GOODY TWO-SHOES
A FACSIMILE REPRODUCTION
OF THE
EDITION OF 1766
_WITH AN INTRODUCTION_
BY
CHARLES WELSH
GRIFFITH & FARRAN
_Successors to Newbery & Harris_
WEST CORNER OF ST PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON
1881
INTRODUCTION.
* * * * *
In _The London Chronicle_ for December 19--January 1, 1765--the
following advertisement appeared:--
"The Philosophers, Politicians, Necromancers, and the Learned in every
Faculty are desired to observe that on the 1st of January, being New
Year's Day (Oh, that we may all lead new Lives!), Mr Newbery intends
to publish the following important volumes, bound and gilt, and hereby
invites all his little friends who are good to call for them at the
Bible and Sun, in St Paul's Churchyard: but those who are naughty are
to have none.
"1. The Renowned History of Giles Gingerbread: a little boy who lived
upon learning.
"2. The Easter Gift; or the way to be good; a book much wanted.
"3. The Whitsuntide Gift: or the way to be happy; a book very necessary
for all families.
"4. The Valentine Gift: or how to behave with honour, integrity, and
humanity: very useful with a Trading Nation.
"5. The Fairing: or a golden present for children. In which they can
see all the fun of the fair, and at home be as happy as if they were
there, a Book of great consequence to all whom it may concern.'
"We are also desired to give notice that there is in the Press, and
speedily will be published either by subscription or otherwise, as the
Public shall please to determine, The History of Little Goody Two
Shoes, otherwise called Margery Two Shoes. Printed and sold at The
Bible and Sun in St Paul's Churchyard, where may be had all Mr
Newbery's little books for the children and youth of these kingdoms
and the colonies. New Editions of those which were out of print are
now republished.
"The publication of the Lilliputian System of Politics is postponed
till the meeting of Parliament. This work, which will be replete with
cuts and characters, is not intended to exalt or depress any
particular country, to support the pride of any particular family, or
to feed the folly of any particular party, but to stimulate the mind
to virtue, to promote universal benevolence, to make mankind happy.
Those who would know more of the matter may enquire of Mr Newbery."
This quaint and curious announcement, with its sly humour and serious
playfulness, is characteristic of the house of John Newbery, in the
latter part of the last century; and there is no need to speak here of
the fame of the books for children which he published; "the
philanthropic publisher of St Paul's Churchyard," as Goldsmith calls
him, conferred inestimable benefits upon thousands of little folk, of
both high and low estate. It is said of Southey when a child that
"The well-known publishers of "Goody Two Shoes," "Giles Gingerbread,"
and other such delectable histories, in sixpenny books for children,
splendidly bound in the flowered and gilt Dutch paper of former days,
sent him twenty such volumes, and laid the foundation of a love of
books which grew with the child's growth, and did not cease even when
the vacant mind and eye could only gaze in piteous, though blissful
imbecility upon the things they loved."[A]
Many of these little books have been doubtless long since forgotten,
though they did not deserve such a fate; but the name of "Goody Two
Shoes" is still familiar to the ears of English children, though the
book itself may be unknown to thousands of little ones of this later
generation.
"Goody Two Shoes" was published in April 1765, and few nursery books
have had a wider circulation, or have retained their position so long.
The number of editions that have been published both in England and
America is legion, and it has appeared in mutilated versions under the
auspices of numerous publishing houses in London and the provinces,
although of late years there have been no new issues. Even in 1802,
Charles Lamb in writing to Coleridge, said--
""Goody Two Shoes" is almost out of print. Mrs Barbauld's stuff has
banished all the old classics of the nursery, and the shopman at
Newbery's hardly deigned to reach them off an old exploded corner of
a shelf, when Mary asked for them. Mrs Barbauld's and Mrs Trimmer's
nonsense lay in piles about. Knowledge, insignificant and vapid as Mrs
Barbauld's books convey, it seems must come to a child in the shape of
knowledge; and his empty noddle must be turned with conceit of his own
powers when he has learnt that a horse is an animal, and Billy is
better than a horse, and such like, instead of that beautiful interest
in wild tales, which made the child a man, while all the time he
suspected himself to be no bigger than a child. Science has succeeded
to poetry no less in the little walks of children than with men. Is
there no possibility of averting this sore evil? Think what you would
have been now, if instead of being fed with tales and old wives'
fables in childhood, you had been crammed with geography and natural
history!
"Hang them!--I mean the cursed Barbauld crew, those blights and blasts
of all that is human in man and child."[B]
There must, however, be many parents still living who remember the
delight that the little story gave them in their younger days, and
they will, no doubt, be pleased to see it once more in the form which
was then so familiar to them. The children of to-day, too, will look
on it with some curiosity, on account of the fact that it is one of
the oldest of our nursery tales, and amused and edified their
grand-parents and great grand-parents when they were children, while
they cannot fail to be attracted by its simple, pretty, and
interesting story.
* * * * *
The question of the authorship of the book is still an unsettled one.
It was at one time commonly attributed to Oliver Goldsmith, and no one
who reads the book will consider it to be unworthy of the poet's pen.
We find, however, in Nichol's Literary Anecdotes, that
"It is not perhaps generally known that to Mr Griffith Jones, and a
brother of his, Mr Giles Jones, in conjunction with Mr John Newbery,
the public are indebted for the origin of those numerous and popular
little books for the amusement and instruction of children which have
been ever since received with universal approbation. The Lilliputian
histories of Goody Two Shoes, Giles Gingerbread, Tommy Trip, &c., &c.,
are remarkable proofs of the benevolent minds of the projectors of
this plan of instruction, and respectable instances of the
accommodation of superior talents to the feeble intellects of
infantine felicity."
