Raven, the gypsy, tells a story

Hi Everybody,
   Well its been a typical day for Raven and Romney, and as the day starts to slip away, they finish up their chores for the evening. Romney checks on the chickens one more time and gives them fresh water

Raven hangs the last of  the faith charms in the resurrection tree. This is a special tree that grows on the property.  When the sick come to see Raven , she reads from the book of the Ancient of days, speaks mysterious words while she places her hands on the person, then she consults her book of herbal remedies and mixes up the appropriate remedy. When this is finished, she always has them pick a pretty charm from the tree with the instruction that they hang it in a place where they will see it often. Then each time they look upon it, they are to say out loud; thank you I am healed.

    Today had been a very busy day for Raven and she had seen many people, so she needed to replenish the tree.

    Raven thinks that since the evenings are starting to have a mild hint of fall, that she and Romney will  have dinner out side tonight. As she prepares the evening meal on the wood stove in the garden, she begins to tell Romney a story. It's a story of a lovely young girl who had beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes.
 As Mama talks, Romney weaves a pretty flower necklace for Traveler, their horse and places it around his neck.

     Mama tells her how this lovely girl wandered into the gypsy camp one evening many years ago. It was plain to see that she was a troubled soul, for though she wore what had been beautiful clothes of quality at one time, the young girl was quite disheveled and looked as if she had been living on the streets for some time. The first day that Raven saw her hiding in the bushes, watching the camp, she went over and offered her a bowl of stew, which the young girl gobbled with gusto, Raven could easily see that she was quite hungry and probably had not eaten in some time.
   There was one more thing that was also quite plain to Raven, the young girl was with child. The girl had not spoken a single word, so Raven asked her what her name was and where she came from, but this seemed to frighten the girl and she jumped up and ran into the woods, but the next day she came back and once again Raven fed her. This continued for several days, and Raven couldn't help but notice that the girl was also in ill health and had a terrible cough. Raven started treating her, but because she was pregnant, she had to be careful about what she gave her. Pretty soon the cough was almost gone but the girl remained weak.

       Romney wanders over to the stove and sits down to listen to Mama's story.

         Well as the day's turned into weeks, Raven gradually won the girl's trust and then one day right out of the blue, the young girl spoke, she said, Isabel, my name is Isabel and she began to sob uncontrollably. Raven went over and put her arms around her and did her best to console the young girl and slowly as she began to calm down, she began to pour forth her story.
        Isabel had been a young girl of privilege, she had been born into a wealthy and prominent family. Growing up she had a typical happy childhood, but as she became a teenager and closer to marrying age, her Mama and Papa started to seek appropriate arrangements for her, then one day it was announced, her marriage was arranged, she would marry the rich and titled son of one of Papas associates. Isabel was devastated, you see she was in love with Colin, a young man who was not rich and had no title

Well she begged and pleaded, but her parents would not hear it and finally the day arrived that she was to be wedded and Isabel did the unthinkable, she defied her Papa and refused to marry the young man. Her Papa was furious and disowned her, but she didn't care because her beloved Colin was waiting for her right outside the door and they were to be married that very afternoon.

        Isabel and Colin were indeed very happy in their newly wed state, but after only a few months of wedded bliss, war broke out and then the unthinkable happened, Colin was drafted.

 Colin went off to war and it wasn't long before Isabel discovered she was with child, she was elated and wrote Colin right away to tell him the news! For months they wrote back and forth and made plans, but suddenly the letters stopped coming and Isabel got the devastating news that Colin had been killed.
        Isabel suddenly found herself alone and unable to pay rent, she tried to do odd jobs but because it was war time, most people just weren't hiring help. Isabel decided she would go home and seek help from her parents, but Isabel's Papa was a proud man and he turned her away at the door, declaring he had no daughter! She never even had a chance to tell her parents she was with child.

Isabel knew of the Gypsy camp on the outskirts of town and decided to go there, thinking maybe she could get some food and that's why she was hiding in the woods when Raven found her.

      Raven convinced Isabel to stay right there with her, as she had grown quite fond of the young girl and considered her as a friend. Well the months went by and the day finally arrived, Isabel was in labor, but it soon became clear that this was not to be an easy delivery. Isabel was in a weakened state from all the sickness she had endured and as the hours dragged on it became clear to Raven that the situation was dire. Finally the baby was delivered, but Isabel was fading and as Isabel departed this world she made Raven promise that she would take care of her baby girl. Raven assured her that no matter what, she would take care of the baby.

      Romney sat silently for a moment thinking about all Mama had told her. It was a lot for such a young girl as herself to take in, finally she speaks, Oh Mama that's such a sad story, what ever happened to Isabel's baby?

      Mama answers, well now that's a story for another time my love, right now it's time for us to eat our dinner.

 Phew- that was a long one:-)     I better go see what is going on with Celestine, I think I hear her singing Spanish songs very loudly!

Celestine what are you doing up there, please get down from there before you get hurt

Is Celestine dancing in the fountain now? What on earth is the matter with her?

   

Uhm Celestine, you and water are not the best combination.

Celestine; Oh Darling you should join me it is marvelous, we can dance, we can have a party Yes?

Celestine what is this that you've been drinking ? where did you get this? Did this come from the Gypsy's house?

Celestine: You should try some darling, it's the best lemonade I've ever drank!!

UH Celestine does Raven know you drank this?

Well no Darling, she was busy and I was very thirsty, and I did not like to interrupt her, You see?

OH CELESTINE! I better go see Raven about this right away!

     Well I asked Raven about it and she just giggled and said don't worry, it will wear off in a couple of days.....A COUPLE OF DAYS ???  Heavens to betsy!! Well I guess I better go, I have to monitor Celestine's  activities for the next couple of days! Till next time,

Love and blessings to you all,

Teresa and Celestine

P.S,
 I was awakened this morning to this

Between Celestine's spanish songs and that dog howling in my ear, I thought I was having a nightmare! ;-)

Apparently Celestine not only " borrowed " Grandpa Harts mandolin, but one of his dogs as well?

Oh Dear, I better get right over to Grandpa's house and return his belongings, I'm sure he and Grandma are frantic by now!

See Ya Later