C H A P. VI.

ba be bi bo bu, ca ce ci co cuda de di do du, fa fe fi so 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 udaf 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 theLittle Pretty Play Thing, published by Mr. NE W B E R Y) and to the same Tune to which it is there set.

After this, LittleTwo-Shoestaught her to spell Words of one Syllable,[34]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 wasGaffer Cook'sCottage; there you see it before you.

Gaffer Cook's Cottage

Here a number of poor Children were met to learn; who all came[35]round LittleMargeryat 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 youPolly Combfor your Dinner?Apple-pyeanswered 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 hadPotatoes, the nextBeef and Turnipwhich were spelt with many others, till the Game[36]of Spelling was finished. She then set them another Task, and we proceeded.

The next Place we came to was FarmerThompson'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 hasSally Dawson, and so hasHarry 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 GODAlmighty will love you; so let us begin our Lessons. They all huddled round[37]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.

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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 prayGODto bless this whole Company, and all our Friends, and all our Enemies.

To this lastPolly Sullenobjected, and said, truly, she did not know why she should pray for her Enemies? Not pray for your Enemies, says LittleMargery; yes, you must, you are no Christian, if you don't forgive your Enemies, and do Good for Evil.Pollystill pouted; upon which LittleMargerysaid, though she was[39]poor, and obliged to lie in a Barn, she would not keep Company with such a naughty, proud, perverse Girl asPolly; and was going away; however the Difference was made up, and she set them to compose the following

L E S S O N SFor the CO N D U C Tof L I F E.LE S S O NI.

For the CO N D U C Tof L I F E.

LE S S O NI.

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.[40]A Friend in your Need,Is a Friend indeed.They ne'er can be wise,Who good Counsel despise.

LE S S O NII.

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.[41]Industry is Fortune's right Hand, and Frugality her left.Make much of Three-pence, or you ne'er will be worth a Groat.

LE S S O NIII.

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 LE S S O Nin Religion.

Love GOD, for he is good.Fear GOD, for he is just.[42]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 GODon their Side.Those who have GODfor 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 giveAccount to GOD, how we on Earth did live.

A Moral LE S S O N.

A good Boy will make a good Man.Honour your Parents, and the World will honour you.[43]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 LittleMargery, 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[44]your Rooks do. You see they are going to Rest already:

they are going to Rest

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[45]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 gaveMargerySixpence; and told her she was a sensible Hussey.

C H A P. VI.How the whole Parish was frighted.

How the whole Parish was frighted.

Who does not know LadyDucklington, or who does not know that she was buried at this Parish Church?

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Parish Church

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.

Fine Hearse

This if a fine Hearse indeed, and the nodding Plumes on the Horses[47]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.

But all the Country round came to see the Burying, and it was late before the Corpse was interred.[48]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 LadyDucklington's Ghost dancing among the Bell-ropes. The People flocked toWill Dobbinsthe Clerk, and wanted him to go and see what it was; butWilliamsaid, he was sure it was a Ghost, and that he would not offer to open the Door. At length Mr.Longthe 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, saysWilliam, why the Ghost would frighten me out of my Wits.--Mrs.Dobbinstoo cried, and laying hold of her Husband said, he should not be eat up by the Ghost. A Ghost, you Blockheads, says Mr.[49]Longin 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 LittleTwo-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[50]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 FarmerBoult'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.

Sleepy Two-Shoes

[51]C H A P. VII.Containing an Account of all the Spirits,or Ghosts, she saw in the Church.

Containing an Account of all the Spirits,or Ghosts, she saw in the Church.

The People were ashamed to ask LittleMadgeany 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 T A L E.

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,[52]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[53]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 GODAlmighty 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 GODAlmighty. 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[54]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 GODAlmighty 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 calledSnip, Snip, and the Dog jumped up upon me immediately. After thisSnipand I lay down together,[55]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 LadyDucklington'sCoffin, I saw no Ghost, and I believe it was owing to the Reason Mr.Longhas 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 GODAlmighty, 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[56]might have taken NeighbourSaunderson'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 LittleTwo-Shoesfor her Advice.

