The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes | Page 6

tired of the Subject, I
shall take myself away, and you may visit Little Margery. So, Sir, your
Servant,
The EDITOR.

CHAP. I.
How and about Little Margery and her Brother.

Care and Discontent shortened the Days of Little _Margery's_
Father.--He was forced from his Family, and seized with a violent
Fever in a Place where Dr. _James's_ Powder was not to be had, and
where he died miserably. _Margery's_ poor Mother survived the Loss
of her Husband but a few Days, and died of a broken Heart, leaving
Margery and her little Brother to the wide World; but, poor Woman, it
would have melted your Heart to have seen how frequently she heaved
up her Head, while she lay speechless, to survey with languishing
Looks her little Orphans, as much as to say, _Do Tommy, do Margery,
come with me_. They cried, poor Things, and she sighed away her Soul;
and I hope is happy.
[Illustration]
It would both have excited your Pity, and have done your Heart good,
to have seen how fond these two little ones were of each other, and how,
Hand in Hand, they trotted about. Pray see them.
[Illustration]
They were both very ragged, and Tommy had two Shoes, but Margery
had but one. They had nothing, poor Things, to support them (not being
in their own Parish) but what they picked from the Hedges, or got from
the poor People, and they lay every Night in a Barn. Their Relations
took no Notice of them; no, they were rich, and ashamed to own such a
poor little ragged Girl as Margery, and such a dirty little curl-pated Boy
as Tommy. Our Relations and Friends seldom take Notice of us when
we are poor; but as we grow rich they grow fond. And this will always
be the Case, while People love Money better than Virtue, or better than
they do GOD Almighty. But such wicked Folks, who love nothing but
Money, and are proud and despise the Poor, never come to any good in
the End, as we shall see by and by.

CHAP. II.
_How and about Mr._ Smith.

Mr. Smith was a very worthy Clergyman, who lived in the Parish where
Little Margery and Tommy were born; and having a Relation come to
see him, who was a charitable good Man, he sent for these Children to
him. The Gentleman ordered Little Margery a new Pair of Shoes, gave
Mr. Smith some Money to buy her Cloathes; and said, he would take
Tommy and make him a little Sailor; and accordingly had a Jacket and
Trowsers made for him, in which he now appears. Pray look at him.
[Illustration]
After some Days the Gentleman intended to go to London, and take
little Tommy with him, of whom you will know more by and by, for we
shall at a proper Time present you with some Part of his History, his
Travels and Adventures.
[Illustration]
The Parting between these two little Children was very affecting,
Tommy cried, and Margery cried, and they kissed each other an
hundred Times. At last Tommy thus wiped off her Tears with the End
of his Jacket, and bid her cry no more, for that he would come to her
again, when he returned from Sea. However, as they were so very fond,
the Gentleman would not suffer them to take Leave of each other; but
told Tommy he should ride out with him, and come back at Night.
When night came, Little Margery grew very uneasy about her Brother,
and after sitting up as late as Mr. Smith would let her, she went crying
to Bed.

CHAP. III.
How Little Margery obtained the Name of Goody Two-Shoes, _and
what happened in the Parish._
As soon as Little Margery got up in the Morning, which was very early,
she ran all round the Village, crying for her Brother; and after some
Time returned greatly distressed. However, at this Instant, the
Shoemaker very opportunely came in with the new Shoes, for which

she had been measured by the Gentleman's Order.
[Illustration]
Nothing could have supported Little Margery under the Affliction she
was in for the Loss of her Brother, but the Pleasure she took in her two
Shoes. She ran out to Mrs. Smith as soon as they were put on, and
stroking down her ragged Apron thus, cried out, _Two Shoes, Mame,
see two Shoes_. And so she behaved to all the People she met, and by
that Means obtained the Name of _Goody Two-Shoes_, though her
Playmates called her _Old Goody Two-Shoes_.
Little Margery was very happy in being with Mr. and Mrs. Smith, who
were very charitable and good to her, and had agreed to breed her up
with their Family; but as soon as