Mr Giles Jones was the grandfather of the late Mr Winter Jones,
formerly the Principal Librarian of the British Museum, and the book
is attributed to the first-named gentleman in the catalogue of the
British Museum. It is claimed also that the book offers internal
evidence in support of Mr Giles Jones' authorship, inasmuch as Goody
Two Shoes becomes Lady Jones, and one of the prominent families in the
book is also named Jones.
Beyond this, however, there appears to be no evidence as to Mr Giles
Jones being the writer, and I think something may be said as to the
claim on behalf of the poet Goldsmith, although I am by no means
anxious that the honour of having written it should be ascribed either
to the one or to the other: the following remarks, which are mainly
taken from an article I contributed to the _Athenæum_ in April
1881, are offered simply as speculations which may not be without
interest to lovers of the little book. They may, perhaps, show that
there is some reason for attributing the work to Oliver Goldsmith,
although, of course, it is not claimed that they absolutely establish
the fact.
Having occasion to examine carefully as many of the books for children
published by John Newbery as I could procure (and they are as scarce
as blackberries in midwinter, for what among books has so brief a life
as a nursery book?), I was struck while perusing them with a certain
distinct literary flavour, so to speak, which appeared to be common to
a group of little volumes, all published about the same period. These
were: "Goody Two Shoes," "Giles Gingerbread," "Tom Thumb's Folio,"
"The Lilliputian Magazine," "The Lilliputian Masquerade," "The Easter
Gift," "A Pretty Plaything," "The Fairing," "Be Merry and Wise," "The
Valentine's Gift," "Pretty Poems for the Amusement of Children Three
Feet High," "A Pretty Book of Pictures," "Tom Telescope," and a few
others. I give abbreviated titles only, but if space permitted I mould
like to quote them in full; they are remarkable no less for their
curious quaintness and their clever ingenuity than for their
attractiveness to both parents (who, it must not be forgotten, are
more often the real buyers of children's books) and the young people
for whom they were written, and they are in themselves most
entertaining and amusing reading. This group of little books
possesses, moreover, another characteristic that is sufficiently
remarkable of itself to be noticed. While they all evince a real
genius for writing in a style suited to the capacities of little folk,
there is a nameless something about them which, far more than is the
case with thousands of other books for the young, is calculated to
enforce the attention and excite the interest of "children of a larger
growth."
Now one of this little group, "The Lilliputian Magazine," is
attributed in the British Museum Catalogue to Oliver Goldsmith; and so
strong is the family likeness in all the books I have mentioned, that
I cannot but believe they are all by the same hand--a belief which I
think will be shared by any one who will take the trouble to compare
them carefully. But I should advise him to rely on the Newbery
editions alone, for grievously garbled versions of nearly every one of
these books have been issued from many different houses throughout the
country.
Many authorities have supported the view that Goldsmith was the author
of "Goody Two Shoes." Conspicuous among them was Washington Irving,
who says, "It is suggested with great probability that he wrote for Mr
Newbery the famous nursery story of 'Goody Two Shoes.'" It is said
also that William Godwin held this opinion; and I believe there is
authority for stating that the Misses Bewick, the daughters of the
celebrated engraver, who illustrated an edition of the book for T.
Saint, of Newcastle, understood from their father that it was by
Oliver Goldsmith.
But let us turn to the book itself and see if it furnishes any
evidence on the point. The very title, with its quaint phrasing, shows
no common genius, and as Washington Irving says, "bears the stamp of
his [Goldsmith's] sly and playful humour." As the book was published
in 1765, it would most likely have been written just at the time when
Goldsmith was working most industriously in the service of Newbery
(1763-4), at which period it will be remembered that he was living
near Newbery at Islington, and his publisher was paying for his board
and lodging.
Without, of course, claiming that similarity of idea in different
writings necessarily betokens the same authorship, I think the
parallels that are to be found in this little book, with many of the
sentiments in Oliver Goldsmith's acknowledged work--to say nothing of
the almost universally recognized likeness to Goldsmith's style that
is found in "Goody Two Shoes" may fairly be considered as throwing
some light upon the question.
The most striking of these parallels is perhaps that furnished by the
curious little political preface to the work--a preface which is quite
unnecessary to the book, and I think would only have been inserted by
one who was full of the unjustnesses at which he was preparing to aim
a still heavier blow. In describing the parish of Mouldwell, where
little Margery was born, an exact picture is drawn of "The Deserted
Village," where
One only master grasps the whole domain
And half a tillage tints thy smiling plain;
And where
---- the man of wealth and pride
Takes up a space that many a poor supplied:
Space for his lakes his park's extended bounds,
Space for his horses, equipage, and hounds.
And by this and other tyrannies, and being also
Scourged by famine from the smiling land,
for he was "unfortunate in his business" at about the same time, Sir
Timothy accomplishes his aim, and
Indignant spurns the cottage from the green.
Ruined by this oppression, poor Mr Meanwell is turned out of doors,
and flew to another parish for succour.
Where, then, ah! where shall poverty reside
To 'scape the pressure of contiguous pride?
Sir Timothy, however, suffers for his injustice and wickedness, for
"great part of the land lay untilled for some years, which was deemed
a just reward for such diabolical proceedings."
Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay.
