TOUCHSTONES OF PROSE

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14758, 30 August 1913, Page 9

TOUCHSTONES OF PROSE

A GIPSY ON LIFE AND DEATH. (George Borrow). "What is your opinion of death, Mr PetulengTo?" said I, as 1 sat down beside him. "My opinion of dqath, brother, is much the same as that in the old song of Pharaoh, which I had heard my grandam sing:— . 'Cana marel o manu3 chivioa undo puv, Ta rovel pa leete o chavo ta romi.' When a man dies, ho is cast into the earth, and his wiie and child sorrowover him. If he has neither wife nor child, then his father and mother, I suppose; and if he is quite alone in the world, why, then, he is cast into the earth, and there is an end of tho matter.' , "And do you think that is the end of ii man?" '•There is an end of him, brother, more's th<; pity." "Why do you say co?" "Life is sweet, brother." "Do you tliink so?" "Think so! There's night and day, brother, both sweet things; sun, moon, and stars, brother, ail sweet things; there's likewise a wind on the heath. Life is very sweet, brother; who would wish to die?" ''I would wish to die!" "You talk like a gorgio—which is the same as talking like a fool—were you a Romany Chal you would talk wiser. Wish to die, indeed! A Romany Chal would wish to live for ever!" ; 'ln sickness, Jasper?" "There's the sun and stars, brother." "Iv blindness. Jasper?" "There's wind on the heath, brother; if I could only feel that, I would gladly live for ever."