Friends, especially Mr. and Mrs. _Smith_, whose Family she made
happy.--She paid great Regard to the Poor, made their Interest her
own, and to induce them to come regularly to Church, she ordered a
Loaf, or the Price of a Loaf, to be given to every one who would
accept of it. This brought many of them to Church, who by degrees
learned their Duty, and then came on a more noble Principle. She also
took Care to encourage Matrimony; and in order to induce her Tenants
and Neighbours to enter into that happy State, she always gave the
young Couple something towards House-keeping; and stood Godmother to
all their Children, whom she had in Parties, every _Sunday_
Evening, to teach them their Catechism, and lecture them in Religion
and Morality; after which she treated them with a Supper, gave them
such Books as they wanted, and then dispatched them with her Blessing.
Nor did she forget them at her Death, but left each a Legacy, as will
be seen among other charitable Donations when we publish her Will,
which we may do in some future Volume. There is one Request however so
singular, that we cannot help taking some Notice of it in this Place;
which is, that of her giving so many Acres of Land to be planted
yearly with Potatoes, for all the Poor of any Parish who would come
and fetch them for the Use of their Families; but if any took them to
sell they were deprived of that Privilege ever after. And these Roots
were planted and raised from the Rent arising from a Farm which she
had assigned over for that purpose. In short, she was a Mother to the
Poor, a Physician to the Sick, and a Friend to all who were in
Distress. Her Life was the greatest Blessing, and her Death the
greatest Calamity that ever was felt in the Neighbourhood. A Monument,
but without Inscription, was erected to her Memory in the Church-yard,
over which the Poor as they pass weep continually, so that the Stone
is ever bathed in Tears.
On this Occasion the following Lines were spoken extempore by a young
Gentleman.
_How vain the Tears that fall from you,
And here supply the Place of Dew?
How vain to weep the happy Dead,
Who now to heavenly Realms are fled?
Repine no more, your Plaints forbear,
And all prepare to meet them there._
The END.
APPENDIX.
_The_ GOLDEN DREAM; _or,
the_ INGENUOUS CONFESSION.
[Illustration]
To shew the Depravity of human Nature, and how apt the Mind is to be
misled by Trinkets and false Appearances, Mrs. _Two-Shoes_ does
acknowledge, that after she became rich, she had like to have been too
fond of Money; for on seeing her Husband receive a very large Sum, her
Heart went pit pat, pit pat, all the Evening, and she began to think
that Guineas were pretty Things. To suppress this Turbulence of Mind,
which was a Symptom of approaching Avarice, she said her Prayers earlier
than usual, and at Night had the following Dream; which I shall relate
in her own Words.
"Methought, as I slept, a Genii stept up to me with a _French_
Commode, which having placed on my Head, he said, now go and be happy;
for from henceforth every Thing you touch shall turn to Gold. Willing
to try the Experiment, I gently touched the Bed-post and Furniture,
which immediately became massy Gold burnished, and of surprizing
Brightness. I then touched the Walls of the House, which assumed the
same Appearance, and looked amazingly magnificent. Elated with this
wonderful Gift, I rang hastily for my Maid to carry the joyful News to
her Master, who, as I thought, was then walking in the Garden.
_Sukey_ came, but in the Extacy I was in, happening to touch her
Hand, she became instantly an immovable Statue. Go, said I, and call
your Master; but she made no reply, nor could she stir. Upon this I
shrieked, and in came my dear Husband, whom I ran to embrace; when no
sooner had I touched him, but he became good for nothing; that is,
good for nothing but his Weight in Gold; and that you know could be
nothing, where Gold was so plenty. At this instant up came another
Servant with a Glass of Water, thinking me ill; this I attempted to
swallow, but no sooner did it touch my Mouth, than it became a hard
solid Body, and unfit for drinking. My Distress now grew
insupportable! I had destroyed, as I thought, my dear Husband, and my
favourite Servant; and I plainly perceived, that I should die for want
in the midst of so much Wealth. Ah, said I, why did I long for Riches!
Having enough already, why did I covet more? Thus terrified, I began
to rave, and beat my Breast, which awaked Sir _Charles_, who
kindly called me from this State of Inquietude, and composed my Mind."
This Scene I have often considered as a Lesson, instructing me, that a
Load of Riches bring, instead of Felicity, a Load of Troubles; and
that the only Source of Happiness is _Contentment_. Go,
therefore, you who have too much, and give it to those who are in
want; so shall you be happy yourselves, by making others happy. This
is a Precept from the Almighty, a Precept which must be regarded; for
_The Lord is about your Paths, and about your Bed, and spieth out
all your Ways_.
