Goody Two-Shoes eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 76 pages of information about Goody Two-Shoes.

Goody Two-Shoes eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 76 pages of information about Goody Two-Shoes.

This Lesson, coming as it were from the Dead, struck him with such Awe, and Reverence for Piety and Virtue, that, before he removed the Treasure, he kneeled down, and earnestly and fervently prayed that he might make a prudent, just and proper Use of it.  He then conveyed the Chest away; but how he got it to England, the Reader will be informed in the History of his Life.  It may not be improper, however, in this Place, to give the Reader some Account of the Philosopher who hid this Treasure, and took so much Pains to find a true and real Friend to enjoy it.  As Tom had Reason to venerate his Memory, he was very particular in his Enquiry, and had this Character of him;—­that he was a Man well acquainted with Nature and with Trade; that he was pious, friendly, and of a sweet and affable Disposition.  That he had acquired a Fortune by Commerce, and having no Relations to leave it to, he travelled through Arabia, Persia, India, Libia and Utopia in search of a real Friend.  In this Pursuit he found several with whom he exchanged good Offices, and that were polite and obliging, but they often flew off for Trifles; or as soon as he pretended to be in Distress, and requested their Assistance, left him to struggle with his own Difficulties.  So true is that Copy in our Books, which says, Adversity is the Touchstone of Friendship.  At last, however, he met with the Utopian Philosopher, or the wise Man of the Mountain, as he is called, and thought in him he had found the Friend he wanted; for though he often pretended to be in Distress, and abandoned to the Frowns of Fortune, this Man always relieved him, and with such Chearfulness and Sincerity, that concluding he had found out the only Man to whom he ought to open both his Purse and his Heart, he let him so far into his Secrets, as to desire his Assistance in hiding a large Sum of Money, which he wanted to conceal, lest the Prince of the Country, who was absolute, should, by the Advice of his wicked Minister, put him to Death for his Gold.  The two Philosophers met and hid the Money, which the Stranger, after some Days, went to see, but found it gone.  How was he struck to the Heart, when he found that his Friend, whom he had often tried, and who had relieved him in his Distress, could not withstand this Temptation, but broke through the sacred Bonds of Friendship, and turned even a Thief for Gold which he did not want, as he was already very rich.  Oh! said he, what is the Heart of Man made of?  Why am I condemned to live among People who have no Sincerity, and who barter the most sacred Ties of Friendship and Humanity for the Dirt that we tread on?  Had I lost my Gold and found a real Friend, I should have been happy with the Exchange, but now I am most miserable.  After some Time he wiped off his Tears, and being determined not to be so imposed on, he had Recourse to Cunning and the Arts of Life.  He went to his pretended Friend with a chearful Countenance, told

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Goody Two-Shoes from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.