MISCELLANY 88
THE HISTORY OF
LITTLE GOODY TWO-SHOES
PART 3
The Renowned
H I S T O R Y
O F
Mrs. MARGERY TWO-SHOES.
P A R T
II.
I N T R O
D U C T
I O N.
In the
first Part of this Work, the young Student has read, and I hope with Pleasure
and Improvement, the History of this Lady, while she was known and
distinguished by the Name of Little Two-Shoes; we are now come to a
Period of her Life when that Name was discarded, and a more eminent one
bestowed upon her, I mean that of Mrs. Margery Two-Shoes: For as she was
now President of the A, B, C College, it became necessary to exalt her in Title
as well as in Place.
No sooner
was she settled in this Office, but she laid every possible Scheme to promote
the Welfare and Happiness of all her Neighbours, and especially of the Little
Ones, in whom she took great Delight, and all those whose Parents could not
afford to pay for their Education, she taught for nothing, but the Pleasure she
had in their Company, for you are to observe, that they were very good, or were
soon made so by her good Management.
C H A P. I.
Of her
School, her Ushers, or Assistants, and her Manner of Teaching.
We have
already informed the Reader, that the School where she taught, was that which
was before kept by Mrs. Williams, whose Character you may find in my New
Year's Gift. The Room was large, and as she knew, that Nature intended
Children should be always in Action, she placed her different Letters, or
Alphabets, all round the School, so that every one was obliged to get up to
fetch a Letter, or to spell a Word, when it came to their Turn; which not only
kept them in Health, but fixed the Letters and Points firmly in their Minds.
She had
the following Assistants or Ushers to help her, and I will tell you how she
came by them. Mrs. Margery, you must know, was very humane and
compassionate; and her Tenderness extended not only to all Mankind, but even to
all Animals that were not noxious; as your's ought to do, if you would be happy
here, and go to Heaven hereafter. These are GOD Almighty's Creatures as well as
we. He made both them and us; and for wise Purposes, best known to himself,
placed them in this World to live among us; so that they are our fellow Tenants
of the Globe. How then can People dare to torture and wantonly destroy GOD
Almighty's Creatures? They as well as you are capable of feeling Pain, and of
receiving Pleasure, and how can you, who want to be made happy yourself,
delight in making your fellow Creatures miserable? Do you think the poor Birds,
whose Nest and young ones that wicked Boy Dick Wilson ran away with
Yesterday, do not feel as much Pain, as your Father and Mother would have felt,
had any one pulled down their House and ran away with you? To be sure they do.
Mrs. Two-Shoes used to speak of those Things, and of naughty Boys
throwing at Cocks, torturing Flies, and whipping Horses and Dogs, with Tears in
her Eyes, and would never suffer any one to come to her School who did so.
One Day,
as she was going through the next Village, she met with some wicked Boys who
had got a young Raven, which they were going to throw at, she wanted to get the
poor Creature out of their cruel Hands, and therefore gave them a Penny for
him, and brought him home. She called his Name Ralph, and a fine Bird he
is. Do look at him and remember what Solomon says, The Eye that despiseth
his Father, and regardeth not the Distress of his Mother, the Ravens of the
Valley shall peck it out, and the young Eagles eat it. Now this Bird she
taught to speak, to spell and to read; and as he was particularly fond of
playing with the large Letters, the Children used to call this Ralph's
Alphabet.
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.
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.
He always
sat at her Elbow, as you see in the first Picture, and when any of the Children
were wrong, she used to call out, Put them right Ralph.
Some Days
after she had met with the Raven, as she was walking in the Fields, she saw
some naughty Boys, who had taken a Pidgeon, and tied a String to its Leg, in
order to let it fly, and draw it back again when they pleased; and by this
Means they tortured the poor Animal with the Hopes of Liberty and repeated
Disappointment. This Pidgeon she also bought, and taught him how to spell and
read, though not to talk, and he performed all those extraordinary Things which
are recorded of the famous Bird, that was some Time since advertised in the Haymarket,
and visited by most of the great People in the Kingdom. This Pidgeon was a very
pretty Fellow, and she called him Tom. See here he is.
And as the
Raven Ralph was fond of the large Letters, Tom the Pidgeon took
Care of the small ones, of which he composed this Alphabet.
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.
n o p q r s t u v w x y z.