_An Anecdote, respecting_ TOM TWO-SHOES, _communicated by a
Gentleman, who is now writing the History of his Life._
It is generally known, that _Tom Two-Shoes_ went to Sea when he was
a very little Boy, and very poor; and that he returned a very great Man,
and very rich; but no one knows how he acquired so much Wealth but
myself, and a few Friends, who have perused the Papers from which I am
compiling the History of his Life.
After _Tom_ had been at Sea some Years, he was unfortunately cast
away, on that Part of the Coast of _Africa_ inhabited by the
_Hottentots_. Here he met with a strange Book, which the
_Hottentots_ did not understand, and which gave him some Account
of _Prester John's_ Country; and being a Lad of great Curiosity
and Resolution he determined to see it; accordingly he set out on the
Pursuit, attended by a young Lion, which he had tamed and made so fond
of him, that he followed him like a Dog, and obeyed all his Commands;
and indeed it was happy for him that he had such a Companion; for as
his Road lay through large Woods and Forests, that were full of wild
Beasts and without Inhabitants, he must have been soon starved or torn
in Pieces, had he not been both fed and protected by this noble
Animal.
[Illustration]
_Tom_ had provided himself with two Guns, a Sword, and as much
Powder and Ball as he could carry; with these Arms, and such a
Companion, it was mighty easy for him to get Food; for the Animals in
these wild and extensive Forests, having never seen the Effects of a
Gun, readily ran from the Lion, who hunted on one Side, to _Tom_,
who hunted on the other, so that they were either caught by the Lion,
or shot by his Master; and it was pleasant enough, after a hunting
Match, and the Meat was dressed, to see how Cheek by Joul they sat
down to Dinner.
[Illustration]
When they came info the Land of _Utopia_, he discovered the
Statue of a Man created on an open Plain, which had this Inscription
on the Pedestal: _On_ May-day _in the Morning, when the Sun
rises, I shall have a Head of Gold_. As it was now the latter End
of _April_, he stayed to see this wonderful Change; and in the
mean time, enquiring of a poor Shepherd what was the Reason of the
Statue being erected there, and with that Inscription, he was
informed, that it was set up many Years ago by an _Arabian_
Philosopher, who travelled all the World over in Search of a real
Friend; that he lived with, and was extremely fond of a great Man who
inhabited the next Mountain; but that on some Occasion they
quarrelled, and the Philosopher, leaving the Mountain, retired into
the Plain, where he erected this Statue with his own Hands, and soon
after died. To this he added, that all the People for many Leagues
round came there every _May_ Morning, expecting to see the
Stone-head turned to Gold.
_Tom_ got up very early on the first of _May_ to behold this
amazing Change, and when he came near the Statue he saw a Number of
People, who all ran away from him in the utmost Consternation, having
never before seen a Lion follow a Man like a Lap-dog. Being thus left
alone, he fixed his Eyes on the Sun, then rising with resplendent
Majesty, and afterwards turned to the Statue, but could see no Change
in the Stone.--Surely, says he to himself, there is some mystical
Meaning in this! This Inscription must be an Ænigma, the hidden
Meaning of which I will endeavour to find; for a Philosopher would
never expect a Stone to be turned to Gold; accordingly he measured the
Length of the Shadow, which the Statue gave on the Ground by the Sun
shining on it, and marked that particular Part where the Head fell,
then getting a _Chopness_ (a Thing like a Spade) and digging, he
discovered a Copper-chest, full of Gold, with this Inscription
engraved on the Lid of it.
Thy WIT,
Oh Man! whoever thou art,
Hath disclos'd the Ænigma,
And discover'd the GOLDEN HEAD.
Take it and use it,
But use it with WISDOM;
For know,
That GOLD, properly employ'd,
May dispense Blessings,
And promote the Happiness of Morals;
But when hoarded up,
Or misapply'd,
Is but Trash, that makes Mankind miserable.
Remember
The unprofitable Servant,
Who hid his _Talent_ in a Napkin;
And
The profligate Son,
Who squander'd away his Substance and
fed with the Swine.
As thou hast got the GOLDEN HEAD,
Observe the _Golden Mean_,
Be _Good_ and be happy.
This Lesson, coming as it were from the Dead, struck him with such
Awe, and Reverence for Piety and Virtue, that, before he removed the
Treasure, he kneeled down, and earnestly and fervently prayed that he
might make a prudent, just and proper Use of it. He then conveyed the
Chest away; but how he got it to _England_, the Reader will be
informed in the History of his Life. It may not be improper, however,
in this Place, to give the Reader some Account of the Philosopher who
hid this Treasure, and took so much Pains to find a true and real
Friend to enjoy it. As _Tom_ had Reason to venerate his Memory,
he was very particular in his Enquiry, and had this Character of
him;--that he was a Man well acquainted with Nature and with Trade;
that he was pious, friendly, and of a sweet and affable Disposition.