Miss Charlotte Yonge, to whom I shall refer again, lays upon this: "If
the conjecture be true which attributes this tale to Oliver Goldsmith,
we have seen the same spirit which prompted his poem of 'The Deserted
Village,' namely, indignation and dismay at the discouragement of
small holdings in the early part of the eighteenth century."[C]
Indeed, it may well be that we have in this preface even a more true
picture of Lissoy than that given in the poem, which, as Mr William
Black says in his monograph on Goldsmith, "is there seen through the
softening and beautifying mist of years."
Much more might be said of the characteristics of this little book,
which contains so much that reminds us not only of the style but the
matter of many of Goldsmith's writings. Miss Yonge says: "There is a
certain dry humour in some passages and a tenderness in others that
incline us much to the belief that it could come from no one else but
the writer of 'The Vicar of Wakefield' and 'The Deserted Village.'
Indeed, we could almost imagine that Dr Primrose himself had described
the panic at the supposed ghost in the church in the same tone as the
ride to church, the family portrait, or the gross of green
spectacles.'[D] We find in "Goody Two Shoes" every one of those
distinctive qualities of Goldsmith's writings which Mr William Black
so well summarizes in the book already referred to--"his genuine and
tender pathos, that never at any time verges on the affected or
theatrical;" his "quaint, delicate, delightful humour;" his "broader
humour, that is not afraid to provoke the wholesome laughter of
mankind by dealing with common and familiar ways and manners and men;"
his "choiceness of diction;" his "lightness and grace of touch, that
lend a charm even to" his "ordinary hack work."
* * * * *
The reprint which is here presented is a photographic facsimile of
the earliest complete copy that we have been able to procure. Judging
from fragments of earlier editions in the possession of the
publishers, it would appear to be printed from exactly the same types
as the original issue of April 1765. The copy from which the reprint
is made was kindly lent to the publishers by Mr Ernest Hartley
Coleridge, whose collection at the South Kensington Museum of
eighteenth century books for children is well known. The actual size
of that book is 4 inches by 2-3/4, but it has been thought better to
print on somewhat larger paper. The original is bound in the once
familiar Dutch flowered and gilt pattern paper, and we had hoped to
present the reprint in a similar cover, but it was found impossible,
as nothing like it could be procured, nor could the manufacturers of
the present day exactly reproduce it.
[Footnote A: Essays from the _Times_. Robert Southey. By Samuel
Phillips, pp. 168-169, vol. i.]
[Footnote B: _See_ "The Works of Charles Lamb." By Percy
Fitzgerald, M.A., F.S.A. Vol. 1. Page 420. London: E. Moxon & Co.,
1876.]
[Footnote C: "A Storehouse of Stories," p. 69, First Series.]
[Footnote D: "A Storehouse of Stories," First Series, preface.]
[Illustration: Little Goody Two-Shoes.]
THE
HISTORY
OF
Little GOODY TWO-SHOES;
Otherwise called,
Mrs. MARGERY TWO-SHOES.
WITH
The Means by which she acquired her Learning and Wisdom, and in
consequence thereof her Estate; set forth at large for the Benefit
of those,
_Who from a State of Rags and Care
And having Shoes but half a Pair;
Their Fortune and their Fame would fix,
And gallop in a Coach and Six._
See the Original Manuscript in the _Vatican_ at _Rome_, and
the Cuts by _Michael Angelo_. Illustrated with the Comments of
our great modern Critics.
------------------------
The THIRD EDITION.
------------------------
_LONDON_:
Printed for J. NEWBERY, at the _Bible_ and
_Sun_ in St._Paul's-Church-Yard,_ 1766.
(Price Six-pence.)
TO ALL
Young Gentlemen and Ladies,
Who are good, or intend to be good,
This BOOK
Is inscribed by
Their old Friend
In St. Paul's Church-yard.
The Renowned
HISTORY
OF
Little GOODY TWO-SHOES,
Commonly called,
Old GOODY TWO-SHOES.
------------------------
PART I.
------------------------
INTRODUCTION. By the Editor.
All the World must allow, that _Two Shoes_ was not her real Name.
No; her Father's Name was _Meanwell_; and he was for many Years a
considerable Farmer in the Parish where _Margery_ was born; but
by the Misfortunes which he met with in Business, and the wicked
Persecutions of Sir _Timothy Gripe_, and an over-grown Farmer
called _Graspall_, he was effectually ruined.
The Case was thus. The Parish of _Mouldwell_ where they lived,
had for many Ages been let by the Lord of the Manor into twelve
different Farms, in which the Tenants lived comfortably, brought up
large Families, and carefully supported the poor People who laboured
for them; until the Estate by Marriage and by Death came into the
Hands of Sir _Timothy_.
This Gentleman, who loved himself better than all his Neighbours,
thought it less Trouble to write one Receipt for his Rent than twelve,
and Farmer _Graspall_ offering to take all the Farms as the Leases
expired, Sir _Timothy_ agreed with him, and in Process of Time he was
possessed of every Farm, but that occupied by little _Margery's_
Father; which he also wanted; for as Mr. _Meanwell_ was a charitable
good Man, he stood up for the Poor at the Parish Meetings, and was
unwilling to have them oppressed by Sir _Timothy_, and this
avaricious Farmer.--Judge, oh kind, humane and courteous Reader, what
a terrible Situation the Poor must be in, when this covetous Man was
perpetual Overseer, and every Thing for their Maintenance was drawn
from his hard Heart and cruel Hand. But he was not only perpetual
Overseer, but perpetual Church-warden; and judge, oh ye Christians,
what State the Church must be in, when supported by a Man without
Religion or Virtue. He was also perpetual Surveyor of the Highways,
and what Sort of Roads he kept up for the Convenience of Travellers,
those best know who have had the Misfortune to be obliged to pass
thro' that Parish.--Complaints indeed were made, but to what Purpose
are Complaints, when brought against a Man, who can hunt, drink, and
smoak with the Lord of the Manor, who is also the Justice of Peace?