The
Neighbours knowing that Mrs. Two Shoes was very good, as to be sure
nobody was better, made her a Present of a little Sky-lark, and a fine Bird he
is.
Now as
many People, even at that Time had learned to lie in Bed long in the Morning,
she thought the Lark might be of Use to her and her Pupils, and tell them when
to get up.
For be
that is fond of his Bed, and lays 'till Noon, lives but half his Days, the rest
being lost in Sleep, which is a Kind of Death.
Some Time
after this a poor Lamb had lost its Dam, and the Farmer being about to kill it,
she bought it of him, and brought it home with her to play with the Children,
and teach them when to go to Bed; for it was a Rule with the wise Men of that
Age (and a very good one, let me tell you) to
Rise
with the Lark, and lie down with the Lamb.
This Lamb
she called Will, and a pretty Fellow he is; do, look at him.
No sooner
was Tippy the Lark and Will the Ba-lamb brought into the School,
but that sensible Rogue Ralph, the Raven, composed the following Verse,
which every little good Boy and Girl should get by Heart.
Early
to Bed, and early to rise;
Is the Way to be healthy, and wealthy, and wise.
Is the Way to be healthy, and wealthy, and wise.
A sly
Rogue; but it is true enough; for those who do not go to Bed early cannot rise
early; and those who do not rise early cannot do much Business. Pray, let this
be told at the Court, and to People who have Routs and Rackets.
Soon after
this, a Present was made to Mrs. Margery of little Dog Jumper,
and a pretty Dog he is. Pray, look at him.
Jumper,
Jumper, Jumper! He is always in a
good Humour, and playing and jumping about, and therefore he was called Jumper.
The Place assigned for Jumper was that of keeping the Door, so that he
may be called the Porter of the College, for he would let nobody go out, or any
one come in, without the Leave of his Mistress. See how he sits, a saucy Rogue.
Billy the Ba-lamb was a chearful Fellow, and all the
Children were fond of him, wherefore Mrs. Two-Shoes made it a Rule, that
those who behaved best should have Will home with them at Night to carry
their Satchel or Basket at his Back, and bring it in the Morning. See what a
fine Fellow he is, and how he trudges along.
C H A P. II.
A Scene
of Distress in the School.
It
happened one Day, when Mrs. Two-Shoes was diverting the Children after
Dinner, as she usually did with some innocent Games, or entertaining and
instructive Stories, that a Man arrived with the melancholy News of Sally
Jones's Father being thrown from his Horse, and thought past all Recovery; nay,
the Messenger said, that he was seemingly dying, when he came away. Poor Sally
was greatly distressed, as indeed were all the School, for she dearly loved her
Father, and Mrs. Two-Shoes, and all the Children dearly loved her. It is
generally said, that we never know the real Value of our Parents or Friends
till we have lost them; but poor Sally felt this by Affection, and her
Mistress knew it by Experience. All the School were in Tears, and the Messenger
was obliged to return; but before he went, Mrs. Two-Shoes, unknown to
the Children, ordered Tom Pidgeon to go home with the Man, and bring a
Letter to inform her how Mr. Jones did. They set out together, and the
Pidgeon rode on the Man's Head, (as you see here) for the Man was able to carry
the Pidgeon, though the Pidgeon was not able to carry the Man, if he had, they
would have been there much sooner, for Tom Pidgeon was very good,
and never staid on an Errand.
Soon after
the Man was gone the Pidgeon was lost, and the Concern the Children were under
for Mr. Jones and little Sally was in some Measure diverted, and
Part of their Attention turned after Tom, who was a great Favourite, and
consequently much bewailed. Mrs. Margery, who knew the great Use and
Necessity of teaching Children to submit chearfully to the Will of Providence,
bid them wipe away their Tears, and then kissing Sally, you must be a
good Girl, says she, and depend upon GOD Almighty for his Blessing and
Protection; for he is a Father to the Fatherless, and defendeth all those
who put their Trust in him. She then told them a Story, which I shall
relate in as few Words as possible.
The
History of Mr. Lovewell, Father to
Lady Lucy.
Mr. Lovewell
was born at Bath, and apprenticed to a laborious Trade in London,
which being too hard for him, he parted with his Master by Consent, and hired
himself as a common Servant to a Merchant in the City. Here he spent his
leisure Hours not as Servants too frequently do, in Drinking and Schemes of
Pleasure, but in improving his Mind; and among other Acquirements, he made
himself a complete Master of Accompts. His Sobriety, Honesty, and the Regard he
paid to his Master's Interest, greatly recommended him in the whole Family, and
he had several Offices of Trust committed to his Charge, in which he acquitted
himself so well, that the Merchant removed him from the Stable into the
Counting-house.
