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diff --git a/44045-0.txt b/44045-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2d0096 --- /dev/null +++ b/44045-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,405 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44045 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 44045-h.htm or 44045-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44045/44045-h/44045-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/44045/44045-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + https://archive.org/details/youngoliverortho00welliala + + + + + +FRONTISPIECE. + +[Illustration: (open book)] + + O write upon my mem'ry, Lord, + The texts and doctrines of thy word; + That I may break thy laws no more, + But love thee better than before. + +[Illustration: (decorative)] + + +YOUNG OLIVER: +OR THE +_Thoughtless Boy_. + +A TALE. + + +Oh, that men should put an enemy into +their mouths to steal away their brains! + + --SHAKESPEARE. + + + + + + + +[Illustration: (decorative)] + +Wellington: +Printed by F. Houlston and Son. + +Price Two-pence. + + + + +[Illustration: (decorative border)] + +YOUNG OLIVER. + +[Illustration: (decorative)] + + +Little Oliver was born of respectable parents, who lived in a pleasant +and fruitful part of the country. They had a small farm of their own, +and were very industrious in cultivating it. Little Oliver used to +drive the horses, while his father held the plough. Mrs. Oliver kept +the house neat and clean, and made excellent butter and cheese, which +were in great repute all the country round. Their daughter milked the +cows, and assisted her mother in cleaning the house, and in doing +any thing else that was wanted; for she was a dutiful girl, and so +good-tempered, that all their neighbours directed their children to +imitate the behaviour of Patty Oliver. But, notwithstanding all these +prosperous circumstances, misfortunes, to which all are liable, came +upon them, and they were reduced to poverty. + +[Illustration: (ploughing)] + +[Illustration: (milking cow)] + +The fields of Old Oliver were frequently overrun with men and dogs +employed to hunt and shoot. + +[Illustration: (dog chasing deer)] + +The fences were broken down so often, it was impossible to keep them +up. The hunting horses of the 'Squire over-topped the best that could +be made. The corn was trod and eaten. Complaints were made in vain. +Every day brought some fresh oppression. At last, the 'Squire wanted +to buy it. What could the old people do? daily insulted, weary of +life, they took what he chose to give them. It was not above one half +the real value of the farm. Yet no other person would buy it, every +body knew the proud temper of the 'Squire, and his contempt of those +who were in lower circumstances than himself. No poor man ever found +comfort under his roof. The very dogs about his house were taught to +bite those whom poverty had clothed in mean garments. Old Oliver +was particularly his aversion. The ground about, to the distance of +ten miles, was all the 'Squire's, except that which belonged to Old +Oliver, and he wished eagerly to have that likewise. He considered it +disgraceful to have so mean looking a tenement on the border of his +estate. + +[Illustration: (dog)] + +Old Oliver with the sum of one hundred pounds began to open a shop, +at an adjoining town. He had not been bred to any business beside +farming, and with that he was disgusted. He resolved therefore to try +another that he imagined would render him more independant on such +persons as the 'Squire. + +He began to sell sugar, butter, and such articles as poor people +wanted constantly to buy. Numbers flocked in as customers, and seeing +Old Oliver so good-natured a man they contracted debts which they +never paid. Thus was his stock reduced, and he had not sufficient +money to lay in more goods. He was not a judge of every article he +bought, so depended on the words of those of whom he had them, and was +cheated. He frequently was forced to sell such goods for less money +than he had given for them. + +His daughter, the comfort of his life, was lured away from him by +a villain of fortune, who introduced her to the company of women +that had nothing to recommend them besides their fine and tawdry +apparel, and a short time after went abroad, forsook her, and left her +abandoned to the wide world. She never was heard of more. + +[Illustration: (fancy ladies)] + +His wife died of a disease brought on by grief. + +[Illustration: (apprentice)] + +He had no person now to speak to but Little Oliver. The old man sold +off all his goods, and paid his creditors each their share. One, +more tender-hearted than the rest, returned him five guineas. With +this money, he put young Oliver to school for awhile, and then bound +him apprentice to the trade of a joiner, and retired, for his few +remaining days, to the workhouse of his parish. + +Young Oliver made a quick progress in the trade. In five years he +could work as well as any in the shop. In joiner's shops there are +many apprentices and journeymen. Some of them were of a thoughtless +disposition, and much inclined to frequent alehouses. Young Oliver +had little money; he could not indulge his inclination to go with +them, so often as they wanted to persuade him. His master allowed him +to work what is called over-hours, by which means he gained a little +pocket-money. Thus the time passed, till his term of servitude was at +an end. + +He now wished for nothing so much as to become a master; but he wanted +money. + +[Illustration: (church)] + +A merchant, hard by, had often seen the young man, for he had done +him some work in a very neat manner. He knew he was remarkably +industrious, and attended church regularly. Oliver heard he was a +worthy man, and did all the good he could, to any person who stood in +need and whom he thought deserving. Oliver mustered courage enough to +wait on him. He stated his case, mentioned his wishes to begin trade, +and asked for assistance. The merchant lent him one hundred pounds to +begin business. + +You may guess at Oliver's joy. He had the money in his pocket. It +never contained so much before. He thought he had already a work-shop +of his own and some journeymen. He began to reckon how many customers +came to order goods, and what money he should have at the end of the +year. + +In the midst of these emotions of joy, he met an old fellow-workman. +An alehouse was at hand. "Come," said Oliver, as they both entered it, +"I will, for once, have a little pleasure out of a purse of money I +have in my pocket. I will spend six-pence." + +He did not well know whether to call