That he had acquired a Fortune by Commerce, and having no Relations to
leave it to, he travelled through _Arabia, Persia, India, Libia_
and _Utopia_ in search of a real Friend. In this Pursuit he found
several with whom he exchanged good Offices, and that were polite and
obliging, but they often flew off for Trifles; or as soon as he
pretended to be in Distress, and requested their Assistance, left him
to struggle with his own Difficulties. So true is that Copy in our
Books, which says, _Adversity is the Touchstone of Friendship_.
At last, however, he met with the _Utopian_ Philosopher, or the
wise Man of the Mountain, as he is called, and thought in him he had
found the Friend he wanted; for though he often pretended to be in
Distress, and abandoned to the Frowns of Fortune, this Man always
relieved him, and with such Chearfulness and Sincerity, that
concluding he had found out the only Man to whom he ought to open both
his Purse and his Heart, he let him so far into his Secrets, as to
desire his Assistance in hiding a large Sum of Money, which he wanted
to conceal, lest the Prince of the Country, who was absolute, should,
by the Advice of his wicked Minister, put him to Death for his Gold.
The two Philosophers met and hid the Money, which the Stranger, after
some Days, went to see, but found it gone. How was he struck to the
Heart, when he found that his Friend, whom he had often tried, and who
had relieved him in his Distress, could not withstand this Temptation,
but broke through the sacred Bonds of Friendship, and turned even a
Thief for Gold which he did not want, as he was already very rich. Oh!
said he, what is the Heart of Man made of? Why am I condemned to live
among People who have no Sincerity, and who barter the most sacred
Ties of Friendship and Humanity for the Dirt that we tread on? Had I
lost my Gold and found a real Friend, I should have been happy with
the Exchange, but now I am most miserable. After some Time he wiped
off his Tears, and being determined not to be so imposed on, he had
Recourse to Cunning and the Arts of Life. He went to his pretended
Friend with a chearful Countenance, told him he had more Gold to hide,
and desired him to appoint a Time when they might go together, and
open the Earth to put it into the same Pot; the other, in Hopes of
getting more Wealth, appointed the next Evening. They went together,
opened the Ground, and found the Money they had first placed there,
for the artful Wretch, he so much confided in, had conveyed it again
into the Pot, in order to obtain more. Our Philosopher immediately
took the Gold, and putting it into his Pocket, told the other he had
now altered his Mind, and should bury it no more, till he found a Man
more worthy of his Confidence. See what People lose by being
dishonest. This calls to my Mind the Words of the Poet:
_A Wit's a Feather, and a Chief's a Rod,
An honest Man's the noblest Work of God._
Remember this Story, and take Care whom you trust; but don't be
covetous, sordid and miserable; for the Gold we have is but lent us to
do Good with. We received all from the Hand of God, and every Person
in Distress hath a just Title to a Portion of it.
_A_ LETTER _from the_ PRINTER, _which he
desires may be inserted_.
SIR,
I have done with your Copy, so you may return it to the
_Vatican_, if you please; and pray tell Mr. _Angelo_ to
brush up the Cuts, that, in the next Edition, they may give us a good
Impression.
The Foresight and Sagacity of Mrs. _Margery_'s Dog calls to my
Mind a Circumstance, which happened when I was a Boy. Some Gentlemen
in the Place where I lived had been hunting, and were got under a
great Tree to shelter themselves from a Thunder Storm; when a Dog that
always followed one of the Gentlemen leaped up his Horse several
Times, and then ran away and barked. At last, the Gentlemen all
followed to see what he would be at; and they were no sooner gone from
the Tree, but it was shivered in Pieces by Lightning! 'Tis remarkable,
that as soon as they came from the Tree the Dog appeared to be very
well satisfied, and barked no more. The Gentleman after this always
regarded the Dog as his Friend, treated him in his Old Age with great
Tenderness, and fed him with Milk as long as he lived.
My old Master _Grierson_ had also a Dog, that ought to be
mentioned with Regard; for he used to set him up as a Pattern of
Sagacity and Prudence, not only to his Journeymen, but to the whole
Neighbours. This Dog had been taught a thousand Tricks, and among
other Feats he could dance, tumble, and drink Wine and Punch till he
was little better than mad. It happened one Day, when the Men had made
him drunk with Liquor, and he was capering about, that he fell into a
large Vessel of boiling Water. They soon got him out, and he
recovered; but he was very much hurt, and being sensible, that this
Accident arose from his losing his Senses by Drinking, he would never
taste any strong Liquor afterwards.--My old Master, on relating this
Story, and shewing the Dog, used to address us thus, _Ah, my
Friends, had you but half the Sense of this poor Dog here, you would
never get fuddled, and be Fools._
I am, Sir, Your's, &c. W.B.
