA—NOAH AND ZACHARIA—BEFORE THE CURTAIN—THE END.
We have felt that the alluring promises of our fellow voyageurs must not be neglected. So many copies of this record of our wanderings already ordered. Even the Birmingham Bagman, of far-seeing speculative mind, had ordered two copies; this in itself would give confidence. What became of him we do not know. We trust he did not see fit to follow us, and so get lost in the Wild recesses of the Horungerne[138]. Again, much curiosity has been evinced by friends, to know the incidents of our expedition. Only a short time since, we received the following letter, from a French gentleman, who, although he has never been in England, is a devoted student of the English language. We know our friend will not be offended if we give the letter. There is so much genuineness of feeling about it, that the reader will not be surprised, if it added another reason to those mentioned:—
“I learn always English, but I am a dull learner. I not plod on, but I work on—gift comes by nature. I am steady, and I am not cast down by unsuccessfulness.
“You are upon a journey; doubtless you shall climb up some hill covered with snow, or you shall go into some country which the sun dry or dries up; or you will go into some old castle haunted by the ghosts, but you cannot light upon such buildings, amongst the Norwegians or in Australia.
“If you relate, or you give forth, which you saw, send me that writing. Write a letter, is a hard work to me, but translate, or read, is more facil.
“I am much pleased by reading the book you have presented me, I read it over. It affords illustrations of English character—daring, patience, energy, are the qualities of the Englishmen.
“I remain, &c.”