The Opposition which little _Margery's_ Father made to this Man's
Tyranny, gave Offence to Sir _Timothy_, who endeavoured to force
him out of his Farm; and to oblige him to throw up the Lease, ordered
both a Brick Kiln and a Dog-kennel to be erected in the Farmer's
Orchard. This was contrary to Law, and a Suit was commenced, in which
_Margery's_ Father got the better. The same Offence was again
committed three different Times, and as many Actions brought, in all
of which the Farmer had a Verdict and Costs paid him; but
notwithstanding these Advantages, the Law was so expensive, that he
was ruined in the Contest, and obliged to give up all he had to his
Creditors; which effectually answered the Purpose of Sir
_Timothy_, who erected those Nuisances in the Farmer's Orchard
with that Intention only. Ah, my dear Reader, we brag of Liberty, and
boast of our Laws: but the Blessings of the one, and the Protection of
the other, seldom fall to the Lot of the Poor; and especially when a
rich Man is their Adversary. How, in the Name of Goodness, can a poor
Wretch obtain Redress, when thirty Pounds are insufficient to try his
Cause? Where is he to find Money to see Council, or how can he plead
his Cause himself (even if he was permitted) when our Laws are so
obscure, and so multiplied, that an Abridgment of them cannot be
contained in fifty Volumes in Folio?
As soon as Mr. _Meanwell_ had called together his Creditors, Sir
_Timothy_ seized for a Year's Rent, and turned the Farmer, his
Wife, little _Margery_, and her Brother out of Doors, without any
of the Necessaries of Life to support them.
[Illustration]
This elated the Heart of Mr. _Graspall_, this crowned his Hopes,
and filled the Measure of his Iniquity; for besides gratifying his
Revenge, this Man's Overthrow gave him the sole Dominion of the Poor,
whom he depressed and abused in a Manner too horrible to mention.
_Margery's_ Father flew into another Parish for Succour, and all
those who were able to move left their Dwellings and sought Employment
elsewhere, as they found it would be impossible to live under the
Tyranny of two such People. The very old, the very lame and the blind
were obliged to stay behind, and whether they were starved, or what
became of them, History does not say; but the Character of the great
Sir _Timothy_, and his avaricious Tenant, were so infamous, that
nobody would work for them by the Day, and Servants were afraid to
engage themselves by the Year, lest any unforeseen Accident should
leave them Parishioners in a Place, where they knew they must perish
miserably; so that great Part of the Land lay untilled for some Years,
which was deemed a just Reward for such diabolical Proceedings.
But what, says the Reader, can occasion all this? Do you intend this
for Children, Mr. NEWBERY? Why, do you suppose this is written by Mr.
NEWBERY, Sir? This may come from another Hand. This is not the Book,
Sir, mentioned in the Title, but the Introduction to that Book; and it
is intended, Sir, not for those Sort of Children, but for Children of
six Feet high, of which, as my Friend has justly observed, there are
many Millions in the Kingdom; and these Reflections, Sir, have been
rendered necessary, by the unaccountable and diabolical Scheme which
many Gentlemen now give into, of laying a Number of Farms into one,
and very often of a whole Parish into one Farm; which in the End must
reduce the common People to a State of Vassalage, worse than that
under the Barons of old, or of the Clans in _Scotland_; and will
in Time depopulate the Kingdom. But as you are tired of the Subject, I
shall take myself away, and you may visit _Little Margery_. So,
Sir, your Servant,
The EDITOR.
CHAP. I.
_How and about Little_ Margery _and her_ Brother.
Care and Discontent shortened the Days of Little _Margery's_
Father.--He was forced from his Family, and seized with a violent
Fever in a Place where Dr. _James's_ Powder was not to be had,
and where he died miserably. _Margery's_ poor Mother survived the
Loss of her Husband but a few Days, and died of a broken Heart,
leaving _Margery_ and her little Brother to the wide World; but,
poor Woman, it would have melted your Heart to have seen how
frequently she heaved up her Head, while she lay speechless, to survey
with languishing Looks her little Orphans, as much as to say, _Do
Tommy, do Margery, come with me_. They cried, poor Things, and she
sighed away her Soul; and I hope is happy.
[Illustration]
It would both have excited your Pity, and have done your Heart good,
to have seen how fond these two little ones were of each other, and
how, Hand in Hand, they trotted about. Pray see them.
[Illustration]
They were both very ragged, and _Tommy_ had two Shoes, but
_Margery_ had but one. They had nothing, poor Things, to support
them (not being in their own Parish) but what they picked from the
Hedges, or got from the poor People, and they lay every Night in a
Barn. Their Relations took no Notice of them; no, they were rich, and
ashamed to own such a poor little ragged Girl as _Margery_, and
such a dirty little curl-pated Boy as _Tommy_. Our Relations and
Friends seldom take Notice of us when we are poor; but as we grow rich
they grow fond. And this will always be the Case, while People love
Money better than Virtue, or better than they do GOD Almighty. But
such wicked Folks, who love nothing but Money, and are proud and
despise the Poor, never come to any good in the End, as we shall see
by and by.
CHAP. II.
_How and about Mr._ Smith.
Mr. _Smith_ was a very worthy Clergyman, who lived in the Parish
where Little _Margery_ and _Tommy_ were born; and having a
Relation come to see him, who was a charitable good Man, he sent for
these Children to him. The Gentleman ordered Little _Margery_ a
new Pair of Shoes, gave Mr. _Smith_ some Money to buy her
Cloathes; and said, he would take _Tommy_ and make him a little
Sailor; and accordingly had a Jacket and Trowsers made for him, in
which he now appears. Pray look at him.
