The Adventures of Horace Tidwiddler, jlee smith [fastest ebook reader .txt] 📗

had he remembered that fact? He could never remember anything, was his memory getting better?
The little band of travelers followed the trail going West for several days, then they were in a mountain pass that took them higher and higher. The nights became colder and in the day time, there was a chill in the air. At night, they all went to sleep in one big pile, even Guiensenbach. When things were at their worst, the trail began to go downward and after a few days they entered a wide green valley and the weather became warmer. Trees started to appear and they were strange trees, trees that were taller than Horace had ever seen. They had leaves that were long and made up like of a bunch of green needles. The trees trunks were brown and the leaves had funny little hard brown balls all over them. Horace picked one up off the ground and tried to bite it. He almost broke a tooth. He was sure they were not good to eat. The trees became more dense and sun light began to have a hard time making the trip to the floor of the forest. The band of travelers were tired of pickle sandwiches and down to their last loaf of gingerbread. Horace had never really been hungry and he did not like the empty feeling that was gnawing at his stomach.
Late one evening, when it was getting dark and things were at their bleakest, Horace saw what might be their salvation, a campfire ahead in the night. Horace told everyone that he should approach the campsite alone so as not to frighten people who could possibly be their salvation. Everyone agreed that was a good idea. Horace approached the camp slowly, and in rather pitiful voice said, “Hello, hello the camp, may I come in?” A strong woman’s voice said, “come on in, we have been listening to you stomping through the bushes for the past thirty minutes.” Horace walked into the fire light and was startled to see over thirty people all lying and sitting around the fire. There were several wagons parked in the trees and horses tied nearby. He stammered a little, then in a loud clear voice said, “My name is Horace Tidwiddler and I am with others. We are hungry, can you help us?” An old woman looked at Horace and said, “We will share our food with you but you must play your violin for us in return.” Horace said, “Gladly, but I do not have a violin, nor can I play one.” The old woman looked at Horace for a long time then said, “Sit, eat, then we will give you food to take to your friends.” Horace said, “I would rather take my friends food first as they are very hungry. I thank you for your great generosity and I promise some day to repay you for it.” The old woman said “spoken like a true gypsy.” Horace lowered his eyes and in a small voice said, “I’m not a gypsy.” The old woman again stared at Horace for the longest time. “As you will have it”, she said. Food was placed in a basket and given to Horace. The old woman walked with him to the edge of the clearing and, in a low voice said, “Why do you deny your heritage? I know your family and I have heard you play the violin several times.” Horace had no reply to give her, he just turned and walked into the night. As the camp fire disappeared into the trees, he heard a distant voice say, “Good night Morris.”
When Horace got back with the basket of food, all the troops gathered around for the first good meal in days. Aunt Matt found she liked gypsy sausages a lot better than pickle sandwiches. Rex, T-Rex and the twins had never had gypsy flatbread but decided it was just as good as gingerbread, if not better. After their meal, all sat around the campfire till sleep overtook them. For the first time in weeks, Horace closed his eyes and was not hungry.
The next morning, just as the sun started to appear through the trees, Horace rolled over and heard, "Watch the tail." He decided Aunt Matt was just an old grouch, and not much of a morning person. He was still lying on his back when he thought about last night and how fortunate they had been to find a gypsy camp and food. "Wait a minute", he thought. "Gypsies, that's what we are looking for." Last night he was so hungry he had not even thought about anything but food. "Up, Up, everyone, we have to move, NOW!" Horace set out with all troops following close behind. He soon realized that it was much easier at night with a campfire to guide the way than when the sun was up. After a while he realized he did not know which way to go. He looked at Aunt Matt and said, "Ok, Ok, I'm lost." She flipped her tail and said, "Thought so." They all fell in behind her and again soon were headed West. After a while, they found a well traveled path through the forest. It was well concealed and Horace knew he was very lucky to be with Aunt Matt. He knew he would have never found the path without her.
It was around midday when Aunt Matt stopped, placed her right front paw to her mouth and said, "Shhhhhhh. I think I hear something. " Horace stood very still, all he could hear was a breeze high in the trees. Then after a minute, the slight sound of little bells, lots and lots of little bells. They were right ahead of Aunt Matt, just over a small hill. The band of travelers slowly peeked over the rise and saw a little woman with small silver bells sewn to the bottom of her dress. She was very old and was walking behind a small donkey. Horace could see that she held the donkey's tail in one hand and a walking stick in the other. She was talking to the donkey as they passed down the trail. Horace called out, "Hello little mother, may we approach?" "Sure", she replied, "I could use the company." Horace crawled down from Guiensenbach and walked up to the little pair. "Where are you going?", she asked. Horace replied, "in search of gypsies." "It's going to be a short trip", she replied. "I am Evangeline the Gypsy and this is my friend Donkey." "No, no, no, not just any gypsy, a gypsy man named Ulee. Do you know him?" It was at this point Horace realized something. The little woman was blind. He stammered a moment and she realized what had happened. He said, "Sorry, I did not realize you could not see." "It's ok", she said, "I did not know you could", then snickered and smiled. "No, truly", she said, "it's okay." "I just see things you can't." Horace felt better but he was still embarrassed and his cheeks turned red. Horace said, "Last night, I met a band of gypsies in this forest and they gave me food. This morning I went to return their basket and they were gone. Can you help me find them?" She said, "You can follow me if you want to. I am going to the Fall gathering of the Clan and you are welcome." "I am sure if your benefactors are gypsies, they will be there."
Horace could not believe his luck. Aunt Matt was not too happy about following a donkey with a blind woman holding on to it's tail. Horace assured her that no loss of dignity was involved. Aunt Matt said that it would be okay for a while. As daylight slowly turned to dusk, they made a strange parade as they moved through the forest and down the trail headed West.


