seventeen years old. In addition to this wretchedness,
the smaller children were nearly naked. The youngest was squatted on the
ground, her little feet and legs bare, and gnawing a frozen turnip, which
had been stolen from an adjoining field. None of them had tasted bread
for more than a day. The moment they saw their visitor, the little ones
repeatedly shouted, "Here is the _gemman come for us_!" Some money was
given to the oldest sister to buy bread with, at which their joy was
greatly increased. Straw was also provided for them to sleep on, four
were measured for clothes, and, after a few days, they were placed under
the care of one of our reformed Gipsies. The youngest child died,
however, a short time after, in consequence of having been so neglected
in infancy.

The children were cleanly washed and newly clothed, before they were
removed from the common. Perhaps they had never been thoroughly washed
before. The oldest sister would not give up her wandering habits; and
the oldest boy chose to go back to the camp again; so that the Committee
had soon only three of them in charge. And these were so filthy in their
habits for a long time, that it was very disagreeable to be near them.
It is hoped that, though they have lost their earthly parents, they may
be led, through this event, to God their heavenly Father. These children
were soon baptized, and two of them are improving at one of the Infants'
Schools.

A short account of their parents may not be out of place here. The
mother was a great fortune-teller and swindler. She once robbed a poor
shepherd in Dorsetshire of twenty pounds, by promising to fill his box
with money. Their father was a most depraved character. Their life and
practices are well described in the language of the Apostle, _Let us eat
and drink_, _for to morrow we die_. 1 Cor. xv. 32. The man was the
buffoon of their company, and became more depraved every year. They
often had a great deal of money, which was, no doubt, obtained through
dishonest means. On one occasion, he and many other Gipsies, entered the
parlour of a small public house on the borders of Hants, when emptying
the contents of a dirty purse into an half-pint cup, he nearly filled it
with sovereigns; and declared, they would not leave the house, till they
had spent it all. His wife, at this time, who was intoxicated, was
robbed of all the money she had got from the poor credulous shepherd,
excepting one pound.