[Illustration]
After some Days the Gentleman intended to go to _London_, and
take little _Tommy_ with him, of whom you will know more by and
by, for we shall at a proper Time present you with some Part of his
History, his Travels and Adventures.
[Illustration]
The Parting between these two little Children was very affecting,
_Tommy_ cried, and _Margery_ cried, and they kissed each
other an hundred Times. At last _Tommy_ thus wiped off her Tears
with the End of his Jacket, and bid her cry no more, for that he would
come to her again, when he returned from Sea. However, as they were so
very fond, the Gentleman would not suffer them to take Leave of each
other; but told _Tommy_ he should ride out with him, and come
back at Night. When night came, Little _Margery_ grew very uneasy
about her Brother, and after sitting up as late as Mr. _Smith_
would let her, she went crying to Bed.
CHAP. III.
_How Little_ Margery _obtained the Name of_
Goody Two-Shoes, _and what happened in the Parish._
As soon as Little _Margery_ got up in the Morning, which was very
early, she ran all round the Village, crying for her Brother; and
after some Time returned greatly distressed. However, at this Instant,
the Shoemaker very opportunely came in with the new Shoes, for which
she had been measured by the Gentleman's Order.
[Illustration]
Nothing could have supported Little _Margery_ under the
Affliction she was in for the Loss of her Brother, but the Pleasure
she took in her _two Shoes_. She ran out to Mrs. _Smith_ as
soon as they were put on, and stroking down her ragged Apron thus,
cried out, _Two Shoes, Mame, see two Shoes_. And so she behaved
to all the People she met, and by that Means obtained the Name of
_Goody Two-Shoes_, though her Playmates called her _Old Goody
Two-Shoes_.
Little _Margery_ was very happy in being with Mr. and Mrs.
_Smith_, who were very charitable and good to her, and had agreed
to breed her up with their Family; but as soon as that Tyrant of the
Parish, that _Graspall_, heard of her being there, he applied
first to Mr. _Smith_, and threatened to reduce his Tythes if he
kept her; and after that he spoke to Sir _Timothy_, who sent Mr.
_Smith_ a peremptory Message by his Servant, that _he should
send back_ Meanwell's _Girl to be kept by her Relations, and not
harbour her in the Parish_. This so distressed Mr. _Smith_
that he shed Tears, and cried, _Lord have Mercy on the Poor!_
The Prayers of the Righteous fly upwards, and reach unto the Throne of
Heaven, as will be seen in the Sequel.
[Illustration]
Mrs. _Smith_ was also greatly concerned at being thus obliged to
discard poor Little _Margery_. She kissed her and cried; as also
did Mr. _Smith_, but they were obliged to send her away; for the
People who had ruined her Father could at any Time have ruined them.
CHAP. IV.
_How Little_ Margery _learned to read,
and by Degrees taught others._
Little _Margery_ saw how good, and how wise Mr. _Smith_ was,
and concluded, that this was owing to his great Learning, therefore
she wanted of all Things to learn to read. For this Purpose she used
to meet the little Boys and Girls as they came from School, borrow
their Books, and sit down and read till they returned;
[Illustration]
By this Means she soon got more Learning than any of her Playmates,
and laid the following Scheme for instructing those who were more
ignorant than herself. She found, that only the following Letters were
required to spell all the Words in the World; but as some of these
Letters are large and some small, she with her Knife cut out of
several Pieces of Wood ten Setts of each of these:
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o
p q r (s) s t u v w x y z.
[Post-processor's note: (s) is an old-English style non-terminating
letter "s".]
And six Setts of these:
A B C D E F G H I K L M N O
P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.
And having got an old Spelling-Book, she made her Companions set up
all the Words they wanted to spell, and after that she taught them to
compose Sentences. You know what a Sentence is, my Dear, _I will be
good_, is a Sentence; and is made up, as you see, of several Words.
The usual Manner of Spelling, or carrying on the Game, as they called
it, was this: Suppose the Word to be spelt was Plumb Pudding (and who
can suppose a better) the Children were placed in a Circle, and the
first brought the Letter _P_, the next _l_, the next _u_, the next
_m_, and so on till the Whole was spelt; and if any one brought a
wrong Letter, he was to pay a Fine, or play no more. This was at their
Play; and every Morning she used to go round to teach the Children
with these Rattle-traps in a Basket, as you see in the Print.
[Illustration]
I once went her Rounds with her, and was highly diverted, as you may
be, if you please to look into the next Chapter.
CHAP. V.
_How Little_ Two-Shoes _became a trotting Tutoress
and how she taught her young Pupils._
It was about seven o'Clock in the Morning when we set out on this
important Business, and the first House we came to was Farmer
_Wilson's_. See here it is.
[Illustration]
Here _Margery_ stopped, and ran up to the Door, _Tap, tap, tap_. Who's
there? Only little goody _Two-Shoes_, answered _Margery_, come to
teach _Billy_. Oh Little _Goody_, says Mrs. _Wilson_, with Pleasure in
her Face, I am glad to see you, _Billy_ wants you sadly, for he has
learned all his Lesson. Then out came the little Boy. _How do doody
Two-Shoes_, says he, not able to speak plain. Yet this little Boy had
learned all his Letters; for she threw down this Alphabet mixed
together thus:
b d f h k m o q s u w y z [f]
a c e g i l n p r t v x j
and he picked them up, called them by their right Names, and put them
all in order thus:
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o
p q r (s) s t u v w x y z.
