The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes | Page 8

G I L N P R T V X J.

and he picked them all up, and having told their Names, placed them
thus:
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.
Now, pray little Reader, take this Bodkin, and see if you can point out
the Letters from these mixed Alphabets, and tell how they should be
placed as well as little Boy Billy.
The next Place we came to was Farmer _Simpson's_, and here it is.
[Illustration]
_Bow wow, wow_, says the Dog at the Door. Sirrah, says his Mistress,
what do you bark at Little _Two-Shoes_. Come in _Madge_; here,
Sally wants you sadly, she has learned all her Lesson. Then out came
the little one: So _Madge!_ say she; so _Sally!_ answered the other,
have you learned your Lesson? Yes, that's what I have, replied the little
one in the Country Manner; and immediately taking the Letters she set
up these Syllables:
ba be bi bo bu, ca ce ci co cu da 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 ud af 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 the Little Pretty Play Thing, published by Mr.
NEWBERY) and to the same Tune to which it is there set.
After this, Little _Two-Shoes_ taught her to spell Words of one
Syllable, 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 was _Gaffer Cook's_ Cottage; there you see
it before you.

[Illustration]
Here a number of poor Children were met to learn; who all came round
Little Margery at 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 you Polly Comb for your Dinner? _Apple-pye_
answered 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 had Potatoes, the next Beef and Turnip which were spelt with
many others, till the Game of Spelling was finished. She then set them
another Task, and we proceeded.
The next Place we came to was Farmer _Thompson'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 has Sally
Dawson, and so has Harry 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 GOD Almighty will love you; so let us begin
our Lessons. They all huddled round 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._
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 pray GOD _to bless