Here he
soon made himself Master of the Business, and became so useful to the Merchant,
that in regard to his faithful Services, and the Affection he had for him, he
married him to his own Niece, a prudent agreeable young Lady; and gave him a
Share in the Business. See what Honesty and Industry will do for us. Half the
great Men in London, I am told, have made themselves by this Means, and
who would but be honest and industrious, when it is so much our Interest and
our Duty.
After some
Years the Merchant died, and left Mr. Lovewell possessed of many fine
Ships at Sea, and much Money, and he was happy in a Wife, who had brought him a
Son and two Daughters, all dutiful and obedient. The Treasures and good Things,
however, of this Life are so uncertain, that a Man can never be happy, unless
he lays the Foundation for it in his own Mind. So true is that Copy in our
Writing Books, which tells us, that a contented Mind is a continual Feast.
After some
Years successful Trade, he thought his Circumstances sufficient to insure his
own Ships, or, in other Words, to send his Ships and Goods to Sea without being
insured by others, as is customary among Merchants; when, unfortunately for
him, four of them richly laden were lost at Sea. This he supported with
becoming Resolution; but the next Mail brought him Advice, that nine others
were taken by the French, with whom we were then at War; and this,
together with the Failure of three foreign Merchants whom he had trusted,
compleated his Ruin. He was then obliged to call his Creditors together, who
took his Effects, and being angry with him for the imprudent Step of not
insuring his Ships, left him destitute of all Subsistence. Nor did the
Flatterers of his Fortune, those who had lived by his Bounty when in his
Prosperity, pay the least Regard either to him or his Family. So true is
another Copy, that you will find in your Writing Book, which says, Misfortune
tries our Friends. All these Slights of his pretended Friends, and the ill
Usage of his Creditors, both he and his Family bore with Christian Fortitude;
but other Calamities fell upon him, which he felt more sensibly.
In his
Distress, one of his Relations, who lived at Florence, offered to take
his Son; and another, who lived at Barbadoes, sent for one of his
Daughters. The Ship which his Son sailed in was cast away, and all the Crew
supposed to be lost; and the Ship, in which his Daughter went a Passenger, was
taken by Pyrates, and one Post brought the miserable Father an Account of the
Loss of his two Children. This was the severest Stroke of all: It made him
compleatly wretched, and he knew it must have a dreadful Effect on his Wife and
Daughter; he therefore endeavoured to conceal it from them. But the perpetual
Anxiety he was in, together with the Loss of his Appetite and Want of Rest,
soon alarmed his Wife. She found something was labouring in his Breast, which
was concealed from her; and one Night being disturbed in a Dream, with what was
ever in his Thoughts, and calling out upon his dear Children; she awoke him,
and insisted upon knowing the Cause of his Inquietude. Nothing, my Dear,
nothing, says he, The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed
be the Name of the Lord. This was sufficient to alarm the poor Woman; she
lay till his Spirits were composed, and as she thought asleep, then stealing
out of Bed, got the Keys and opened his Bureau, where she found the fatal
Account. In the Height of her Distractions, she flew to her Daughter's Room,
and waking her with her Shrieks, put the Letters into her Hands. The young
Lady, unable to support this Load of Misery, fell into a Fit, from which it was
thought she never could have been recovered. However, at last she revived; but
the Shock was so great, that it entirely deprived her of her Speech.
Thus
loaded with Misery, and unable to bear the Slights and Disdain of those who had
formerly professed themselves Friends, this unhappy Family retired into a
Country, where they were unknown, in order to hide themselves from the World;
when, to support their Independency, the Father laboured as well as he could at
Husbandry, and the Mother and Daughter sometimes got spinning and knitting Work,
to help to furnish the Means of Subsistence; which however was so precarious
and uncertain, that they often, for many Weeks together, lived on nothing but
Cabbage and Bread boiled in Water. But GOD never forsaketh the Righteous, nor
suffereth those to perish who put their Trust in him. At this Time a Lady, who
was just come to England, sent to take a pleasant Seat ready furnished in that
Neighbourhood, and the Person who was employed for the Purpose, was ordered to
deliver a Bank Note of an hundred Pounds to Mr. Lovewell, another
hundred to his Wife, and fifty to the Daughter, desiring them to take
Possession of the House, and get it well aired against she came down, which
would be in two or three Days at most. This, to People who were almost
starving, was a sweet and seasonable Relief, and they were all sollicitous to
know their Benefactress, but of that the Messenger himself was too ignorant to
inform them. However, she came down sooner than was expected, and with Tears
embraced them again and again: After which she told the Father and Mother she
had heard from their Daughter, who was her Acquaintance, and that she was well
and on her Return to England. This was the agreeable Subject of their
Conversation till after Dinner, when drinking their Healths, she again with
Tears saluted them, and falling upon her Knees asked their Blessings.