[Post-processor's note: (s) is an old-English style non-terminating
letter "s".]
She then threw down the Alphabet of Capital Letters in the Manner you
here see them.
B D F H K M O Q S U W Y Z
A C E G I L N P R T V X J.
and he picked them all up, and having told their Names, placed them
thus:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.
Now, pray little Reader, take this Bodkin, and see if you can point
out the Letters from these mixed Alphabets, and tell how they should
be placed as well as little Boy _Billy_.
The next Place we came to was Farmer _Simpson's_, and here it is.
[Illustration]
_Bow wow, wow_, says the Dog at the Door. Sirrah, says his
Mistress, what do you bark at Little _Two-Shoes_. Come in
_Madge_; here, _Sally_ wants you sadly, she has learned all
her Lesson. Then out came the little one: So _Madge!_ say she; so
_Sally!_ answered the other, have you learned your Lesson? Yes,
that's what I have, replied the little one in the Country Manner; and
immediately taking the Letters she set up these Syllables:
ba be bi bo bu, ca ce ci co cu
da de di do du, fa fe fi fo fu.
and gave them their exact Sounds as she composed them; after which she
set up the following;
ac ec ic oc uc, ad ed id od ud
af ef if of uf, ag eg ig og ug.
And pronounced them likewise. She then sung the Cuzz's Chorus (which
may be found in the _Little Pretty Play Thing_, published by Mr.
NEWBERY) and to the same Tune to which it is there set.
After this, Little _Two-Shoes_ taught her to spell Words of one
Syllable, and she soon set up Pear, Plumb. Top, Ball, Pin, Puss, Dog,
Hog, Fawn, Buck, Doe, Lamb, Sheep, Ram, Cow, Bull, Cock, Hen, and many
more.
The next Place we came to was _Gaffer Cook's_ Cottage; there you
see it before you.
[Illustration]
Here a number of poor Children were met to learn; who all came round
Little _Margery_ at once; and, having pulled out her Letters, she
asked the little Boy next her, what he had for Dinner? Who answered,
_Bread_. (the poor Children in many Places live very hard) Well
then, says she, set the first Letter. He put up the Letter B, to which
the next added r, and the next e, the next a, the next d, and it stood
thus, _Bread_.
And what had you _Polly Comb_ for your Dinner? _Apple-pye_
answered the little Girl: Upon which the next in Turn set up a great
A, the two next a p each, and so on till the two Words Apple and Pye
were united and stood thus, _Apple-pye_.
The next had _Potatoes_, the next _Beef and Turnip_ which
were spelt with many others, till the Game of Spelling was finished.
She then set them another Task, and we proceeded.
The next Place we came to was Farmer _Thompson's_, where there
were a great many little ones waiting for her.
So little Mrs. _Goody Two-Shoes_, says one of them, where have
you been so long? I have been teaching, says she, longer than I
intended, and am afraid I am come too soon for you now. No, but indeed
you are not, replied the other; for I have got my Lesson, and so has
_Sally Dawson_, and so has _Harry Wilson_, and so we have
all; and they capered about as if they were overjoyed to see her. Why
then, says she, you are all very good, and GOD Almighty will love you;
so let us begin our Lessons. They all huddled round her, and though at
the other Place they were employed about Words and Syllables, here we
had People of much greater Understanding who dealt only in Sentences.
The Letters being brought upon the Table, one of the little ones set
up the following Sentence.
_The Lord have Mercy upon me, and grant that I may be always good,
and say my Prayers, and love the Lord my God with all my Heart, with
all my Soul, and with all my Strength; and honour the King, and all
good Men in Authority under him._
Then the next took the Letters, and composed this Sentence.
_Lord have Mercy upon me, and grant that I may love my Neighbour as
myself, and do unto all Men as I would have them do unto me, and tell
no Lies; but be honest and just in all my Dealings._
The third composed the following Sentence.
_The Lord have Mercy upon me, and grant that I may honour my Father
and Mother, and love my Brothers and Sisters, Relations and Friends,
and all my Playmates, and every Body, and endeavour to make them
happy._
The fourth composed the following.
_I pray_ GOD _to bless this whole Company, and all our Friends,
and all our Enemies._
To this last _Polly Sullen_ objected, and said, truly, she did
not know why she should pray for her Enemies? Not pray for your
Enemies, says Little _Margery_; yes, you must, you are no
Christian, if you don't forgive your Enemies, and do Good for Evil.
_Polly_ still pouted; upon which Little _Margery_ said,
though she was poor, and obliged to lie in a Barn, she would not keep
Company with such a naughty, proud, perverse Girl as _Polly_; and
was going away; however the Difference was made up, and she set them
to compose the following
LESSONS
For the CONDUCT of LIFE.
LESSON I.
He that will thrive,
Must rise by Five.
He that hath thriv'n,
May lie till Seven.
Truth may be blam'd,
But cannot be sham'd.
Tell me with whom you go;
And I'll tell what you do.
A Friend in your Need,
Is a Friend indeed.
They ne'er can be wise,
Who good Counsel despise.
LESSON II.
A wise Head makes a close Mouth.
Don't burn your Lips with another Man's Broth.
Wit is Folly, unless a wise Man hath the keeping of it.
Use soft Words and hard Arguments.
Honey catches more Flies than Vinegar.
To forget a Wrong is the best Revenge.
Patience is a Plaister for all Sores.
Where Pride goes, Shame will follow.
When Vice enters the Room, Vengeance is near the Door.
Industry is Fortune's right Hand, and Frugality her left.