R E F L E C T I O N.

After this, my dear Children, I hope you will not believe any foolish Stories that ignorant, weak, or designing People may tell you aboutGhosts; for the Tales ofGhosts,Witches, andFairies, are the Frolicks of a distempered Brain. No wise Man ever saw either of them. LittleMargeryyou see was not afraid; no, she hadgood Sense, and agood Conscience, which is a Cure for all these imaginary Evils.

[57]C H A P. VIII.Of something which happened to LittleTwo-Shoesin a Barn, more dreadful than the Ghost in the Church;and how she returned Good for Evil to her Enemy SirTimothy.

Of something which happened to LittleTwo-Shoesin a Barn, more dreadful than the Ghost in the Church;and how she returned Good for Evil to her Enemy SirTimothy.

Farmer's Barn

Some Days after this a more dreadful Accident befel LittleMadge. She happened to be coming late from teaching, when it rained, thundered, and lightened, and therefore she took Shelter in a Farmer's Barn[58]at a Distance from the Village. Soon after, the Tempest drove in four Thieves, who, not seeing such a little creep-mouse Girl asTwo-Shoes, lay down on the Hay next to her, and began to talk over their Exploits, and to settle Plans for future Robberies. LittleMargeryon hearing them, covered herself with Straw. To be sure she was sadly frighted, but her good[59]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 SirWilliam Dove'sHouse, and SirTimothy 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 rejoicedMargery, as it would any other little Girl in her Situation. Early in the Morning she went to SirWilliam, 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 SirTimothy[60]notwithstanding he had used her so ill; for she knew it was her Duty todo 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 LadyGripe; 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 LittleMargeryand 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 SirWilliamand SirTimothyfound that they owed their Lives to the Discovery made by LittleMargery, and the first took[61]great Notice of her, and would no longer let her lie in a Barn; but SirTimothyonly 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.

C H A P. IX.How LittleMargerywas made Principal of a Country College.

How LittleMargerywas made Principal of a Country College.

Mrs.Williams, of whom I have given a particular Account in myNew Year's Gift, and who kept a College for instructing little Gentlemen and Ladies in the Science of A, B, C, was at this Time very old and infirm, and wanted to decline that important Trust. This being told to SirWilliam Dove, who lived[62]in the Parish, he sent for Mrs.Williams, and desired she would examine LittleTwo-Shoes, and see whether she was qualified for the Office.----This was done, and Mrs.Williamsmade the following Report in her Favour, namely,that LittleMargerywas the best Scholar, and had the best Head, and the best Heart of any one she had examined. All the Country had a great Opinion of Mrs.Williams, and this Character gave them also a great Opinion of Mrs.Margery; for so we must now call her.

This Mrs.Margerythought the happiest Period of her Life; but more Happiness was in Store for her. GODAlmighty heaps up Blessings for all those who love him, and though for a Time he may suffer them to be poor and distressed, and hide his good Purposes from human Sight, yet in[63]the End they are generally crowned with Happiness here, and no one can doubt of their being so hereafter.

On this Occasion the following Hymn, or rather a Translation of the twenty-third Psalm, is said to have been written, and was soon after published in theSpectator.

The Lord my Pasture shall prepare,And feed me with a Shepherd's Care:His Presence shall my Wants supply,And guard me with a watchful Eye;My Noon-day Walks he shall attend,And all my Midnight Hours defend.

II.

When in the sultry Glebe I faint,Or on the thirsty Mountain pant;To fertile Vales and dewy Meads,My weary wand'ring Steps he leads;Where peaceful Rivers, soft and slow,Amid the verdant Landskip flow.

III.

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Tho' in the Paths of Death I tread,With gloomy Horrors overspread,My stedfast Heart shall fear no ill,For thou, O Lord, art with me still;Thy friendly Crook shall give me Aid,And guide me thro' the dreadful Shade.

IV.

Tho' in a bare and rugged Way,Thro' devious lonely Wilds I stray,Thy Bounty shall my Pains beguile:The barren Wilderness shall smile,With sudden Greens & herbage crown'd,And Streams shall murmur all around.