Tis
impossible to express the mutual Joy which this occasioned. Their Conversation
was made up of the most endearing Expressions, intermingled with Tears and
Caresses. Their Torrent of Joy, however, was for a Moment interrupted, by a
Chariot which stopped at the Gate, and which brought as they thought a very
unseasonable Visitor, and therefore she sent to be excused from seeing Company.
But this
had no Effect, for a Gentleman richly dressed jumped out of the Chariot, and
pursuing the Servant into the Parlour saluted them round, who were all
astonished at his Behaviour. But when the Tears trickled from his Cheeks, the
Daughter, who had been some Years dumb, immediately cried out, my Brother!
my Brother! my Brother! and from that Instant recovered her Speech. The
mutual Joy which this occasioned, is better felt than expressed. Those who have
proper Sentiments of Humanity, Gratitude, and filial Piety will rejoice at the
Event, and those who have a proper Idea of the Goodness of GOD, and his
gracious Providence, will from this, as well as other Instances of his Goodness
and Mercy, glorify his holy Name, and magnify his Wisdom and Power, who is a
Shield to the Righteous, and defendeth all those who put their Trust in him.
As you, my
dear Children, may be sollicitous to know how this happy Event was brought
about, I must inform you, that Mr. Lovewell 's Son, when the Ship
foundered, had with some others got into the long Boat, and was taken up by a
Ship at Sea, and carried to the East Indies, where in a little Time he made a
large Fortune; and the Pirates who took his Daughter, attempted to rob her of
her Chastity; but finding her Inflexible, and determined to die rather than to
submit, some of them behaved to her in a very cruel Manner; but others, who had
more Honour and Generosity, became her Defenders; upon which a Quarrel arose
between them, and the Captain, who was the worst of the Gang, being killed, the
rest of the Crew carried the Ship into a Port of the Manilla Islands,
belonging to the Spaniards; where, when her Story was known, she was
treated with great Respect, and courted by a young Gentleman, who was taken ill
of a Fever, and died before the Marriage was agreed on, but left her his whole
Fortune.
You see,
my dear Sally, how wonderfully these People were preserved, and made
happy after such extreme Distress; we are therefore never to despair, even
under the greatest Misfortunes, for GOD Almighty is All-powerful and can
deliver us at any Time. Remember Job, but I think you have not read so
far, take the Bible, Billy Jones, and read the History of that good and
patient Man. At this Instant something was heard to flap at the Window, Wow,
wow, wow, says Jumper, and attempted to leap up and open the Door, at which
the Children were surprized; but Mrs. Margery knowing what it was,
opened the Casement, as Noah did the Window of the Ark, and drew in Tom
Pidgeon with a Letter, and see here he is.
As soon as
he was placed on the Table, he walked up to little Sally, and dropping
the Letter, cried, Co, Co, Coo, as much as to say, there read it.
Now this poor Pidgeon had travelled fifty Miles in about an Hour, to bring Sally
this Letter, and who would destroy such pretty Creatures.----But let us read
the Letter.
My
dear Sally,
GOD
Almighty has been very merciful, and restored your Pappa to us again, who is
now so well as to be able to sit up. I hear you are a good Girl, my Dear, and I
hope you will never forget to praise the Lord for this his great Goodness and
Mercy to us--What a sad Thing it would have been if your Father had died, and
left both you and me, and little Tommy in Distress, and without a
Friend: Your Father sends his Blessing with mine--Be good, my dear Child, and
GOD Almighty will also bless you, whose Blessing is above all Things.
I
am, my Dear Sally,
Your
ever affectionate Mother,
M A R T H A J O N E S.
To be
continued