Make much of Three-pence, or you ne'er will be worth a Groat.
LESSON III.
A Lie stands upon one Leg, but Truth upon two.
When a Man talks much, believe but half what he says.
Fair Words butter no Parsnips.
Bad Company poisons the Mind.
A covetous Man is never satisfied.
Abundance, like Want, ruins many.
Contentment is the best Fortune.
A contented Mind is a continual Feast.
A LESSON in Religion.
Love GOD, for he is good.
Fear GOD, for he is just.
Pray to GOD, for all good Things come from him.
Praise GOD, for great is his Mercy towards us, and wonderful
are all his Works.
Those who strive to be good, have GOD on their Side.
Those who have GOD for their Friend, shall want nothing.
Confess your Sins to GOD, and if you repent he will forgive you.
Remember that all you do, is done in the Presence of GOD.
The Time will come, my Friends, when we must give
Account to GOD, how we on Earth did live.
A Moral LESSON.
A good Boy will make a good Man.
Honour your Parents, and the World will honour you.
Love your Friends, and your Friends will love you.
He that swims in Sin, will sink in Sorrow.
Learn to live, as you would wish to die.
As you expect all Men should deal by you:
So deal by them, and give each Man his Due.
As we were returning Home, we saw a Gentleman, who was very ill,
sitting under a shady Tree at the Corner of his Rookery. Though ill,
he began to joke with Little _Margery_, and said, laughingly, so,
_Goody Two-Shoes_, they tell me you are a cunning little Baggage;
pray, can you tell me what I shall do to get well? Yes, Sir, says she,
go to Bed when your Rooks do. You see they are going to Rest already:
[Illustration]
Do you so likewise, and get up with them in the morning; earn, as they
do, every Day what you eat, and eat and drink no more than you earn;
and you'll get Health and keep it. What should induce the Rooks to
frequent Gentlemens Houses only, but to tell them how to lead a
prudent Life? They never build over Cottages or Farm-houses, because
they see, that these People know how to live without their Admonition.
_Thus Health and Wit you may improve,
Taught by the Tenants of the Grove._
The Gentleman laughing gave _Margery_ Sixpence; and told her she
was a sensible Hussey.
CHAP. VI.
_How the whole Parish was frighted._
Who does not know Lady _Ducklington_, or who does not know that
she was buried at this Parish Church?
[Illustration]
Well, I never saw so grand a Funeral in all my Life; but the Money
they squandered away, would have been better laid out in little Books
for Children, or in Meat, Drink, and Cloaths for the Poor.
This is a fine Hearse indeed, and the nodding Plumes on the Horses
look very grand; but what End does that answer, otherwise than to
display the Pride of the Living, or the Vanity of the Dead. Fie upon
such Folly, say I, and Heaven grant that those who want more Sense may
have it.
[Illustration]
But all the Country round came to see the Burying, and it was late
before the Corpse was interred. After which, in the Night, or rather
about Four o'Clock in the Morning, the Bells were heard to jingle in
the Steeple, which frightened the People prodigiously, who all thought
it was Lady _Ducklington_'s Ghost dancing among the Bell-ropes.
The People flocked to _Will Dobbins_ the Clerk, and wanted him to
go and see what it was; but _William_ said, he was sure it was a
Ghost, and that he would not offer to open the Door. At length Mr.
_Long_ the Rector, hearing such an Uproar in the Village, went to
the Clerk, to know why he did not go into the Church; and see who was
there. I go, Sir, says _William_, why the Ghost would frighten me
out of my Wits.--Mrs. _Dobbins_ too cried, and laying hold of her
Husband said, he should not be eat up by the Ghost. A Ghost, you
Blockheads, says Mr. _Long_ in a Pet, did either of you ever see
a Ghost, or know any Body that did? Yes, says the Clerk, my Father did
once in the Shape of a Windmill, and it walked all round the Church in
a white Sheet, with Jack Boots on, and had a Gun by its Side instead
of a Sword. A fine Picture of a Ghost truly, says Mr. _Long_,
give me the Key of the Church, you Monkey; for I tell you there is no
such Thing now, whatever may have been formerly.--Then taking the Key,
he went to the Church, all the people following him. As soon as he had
opened the Door, what Sort of a Ghost do ye think appeared? Why Little
_Two-Shoes_, who being weary, had fallen asleep in one of the
Pews during the Funeral Service, and was shut in all Night. She
immediately asked Mr. _Long_'s Pardon for the Trouble she had
given him, told him, she had been locked into the Church, and said,
she should not have rung the Bells, but that she was very cold, and
hearing Farmer _Boult_'s Man go whistling by with his Horses, she
was in Hopes he would have went to the Clerk for the Key to let her
out.
[Illustration]
CHAP. VII.
_Containing an Account of all the Spirits,
or Ghosts, she saw in the Church._
The People were ashamed to ask Little _Madge_ any Questions
before Mr. _Long_, but as soon as he was gone, they all got round
her to satisfy their Curiousity, and desired she would give them a
particular Account of all that she had heard and seen.
Her TALE.
I went to the Church, said she, as most of you did last Night, to see
the Burying, and being very weary, I sate me down in Mr.
