FOR the additional illustrations in this edition I owe my best thanks to Mr. W. Weblyn, the proprietor and art editor of the _Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News_; Mr. A. Watson, the literary editor; and also to the Rev. Edward Weldon, M.A., who accompanied me on one of my visits to the gipsies to take the sketches, which appeared with an encouraging and helpful notice on March 1, 1884.
I am also much indebted to the Editor of the _Pall Mall Gazette_ for his sketch and valuable help, and also to others with kind heart and ready pen, whose names would fill a volume, for assisting me to place upon the statute book the Canal Boats Act of 1884, which will, when the whole of my plans are carried out, bring education and protection to 60,000 canal and gipsy children, with but little cost or inconvenience to the van and cabin dwellers.
SUNDAY RAMBLES AMONG THE GIPSIES UPON PUMP HILL. Gipsy Smith’s quarters—Gipsy Brown’s wigwam—What I saw _p._ 1–20 at the “Robin Hood”—Tea at Pethers’—Pethers’ trials and reception by his mother II.
RAMBLES AMONG THE GIPSIES IN EPPING FOREST. My companion “on the road”—The widow—Telling fortunes—My 20–33 reception—A youth who had taken to gipsying—A drunken lot—The Forest hotel—A gipsy hunt—Back to my lodgings III.
RAMBLES AMONG THE GIPSIES UPON WANSTEAD FLATS. The Philanthropic Institution, Southwark—Mary 39–59 Carpenter—Mr. Stevenson—Meeting with “an old fool”—A fire king—A showman’s introduction—A school teacher—A gipsy convert’s story—A flat’s row—My lodgings—Return home IV.
RAMBLES AMONG THE GIPSIES AT NORTHAMPTON. “On the road”—Upon the course—Seeds of thought—My 60–74 salutation—A gipsy drinking rum out of a coffin—A communist—A gipsy’s earnings—A gipsy child—A gipsy steam-horse owner’s tale V.
RAMBLES AMONG THE GIPSIES AT WARWICK RACES. What I saw and heard in the train—My lodgings—Germs of 75–91 thought—A race after a dog—Meeting with the gipsy Hollands and Claytons—Alfred Clayton’s trials and change for good—The death of his child—Meets with an educated youth—Clayton begins to pray—Race-goers VI.
RAMBLES AMONG THE GIPSIES AT BOUGHTON GREEN. Polls, Jims, and Sals—Drawn to the Green—_Northampton 92–121 Mercury_—Cowper’s poem—History of the Green—Spectacle lane—Gipsy murders—Rows—Captain Slash—Sights upon the Green—Gipsy dodges—My lodgings—At tea—Gipsy fight—Mine hostess sings—My bed VII.