It has been the custom of the author to have a yearly meeting of the Gipsies at his own house, which is then open to all their families. Here, early in the year 1830, those who were in the lanes and on the common near Southampton, met many of their kind and religious friends, who are interested in their happiness. The morning was agreeably spent in a religious service, conducted for their spiritual benefit; after which some attention was paid to their temporal wants. Forty-eight
of them, all nearly related to each other, who were at that time assembled in the neighbourhood to renew their family friendships, attended on this occasion, and were much pleased with the services in which they engaged. Different portions of the Scriptures were read and expounded to them, after which they had a plain and familiar address. It was a pleasure to meet these people at a throne of grace. After partaking of bread and cheese and ale, during which they conducted themselves very properly, a blanket was presented to the proprietor of each tent, a pair of stockings to every individual, and a quantity of calico for changes for the children. There were thirteen reformed Gipsies among them, who spent the rest of the day in reading the Scriptures to their brethren at their own houses.
These people expressed themselves very gratefully. One of the families, of whom the mother could read, begged a bible. Some weeks after this bible had been given, the family was visited in its tent, when this copy of the Holy Scriptures was shewn to him, who observed many of the pages doubled down to mark the passages with which the reader had been impressed. The father of the family said—“I will never rest till I can read that book through.” This poor man now attends divine service whenever he has an opportunity, although he strongly opposed, at one time, the reading of the Scriptures in his tent.
A lady, who was present at this meeting, asked one of the reformed Gipsies, how she had felt herself
on that morning? She replied—“I never was so happy;” and, after a short silence, continued—“The dinner we had last year, was much better than that we had to-day, as it was roast beef and plum-pudding; but what I heard then, of the minister’s address, was only the word of man to me; but to-day, it has been the word of God; I am sure it has.”
Although it may be feared, that to many Gipsies then present, the reading of the Scriptures, and the familiar address, were only as the words of man, yet is there reason to hope they understood it, and that they will benefit thereby.
This woman had an only surviving brother who was killed in fighting, and whose death was instantaneous. She was exceedingly distressed, and observed, in reference to this awful circumstance, “I should not have thought of his soul after death, at one time; but now I can read my Testament, I am sure that none can go to heaven but those who are born again.” And she made an observation, too, of the utmost importance, shewing the great necessity there is for the Gipsies to be taught to read. My being able to read myself, said she, has a great deal more effect upon me, than it would if another read it to me, and I could not read; for now I am sure it is in the book. She carries her Testament in her pocket when she goes a journey, and reads it to her former companions, when she meets them on the road; and if they express any wonder at the change that has taken place, she refers them to the
Scriptures as the cause, and her kind friends at Southampton, as the instruments.
The following circumstance lately occurred, and will shew the improvement that has taken place in her daughters. One of them had been sent by her mother to receive the weekly sum allowed her. On receiving the money, she said, “This is twopence too much, sir.” Being accustomed now and then to give her a few pence towards buying a Testament, she was told to keep it for that purpose. “I thank you,” said she, “I have got a Testament, now, and mother has given her’s to my next sister, since she has had a bible; and my youngest sister had a Testament given her at the Sunday School: but one of us is saving money to buy a hymn-book with; I will give her the twopence.”
This incident, trifling as it may seem to some, will not fail to gratify others, whose hearts are anxiously desirous of improving the Gipsies.