_Jones_'s Pew, and fell fast asleep. At Eleven of the Clock I
awoke; which I believe was in some measure occasioned by the Clock's
striking, for I heard it. I started up, and could not at first tell
where I was; but after some Time I recollected the Funeral, and soon
found that I was shut in the Church. It was dismal dark, and I could
see nothing; but while I was standing in the Pew, something jumped up
upon me behind, and laid, as I thought, its Hands over my
Shoulders.--I own, I was a little afraid at first; however, I
considered that I had always been constant at Prayers and at Church,
and that I had done nobody any Harm, but had endeavoured to do what
Good I could; and then, thought I, what have I to fear? yet I kneeled
down to say my Prayers. As soon as I was on my Knees something very
cold, as cold as Marble, ay, as cold as Ice, touched my Neck, which
made me start; however, I continued my Prayers, and having begged
Protection from Almighty GOD, I found my Spirits come, and I was
sensible that I had nothing to fear; for GOD Almighty protects not
only all those who are good, but also all those who endeavour to be
good.--Nothing can withstand the Power, and exceed the Goodness of GOD
Almighty. Armed with the Confidence of his Protection, I walked down
the Church Isle, when I heard something, pit pat, pit pat, pit pat,
come after me, and something touched my Hand, which seemed as cold as
a Marble Monument. I could not think what this was, yet I knew it
could not hurt me, and therefore I made myself easy, but being very
cold, and the Church being paved with Stone, which was very damp, I
felt my Way as well as I could to the Pulpit, in doing which something
brushed by me, and almost threw me down. However I was not frightened,
for I knew, that GOD Almighty would suffer nothing to hurt me.
At last, I found out the Pulpit, and having shut too the Door, I laid
me down on the Mat and Cushion to sleep; when something thrust and
pulled the Door, as I thought for Admittance, which prevented my going
to sleep. At last it cries, _Bow, wow, wow_; and I concluded it
must be Mr. _Saunderson_'s Dog, which had followed me from their
House to Church, so I opened the Door, and called _Snip, Snip_,
and the Dog jumped up upon me immediately. After this _Snip_ and
I lay down together, and had a most comfortable Nap; for when I awoke
again it was almost light. I then walked up and down all the Isles of
the Church to keep myself warm; and though I went into the Vault, and
trod on Lady _Ducklington's_ Coffin, I saw no Ghost, and I
believe it was owing to the Reason Mr. _Long_ has given you,
namely, that there is no such Thing to be seen. As to my Part, I would
as soon lie all Night in the Church as in any other Place; and I am
sure that any little Boy or Girl, who is good, and loves GOD Almighty,
and keeps his Commandments, may as safely lie in the Church, or the
Church-yard, as any where else, if they take Care not to get Cold; for
I am sure there are no Ghosts, either to hurt, or to frighten them;
though any one possessed of Fear might have taken Neighbour
_Saunderson_'s Dog with his cold Nose for a Ghost; and if they
had not been undeceived, as I was, would never have thought otherwise.
All the Company acknowledged the Justness of the Observation, and
thanked Little _Two-Shoes_ for her Advice.
REFLECTION.
After this, my dear Children, I hope you will not believe any foolish
Stories that ignorant, weak, or designing People may tell you about
_Ghosts_; for the Tales of _Ghosts_, _Witches_, and _Fairies_, are the
Frolicks of a distempered Brain. No wise Man ever saw either of them.
Little _Margery_ you see was not afraid; no, she had _good Sense_,
and a _good Conscience_, which is a Cure for all these imaginary
Evils.
CHAP. VIII.
_Of something which happened to Little_ Two-Shoes_
in a Barn, more dreadful than the Ghost in the Church;
and how she returned Good for Evil to her Enemy Sir_ Timothy.
Some Days after this a more dreadful Accident befel Little _Madge_.
She happened to be coming late from teaching, when it rained,
thundered, and lightened, and therefore she took Shelter in a Farmer's
Barn at a Distance from the Village. Soon after, the Tempest drove in
four Thieves, who, not seeing such a little creep-mouse Girl as
_Two-Shoes_, lay down on the Hay next to her, and began to talk over
their Exploits, and to settle Plans for future Robberies. Little
_Margery_ on hearing them, covered herself with Straw. To be sure she
was sadly frighted, but her good Sense taught her, that the only
Security she had was in keeping herself concealed; therefore she laid
very still, and breathed very softly. About Four o'Clock these wicked
People came to a Resolution to break both Sir _William Dove's_ House,
and Sir _Timothy Gripe's_, and by Force of Arms to carry off all their
Money, Plate and Jewels; but as it was thought then too late, they
agreed to defer it till the next Night. After laying this Scheme they
all set out upon their Pranks, which greatly rejoiced _Margery_, as it
would any other little Girl in her Situation. Early in the Morning she
went to Sir _William_, and told him the whole of their Conversation.
Upon which, he asked her Name, gave her Something, and bid her call at
his House the Day following. She also went to Sir _Timothy_
notwithstanding standing he had used her so ill; for she knew it was
her Duty to _do Good for Evil_. As soon as he was informed who she
was, he took no Notice of her; upon which she desired to speak to Lady
_Gripe_; and having informed her Ladyship of the Affair, she went her
Way. This Lady had more Sense than her Husband, which indeed is not a
singular Case; for instead of despising Little _Margery_ and her
Information, she privately set People to guard the House. The Robbers
divided themselves, and went about the Time mentioned to both Houses,
and were surprized by the Guards, and taken. Upon examining these
Wretches, one of which turned Evidence, both Sir _William_ and Sir
_Timothy_ found that they owed their Lives to the Discovery made by
Little _Margery_, and the first took great Notice of her, and would no
longer let her lie in a Barn; but Sir _Timothy_ only said, that he was
ashamed to owe his Life to the Daughter of one who was his Enemy; so
true it is, _that a proud Man seldom forgives those he has injured_.
[Illustration]
CHAP. IX.
_How Little_ Margery _was made
Principal of a Country College._