The Gypsy's Blessing

The Gypsy's Blessing

1940

It was a hot Saturday, in the middle of summer.  All of the windows and doors were open, lest a wayward breeze should come along.  Wiping the sweat from her forehead, my great grandmother Hughes checked on the pie, baking in the oven.

She straightened up from the stove and turned to the kitchen door as she heard a call and  a knock.

"Hello!" came the call the old lady at the entrance.  Great-grandma gasped and took a step back.  There in the door stood an old, thin lady, with gray, string hair, dressed all in black.  Strange to say, even though she was dressed in the bulky clothes of the day, and black at that, she did not sweat a drop.

Grandma realized she probably seemed rude, just standing there, and staring, mentally shook herself and said, "Please, come in.  Come in!"

The old lady laughed and said "Why, thank you.  Something smells wonderful."

Grandma smiled, "I am just baking a pie.  My daughter and son-in-law are visiting tomorrow, and he does love a piece of pie.  Would you like a drink of water, or glass of milk?"

The old lady smiled back "Some water would be nice, thank you."

As she went to the bucket to get the old lady some water, Grandma asked, "I'm sorry but have we met before?"

"No, no.  I am just traveling through with some of my family.  We are stopping at some of the houses to see if anyone would be interested in some of the items we have to sell."

Grandma realized that she must be a member of one of the traveling families of gypsies that travelled through the area occasionally.  To be neighborly she asked "Would you like anything to eat.  I'd be happy to fix you something."

"Why, no, but thank you.  You are most kind.  I have some pins, needles, ribbons and such if you are interested, though."

My great-grandmother smiled and said no, she already had all she needed.  Truth be told, in the backwoods of Kentucky, of 1940 there was little money to be had.  Every penny was dear.

"Well could you use a charm?  Something to ward of evil, perhaps?"

Grandma laughed, "If evil comes around here, I'll have a twelve gauge waiting for it."  She was Davy Crockett's first cousin, twice removed, and she wasn't kidding.

"I might be interested in something to help a barren woman conceive; but I know of nothing for that!"

The stranger looked at her and asked, "Who would this be for?"

"My daughter has been trying to have children for years.  Nothing has worked."

My grandparents, Dave Miller and Hazel Hughes, had married in 1934.  They were both from the hills of Casey County, Kentucky.  He was twenty-three, a crack shot and an avid hunter; she was seventeen, and as good a shot as he.  They were both fiery, hot-tempered, and very much in love.  This was a time when people married young and had many children. 

They had visited the local doctors and tried every home remedy, but nothing helped.  Grandma just could not become pregnant.  After six years, they had come to believe, they just could not have children.

The gypsy lady looked at her and said "Let me see." 

She walked back to the door, where she a left a bag, when entering.  She picked it up, and rumaged through it for a while.  "Ah, yes.  I thought so." 

She pulled a sealed bladder from the bag.  She gave it to Great-grandma Hughes and said

"Place this under her bed for one month.  At the end of that time bury the pouch.  After that, God willing she should conceive."

Grandma looked at her, unbelieving.  "How much do you want, and how do I know that it will work?" 

The old lady said, "If it works, pay me what you can, when next we meet.  If not, it costs you nothing."

Grandma stood there, thinking.  What did she have to lose?  "All right, thank you/"

When Great-grandma gave the poultice to my grandparents, they were less than thrilled.  They had tried everything and were not ready for another disappointment.

She insisted, however, so her daughter took the poultice inside, got down on her knees and placed it under their bed.  She stood up dusted her skirt and went outside to join the others, enjoying the evening breeze.

Thirty-one days later Great-grandma came back over.  "Have you buried the gypsy's poultice?' she asked.

My grandfather laughed, "No, we forgot about it."

"Well, let's go do it now." and she led them to get a shovel.

The next day my grandmother started having severe stomach cramps.  The doctor came over and gave her something to try to help.  After two days of pain and nausea, she passed what she described as a large grayish black tumor.  She was sick for several days after.

A few months later she discovered she was pregnant.  In due time, she delivered my mother.  Over the next eighteen years, my grandparents had a total of eight, healthy, children.

My great-grandmother looked for the gypsy woman, but she never returned.

Was it something in the poultice, a miracle, or simply nature taking a hand?  I don't know, but I am glad that when the old gypsy lady stopped by, my grandmother was kind to her.