"P. S. On examining the different branches of my family, I find upwards of 200 of us in different parts of England."

This poor man, when a soldier, and in the habit of attending divine service, as a part of his duty, often heard his comrades speak of the text, on their return to the barracks. He one day made up his mind to bring home the text also, the next time he went to church. He heard with attention, and when he returned to the barracks, he said, "I've got the text now." "What is it, Stanley?" he was asked by a comrade; when he answered, "The 19th day of the month, and the 95th Psalm." When relating this to the author, he added, "I had the mortification to be laughed at by all my comrades who witnessed my ignorance." Do not many professing Christians come away from the house of God, as ignorant as this poor Gipsy? Or, if they have been taught to know and remember the text, it is all they attend to. This man's mind did not long remain in this dark state. After the above event he learned to read, and one day, taking up a Testament from the barracks' table, he read a portion of it, (for so he expressed himself.) The sublimity of the language struck his mind with astonishment, and he said, I will buy that book if I can. His comrade asked him thirteen pence halfpenny for it; and he was glad of his purchase; although the Testament was very much

torn.

The Holy Scriptures were scarce in those days, a copy of which could seldom be bought by the poor;

nor, indeed, would the word of life have been useful to them, as not one in a hundred could read.

Soon after this, he was invited to attend a Wesleyan chapel in Exeter, where a funeral sermon was to be preached by the Rev. Wm. Aver. The text was, Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his. While the minister was describing the happiness of the righteous, divine light shone upon his soul, he felt that he was not that character, and that there was no prospect of his dying happily, unless he possessed it. This sermon was the means of his conversion.

CHAP. XIV.

Interesting Particulars of the Gipsies, related by a Clergyman.

THE following account is selected from a tract published in York, in 1822, detailing several interesting visits that a Yorkshire Clergyman made to some of the camps of that wandering and neglected people. Were the author of the little book known, application would have been made to him, for permission to reprint these extracts. But it is hoped he will excuse the liberty taken, as the design is to induce other clergymen and ministers to go and do likewise. This Clergyman, having fallen in with a gang of Gipsies on the road, who were travelling to their place of encampment, addressed a young female among them, and found her not ignorant of religion. "How," said the Clergyman, "did you obtain the knowledge of religion?" "Sir," answered she, "in the depth of winter, the men-folks only travel; the women and children be longing to my family and party, always live in the town. In those seasons I have gone with some of our relatives, who live there, and are religious people, to the worship of God: in that way I have learned these things."

This was a practical comment on the text which says, The entrance of the word giveth light; it giveth

understanding to the simple.

After giving her some suitable advice, and with it his benediction, he left her; but not without hope that the seeds of grace were sown

in her heart.

He next overtook the grandmother and several of her grandchildren. She was pleased at his noticing her, and answered his enquiries with modesty and propriety. She corroborated what her daughter had said, and in her answers discovered not only an acquaintance with the general truths of the Gospel, but a feeling sense of their importance. She said, "I love to go to church, and do go now, sir, when I can; but do not always meet with the right doctrines: my prayers I offer up night and and morning, under the hedge. I hope God Almighty hears my prayers." The Clergyman observed, that sincere prayer was acceptable to God any where, equally under the hedge, as in the parlour, or in the church. When arrived at their camp, he promised them a Bible, as they had none, and directed some of the party to call at the friend's house in the neighbourhood where he was staying. Soon after his return thither, a knock was heard at the door, when it was announced, "Two Gipsies, sir, are come for a Bible." On going out, he found in the hall the young man who could read, and a younger brother, a fine boy of about fourteen years of age. The gentleman who wrote the account, adds as follows:

"Their countenances were very animated and expressive; there seemed to be a ray of heavenly brightness resting upon them; and while I gave them a

charge how to read the sacred gift, they were much affected: the boy, in particular, listened with eager attention, fixing his eyes first on me, then on the Bible. After I had inscribed their names in the title-page, they departed with my blessing; and, what is better, with the blessing of God."

At another part of the year, this Clergyman returned to the same spot where he had before been so delightfully engaged in attempting to benefit the poor Gipsies. He found out another camp, and thus writes of them.

"On my approach to the camp (where was a group of nearly naked children,) the Gipsy girls rose up, and, in a modest and respectful manner, answered my questions; while the little swarthy group of children gathered around me. To one of these girls I said, 'How is it that you bear such a wandering and exposed life?' In reply, she said, 'Sir, it is use; use is second nature.' 'But have you any religion? Do you think about God, about judgment, and eternity? Do you know how to pray?' She answered, 'I say my prayers, sir, night and morning.' I then said, can any of your people read?' 'Yes, sir,' she replied, 'one of our men that is not here, can read very well.' 'Have you a Bible among you?' 'No, sir; we should be thankful for one, sir.'

6

On leaving the camp, the Clergyman promised to call on them again, when the other part of the family should be returned from the town, where they were gone to vend their wares.

"On my return to the encampment," says he, “I