learn the fate of their companion. They seemed distracted.

On the outside of the court, seated on the ground, appeared an old woman
and a very young one, and with them two children, the eldest three years
and the other an infant but fourteen days old. The former sat by its
mother's side, alike unconscious of her bitter agonies and of her
father's despair. The old woman held the infant tenderly in her arms,
and endeavoured to comfort its weeping mother, soon to be a widow under
circumstances the most melancholy. "My dear, don't cry," said she;
"remember you have this dear little baby." Impelled by the sympathies of
pity and a sense of duty, Mr. Crabb spoke to them on the evil of sin, and
expressed his hope that the melancholy event would prove a warning to
them, and to all their people. The poor man was executed about a
fortnight after his condemnation.

Mr. Crabb being full of fire and zeal, set to work in right good earnest,
and succeeded in forming a committee at Southampton to bring about a
reformation among the Gipsies. He also enlisted the sympathy of other
earnest Christians in the work, and for a time, while the sun shone,
received encouraging signs of success, in fact, according to his little
work published in 1831, his labours were attended with blessed results
among the adult portion of the Gipsies. Owing to the wandering habits of
the Gipsies, discouragements, and his own death, the work, so far as any
organisation was concerned, came to an end. No Elisha came forward to
catch his mantle, the consequence was the Gipsies were left again to work
out their own destruction according to their own inclinations and tastes,
as they deemed best, plainly showing that voluntary efforts are very
little better than a shadow, vanishing smoke, and spent steam, to
illuminate, elevate, warm, cheer, and encourage the wandering, dark-eyed
vagabonds roving about in our midst into paths of usefulness, honesty,
and sobriety.

Thus far in this part I have feebly endeavoured to show that rigid,
stern, inflexible law and justice on the one hand, and meek, quiet, mild,
human love and mercy on the other hand, have separately failed in the
object the promoters had in view. Justice tried to exterminate the
Gipsy; mercy tried to win them over. Of the two processes I would much
prefer that of mercy. It is more pleasant to human nature to be under
its influence, and more in the character of an Englishman to deal out
mercy.