Here ends the History of LittleTwo Shoes. Those who would know how she behaved after she came to be Mrs.Margery Two-Shoesmust read the Second Part of this Work, in which an Account of the Remainder of her Life, her Marriage, and Death are set forth at large, according to Act of Parliament.

[65]The RenownedH I S T O R YO FMrs. MARGERYTWO-SHOES.P A R T II.IN T R O D U C T I O N.

IN 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 ofLittle 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,[66]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.

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C H A P. I.Of her School, her Ushers, or Assistants, and her Manner of Teaching.

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 myNew 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.

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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 GODAlmighty'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 GODAlmighty'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[69]happy yourself, delight in making your fellow Creatures miserable? Do you think the poor Birds, whose Nest and young ones that wicked BoyDick Wilsonran 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-Shoesused 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,[70]and therefore gave them a Penny for him, and brought him home. She called his NameRalph, and a fine Bird he is. Do look at him and remember whatSolomonsays,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[71]playing with the large Letters, the Children used to call thisRalph's Alphabet.

A B C D E F G H I J K L MN 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.

Ralph the Raven

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[72]extraordinary Things which are recorded of the famous Bird, that was some Time since advertised in theHaymarket, and visited by most of the great People in the Kingdom. This Pidgeon was a very pretty Fellow, and she called himTom. See here he is.

Tom the Pidgeon

And as the RavenRalphwas fond of the large Letters,Tomthe Pidgeon took Care of the small ones, of which he composed this Alphabet.

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a b c d e f g h i j k l mn o p q r s t u v w x y z.

The Neighbours knowing that Mrs.Two Shoeswas very good, as to be sure nobody was better, made her a Present of a little Sky-lark, and a fine Bird he is.

Sky-lark

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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

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Rise with the Lark, and lie down with the Lamb.

This Lamb she calledWill, and a pretty Fellow he is; do, look at him.

Will the Lamb

No sooner wasTippythe Lark andWillthe Ba-lamb brought into the School, but that sensible RogueRalph, the Raven, composed the[76]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.

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.Margeryof little DogJumper, and a pretty Dog he is. Pray, look at him.

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Jumper the Dog

Jumper, Jumper, Jumper!He is always in a good Humour, and playing and jumping about, and therefore he was calledJumper. The Place assigned forJumperwas 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.

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Billythe Ba-lamb was a chearful Fellow, and all the Children were fond of him, wherefore Mrs.Two-Shoesmade it a Rule, that those who behaved best should haveWillhome 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.

A Scene of Distress in the School.

the Pidgeon rode on the his head

It happened one Day, when Mrs.Two-Shoeswas 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 ofSally Jones'sFather being[79]thrown from his Horse, and thought past all Recovery; nay, the Messenger said, that he was seemingly dying, when he came away. PoorSallywas 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 poorSallyfelt 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, orderedTomPidgeon to go home with the Man, and bring a Letter to inform her how Mr.Jonesdid. They set out together,[80]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, forTomPidgeon wasvery good, and never staid on an Errand.

Soon after the Man was gone the[81]Pidgeon was lost, and the Concern the Children were under for Mr.Jonesand littleSallywas in some Measure diverted, and Part of their Attention turned afterTom, 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 kissingSally, you must be a good Girl, says she, and depend upon GODAlmighty for his Blessing and Protection; forhe 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.

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The History of Mr.Lovewell,Father to LadyLucy.

Mr.Lovewellwas born atBath, and apprenticed to a laborious Trade inLondon, 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[83]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 inLondon, 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.Lovewellpossessed of many fine Ships at Sea, and much Money, and he was happy in a Wife, who had brought him a Son and two[84]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, thata 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 theFrench, with whom we were then at War; and this,[85]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[86]Relations, who lived atFlorence, offered to take his Son; and another, who lived atBarbadoes, 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[87]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.[88]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 GODnever forsaketh the Righteous, nor suffereth those to[89]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[90]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.

falling upon her Knees and asked their blessings

Tis impossible to express the mutual[91]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.

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