The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes | Page 4

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