I read a book recently about a caravan of gypsies. I have not thought about gypsies for many years, but when I was growing up, you could count on a band of them coming through the country every year. They told fortunes and sold cheap jewelry and trinkets.

You do not hear the work ‘trinket’ anymore, so I check the dictionary to verify the meaning. It is defined as a small ornament, piece of jewelry, a trifle or a toy.

I just remember those caravans as being two or more covered wagons pulled by small horses, with pots, pans and all kinds of tools hanging on the wagons and the wagons traveled together on the roads. The people were dark and colorfully dressed. The women’s clothing was long and they wore dangling earrings, many rings and necklaces. Our parents always cautioned us to never talk with them alone or take anything from them unless an adult was present.

Our farm was located about one half mile south of town on a section line road. A creek with a wide sandy bed ran through our farm and was a favorite playground for us. We would build sand castles and roads. There was a large mulberry tree, which provided plenty of shade and in the spring, plenty of red juicy mulberries. Hickory and pecan trees provided nuts in the fall. So in addition to this being a favorite place for us to hang out, it was also a good camping site for the gypsy caravans.

One spring day, several of the neighborhood kids and my sister and I were playing in the creek bed when a band of gypsies came by. Since there were several of us together, we were not scared when they stopped to talk. However, shortly after they went on down the road, we discovered that my sister was missing. We ran to the house about two blocks away, screaming that the gypsies had kidnapped her. My dad was working nearby and mother said for us to ran and get him. She called neighbors who lived down the road and told them that the caravan had taken my sister. My dad cut out across the fields and caught up with the gypsies. There was some excitement for a while, but my sister was returned home safe. She was a very beautiful child with long black curls and very pale skin. We always told her they wanted her because she was so pretty and that they liked pretty things.

I have not seen a gypsy caravan for years. Do they ride in cars and trucks now? Are they still around?