The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes | Page 5

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