ta should have been committed to the charge of such a being. A
brown handkerchief was tied over her head: from beneath it escaped a few
straggling white hairs. The eyes in her parchment-like countenance were
scarcely perceptible, while her mouth was garnished with two yellow
bones, which did the duty of teeth; her feet were encased in straw
shoes, and her entire dress was of a dark hue, obtained by age and dirt.
There was not a spot of white about her.

"`What do you want here?' she growled out, as she saw us approach.

"`To tell your fortune, dear mother,' answered Minetta, in the blandest
voice.

"`My fortune has been settled long ago, and a bad one it has been,'
answered the old woman.

"`The moon changes, and fine weather comes at last,' replied the gipsy,
smiling. `Those who are wise never mourn the past, but look to the
future. See what wonderful things this age has produced! Steamers, and
railroads, and balloons--all you have heard of, I doubt not. Even now
the world is ringing with the latest and grandest discovery, made by our
people, too. Those only who come to us can benefit by it.'

"`What is it, girl?' asked the old woman, with more animation than could
be expected.

"`What is it? What you, perchance, would like to have, if you could
afford to pay for it,' answered Minetta archly.

"`How do you know that I cannot afford to pay? Tell me what your
discovery is, and I will tell you whether I will pay for it,' croaked
out the old woman.

"`Oh, no, no; you will not trust to it,' answered Minetta. `There are
others who will value the great secret more than you; I must keep it for
them. Farewell, mother;' and taking my hand, she began to move away.

"`Stop, stop, girl; let me know what it is,' cried the old woman, her
curiosity fully excited.

"Still Minetta went on.

"`Stop, stop!' again croaked out the old woman.

"The Zingari maiden pretended to relent, and stopped.

"`Well, mother dear, perhaps you would like to try the effects of this
great discovery. Often has the attempt been made, but in vain, to give
back youth to age, to renovate the beauty which years and sickness have
destroyed. The secret has been obtained. A liquid, distilled from the
dew found on certain plants at early dawn, has that wondrous power.
Every day the effect is perceptible; the limbs become strong, the
muscles vigorous, the cheeks fill out, the roses return, the eyes grow
bright, the step elastic, the--'