The BOOKS usually read by the Scholars of Mrs. TWO-SHOES, are these,
and are sold at Mr. NEWBERY'S at the _Bible_ and _Sun_ in
St. _Paul's_ Church-yard.
1. The _Christmas-Box_, Price 1d.
2. The History of _Giles Gingerbread_, 1d.
3. The _New-Year's-Gift_, 2d.
4. The _Easter-Gift_, 2d.
5. The _Whitsuntide-Gift_, 2d.
6. The _Twelfth-Day-Gift_, 1s.
7. The _Valentine's-Gift_, 6d.
8. The FAIRING or _Golden Toy_, 6d.
9. The _Royal Battledore_, 2d.
10. The _Royal Primer_, 3d.
11. The _Little Lottery-Book_, 3d.
12. The _Little Pretty Pocket-Book_, 6d.
13. The _Infant Tutor_, _or pretty Little
Spelling-Book_, 6d.
14. The _Pretty Book for Children_, 6d.
15. _Tom Trapwit's Art of being Merry and Wife_, 6d.
16. _Tom Trip's History of Birds and Beasts_, Price 6d.
17. _Food for the Mind_, _or a New Riddle Book_, 6d.
18. _Fables in Verse and Prose by Æsop, and your old Friend
Woglog_, 6d.
19. The _Holy Bible abridged_, 6d.
20. The _History of the Creation_, 6d.
21. _A new and noble History of England_, 6d.
22. _Philosophy for Children_, 6d.
23. _Philosophy of Tops and Balls_, 1s.
24. _Pretty Poems for Children 3 Foot high_, 6d.
25. _Pretty Poems for Children 6 Foot high_, 1s.
26. _Lilliputian Magazine, or Golden Library_, 1s.
27. _Short Histories for the Improvement of the Mind_, 1s.
28. The _New Testament_, adapted to the Capacities
of Children, 1s.
29. The Life of our Blessed SAVIOUR, 1s.
30. The Lives of the Holy _Apostles_ and _Evangelists_, 1s.
31. The Lives of the _Fathers_ of the _Christian_ Church for
the first four Centuries, 1s.
32. A Concise _Exposition_ of the Book of _Common Prayer_,
with the Lives of its _Compilers_, 1s.
33. The _Museum_ for Youth, 1s.
34. An Easy _Spelling Dictionary_ for those who would write
correctly, 1s.
35. A _Pocket Dictionary_ for those who would know the precise
Meaning of all the Words in the _English_ Language, 3s.
36. A Compendious History of _England_, 2s.
37. The Present State of _Great Britain_, 2s.
38. A Little Book of Letters and Cards, to teach young Ladies and
Gentlemen how to write to their Friends in a polite, easy
and elegant Manner, 1s.
39. The Gentleman and Lady's Key to _Polite Literature_; or, A
_Compendious Dictionary_ of Fabulous History, 2s.
40. The News-Readers Pocket-Book; or, A _Military
Dictionary_, 2s.
41. A Curious Collection of Voyages, selected from the Writers of all
Nations, 10 Vol. Pr. bound 1l.
42. A Curious Collection of Travels, selected from the Writers of all
Nations, 10 Vol; Pr. bound 1l.
By the KING'S Royal Patent,
Are Sold by J. NEWBERY, at the _Bible_ and _Sun_ in _St.
Paul's Church-Yard_.
1. Dr. _James's Powders_ for Fevers, the Small-Pox, Measles,
Colds, &c. 2s. 6d.
2. Dr. _Hooper's Female Pills_, 1s.
3. Mr. _Greenough's Tincture_ for Teeth, 1s.
4. _Ditto_ for the Tooth-Ach, 1s.
5. _Stomachic Lozenges_ for the Heart-burn, Cholic,
Indigestion, &c. 1s. 6d.
6. The _Balsam of Health_, or, (as it is by some called) the
Balsam of Life, 1s. 6d.
7. The _Original Daffy's Elixir_, 1s. 3d.
8. Dr. _Anderson's Scots Pills_, 1s.
9. The _Original British Oil_, 1s.
10. The _Alterative Pills_, which are a safe, and certain Cure
for the King's Evil, and all Scrophulous Complaints, 5s. the Box,
containing 40 Doses.--_See a Dissertation on these Disorders
sold at the Place above-mentioned_, Price 6d.