The Gypsy and His Lamb

When my Grandmother Esther married Theodore Glomb, life had it's peeks and valleys. Ted was given a series of vaccinations in the Army that had irretrievable weekend his heart. They were no longer able to work on the farm and needed to find a job that would not be as strenuous due to his preexisting conditions.
The small town of Deary offered a few possibilities. Ted applied for a job at the Deary Mercantile and saved every penny he could with out jeopardizing his family. Ted had a vision of opening a Confectionery where they could sell candy, soda's, ice cream, and have a small place for those who would like to informally dine.
It was not long before the opportunity arose for him to leave the Mercantile and open up The Deary Confectionery. It was right on the corner of Eighth Street which was the center of town. In just a short time Ted and Esther were established and customers would stroll in to browse and dine. The candy could be viewed through the plated glass counter or you could sit up high on one of the tall stools to taste a mouthwatering ice cream soda. There were two booths for serving soup and sandwiches that Grandma Esther would be busily preparing in the back kitchen.
There was always the regulars because Deary was a small town. On occasion there would be quite a stir when the Gypsy's would come to town. The little children would run for their life and hide as the Gypsy's were known for their fortunetelling,wild parties and steeling. It was rumored that they would steel children. The very sound of the word Gypsy would change the atmosphere of an entire town.
It was not unheard of for some of the Gypsy's to enter the Confectionery. Ted would be watchful but always treated them with respect. One day a Gypsy entered the store with a white lamb draped over his shoulders. Marian remembers it well as the tall, dark, mysterious man held the lambs front legs with with one hand the the back feet with the other. Teds little girl Marian peeked around the corner from the back room adjacent to the large walk in freezer. The Gypsy spotted her and asked Ted's permission to give the little lamb to his daughter. Ted glanced at his little Marian and nodded to the tall unshaven man with acceptance. Marian was excited by the news but to frightened to greet the Gypsy any further.
It was almost closing time so Ted took Marian and her lamb and set out for a long hike down the railroad tracks to Swan and Emma's farm. Emma was delighted to see them and their new woolen companion. Emma raised the lamb for Marian and later sold it and received five dollars. She opened a bank account for her special granddaughter, that was the first five dollars Marian had ever received.
C.A. Bresin

Gypsy's are members of nomadic people who usually travel in small caravans. The Gypsy's scattered throughout Europe and North America, who maintain a nomadic way of life in industrialized societies. The Gypsy's migrated from NW India from about the 9th century onwards. Any member of a people originating in northern India but now living worldwide, principally in Europe. Most speak Romany in addition to the local language. It is thought that Roma groups left India in successive migrations, reaching western Europe by the 15th century. In the 20th century they spread to North and South America and Australia. Because of their often nomadic and marginalized lives, population figures are largely guesswork; estimates in the early 21st century range from two to three million. They have often been persecuted and harassed; the Nazis killed about 400,000 Roma in extermination camps. How many Roma retain a nomadic lifestyle is unclear, but those that migrate do so at least seasonally along patterned routes that ignore national boundaries. They pursue occupations compatible with a nomadic life. In the past they were often livestock traders, tinkers, fortune-tellers, and entertainers; today they are often car mechanics, auto-body repairmen, and workers in traveling circuses and amusement parks. Confederations of 10–100 families elect chieftains for life, but their title is not heritable. Women are organized as a group within the confederation and represented by a senior woman. Modern Roma culture faces erosion from urban influences; integrated housing, economic independence, and intermarriage with non-Roma have weakened Roma law.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Gypsey

Romania Reborn Imagine a small child left alone in the world, abandoned without anyone to nurture, love, teach, or provide. This is the reality for far too many Gypsey children in today's Romania. Other children live in their families but face a daunting future of poverty, hardship and neglect. We're committed to changing that.
http://romania-reborn.org/