CHAPTER SIX -NEW FRIENDS

The little band of travelers had been together for over a week when they sighted smoke from a hundred or more camp fires. The old woman said they would be at the camp site by dark. Aunt Matt and the baby geese decided they would wait at the edge of the forest while Horace was being introduced to the gathering of strangers. She felt it would be best and so did the baby geese. Rex, T-Rex, and the twins agreed that you could never tell about the eating habits of strangers. Horace told the old woman he had never seen so many people before. He was glad they were with Donkey and the old woman. As they approached the outskirts of the camp, Horace could see several hundred gypsy wagons with teams of horses, mules and oxen. They were spread out over a large field. There were small children everywhere. They were running and playing games, yelling at each other and all were having a grand time. Horace had never seen this many happy people in his life. Donkey and the little old lady led Horace to the center of the wagons where several hundred people were gathered. She said, "I am Evangeline, and I am here to see my Brother, King of the Gypsies." "This is my friend and we require lodging and food." "Will you help a poor blind woman?"
A tall gray headed man stepped forward and said, "Little sister, your brother has not arrived yet, but you and your friend are welcome to all we have. If you are hungry, you will be fed, if you are tired, you may rest in our humble dwellings. Please join our party to celebrate the end of one season and the beginning of a new one." Horace stood
by the little blind woman, touched her shoulder with his hand and under his breath said, "You didn't tell me your brother was a King." She replied, "would it have made a difference?'
Later that afternoon, Horace returned to the waiting group with more gypsy sausages and flatbread. The baby geese had located a small pond nearby and were taking their daily bath when he came back. They all sat around a small fire and discussed the days events. Horace told the gathering about the gypsies he had met and how hospitable they were. Horace said he had never been treated more kindly or graciously. He said he had been cautious at first but realized it must have been the number of people and not the people that had made him feel this way. Aunt Matt said she was always cautious of people. However, the baby geese all agreed they liked anyone with food. The night sky began to fill up with stars as they dozed off to sleep. Horace was staring at all the dark space between the stars, and just wondering, when he shut his eyes and sleep overtook him.
The next morning when Horace woke, he was dreaming about a big green bug with purple wings. He was not sure why but it made him uneasy. He was not scared, just unsettled and he did