for punch. It was his favourite +liquor. He thought it was too soon to give way to enjoyment. Reason +suggested to him, he should, first of all, try to pay back what the +good merchant had lent him. At present, thought he, it is not honest +for me to lay out a penny of the money, for any thing not necessary. +These notions impressed him so strongly, he was ready to return. + +His companion now asked him what he stood moping there for. "Come, sit +down," said he. "What shall we have to drink?" Oliver was diverted +from thinking more, and called for six-pennyworth of punch. He +thought to himself, if I spend six-pence of the money I shall have +ninety-nine pounds, nineteen shillings, and six-pence left. Such a sum +is enough to set up trade, and a single hour's industry will make up +again such a small expence as the present. + +It was thus, taking up the glass, he sought to quiet his inward +scruples; but alas, this conduct opened to him a door for ruin. + +On the morrow he recollected what agreeable chat and good liquor he +had at the alehouse. It filled his mind; and he was not scrupulous +about spending one shilling more. The alehouse was near; he again +stepped in. He tried wine. He had never drank any before. He liked it +exceedingly, and determined to have a pint more. + +On the days following he longed for more liquor, and constantly +visited his beloved alehouse. He began to drink each time more than +the preceding. You know, he began with six-pence, then he spent a +shilling; now, each time, he spends half-a-crown. He made indeed at +the first half-crown, a short reflection; but, afterwards, he consoled +himself with saying, "'Tis but two-and-six-pence I am spending. O, I +need not fear but I shall have enough left to carry on my trade." + +So powerful is habit; so deluding is temptation to low indulgencies! +reason would now and then urge a contrary conduct; but company led +him on, and he was inexperienced in the world. + +[Illustration: (in alehouse)] + +Oliver's money at first was one hundred pounds. He had yet ninety +pounds left. He now determined to begin business. He made bargains, +which never were transacted but in his favourite alehouse. He must +needs have some liquor at every bargain, and some more when payment +was made. The people of whom he bought wood could not afford to spend +money and sell cheap; so were obliged to charge a good deal more to +Oliver than to other persons. Oliver thus lost his time, laid in his +goods too high, and attended very little to his shop. + +Would Oliver have done well, he should have been sober and diligent as +formerly. The good employment of all his money depended on a careful +use of the smallest part. These thoughts did not at all strike him. + +[Illustration: (boy beaten)] + +You may perceive, my little friends, how by want of thought Oliver by +degrees became fond of liquor, low company, and a vagrant life. Check, +therefore, the most trifling inclination to the company of bad boys, +who deserve whipping till they grow better, and be careful to avoid +bad ways. You that have parents, listen to their advice and never +forget what they say to you. So will you be loved by good men, and +prosper in the world. Oliver had no parents; but had he listened to +reason and common sense he would have acted quite differently. + +After he received the money from his best friend, the merchant, Oliver +never called any more at his house. He was ashamed to see him, +conscious he was acting wrong. + +The merchant made enquiries frequently about Oliver; wondering much +he did not hear some account from his own lips. The merchant having +required no recompense for the use of his money, thought gratitude +would have induced Oliver to have now and then called to give some +account of his success in business. The merchant considered himself +Oliver's best friend, having proved himself so by lending him money +at a time when it was not likely any other person would have done the +like. Besides, as Oliver had been unfortunate in losing his parents, +who loved him more than any one, the merchant expected he would have +wanted some advice in many things of which youth are ignorant. + +The merchant had much experience, and would have taken great pleasure +in pointing out what was best. He had received some hints of Oliver's +proceedings, but wished to think better of him than was represented. +He concluded, Oliver would by and by call at his house, and clear up +every evil report. He hoped, at present, Oliver was too busy in his +trade and could not spare time. The merchant's good disposition caused +him to judge too favourably of the vices of others. In this instance +he was sadly deceived; the case was different. + +[Illustration: (keys)] + +Oliver found no longer any joy in industry. He frequently locked up +his shop to go to the alehouse. He thought not of the evil days that +were to come.--Days that might have been pleasant to him. He thought +only of the money in his pocket, which was likely to last yet a long +time. He trusted to some good fortune, as he called it, for more. +From day to day his present stock was diminishing. What blindness, +what folly could lead him on thus madly! + +Conviction at last came. Came like a clap of thunder. Alas! it came +too late. His creditors wanted money; he had none left. He could +ask no more of the merchant, he knew he would not lend him any. The +merchant perceived he had done Oliver an injury. Elated with having +so much money, he acted as if it would never have diminished. The +merchant had not considered the MIND of Oliver. + +[Illustration: (butterfly)] + +Oliver's mind was weak and trifling; and might be compared to a +butterfly, always roving about, but never gaining any thing by it. +As he mixed only with low company, his ideas were grovelling; and, +though an excellent workman, his genius, was of an ordinary kind. He +was not formed for the execution of any thing great or noble. He had, +indeed, natural good sense sufficient, but he did not hearken to what +it dictated; bad habits had suppressed every generous principle of the +mind. + +Overcome with shame and grief, he sought to stifle reflection by hard +drinking. The frightful moment came. His few effects were sold and +divided among his creditors. Thus did ruin fall on him. He was now +disgusted with industry. He would not work. He was himself an object +of horror. Life became a burden. A scene of poverty opened before him. + +[Illustration: (pirate ship)] + +He fled from his country; followed by goadings of conscience, and +despair. He joined a gang of smugglers, formidable for the ravages +they spread through every country on the coast. God did not permit +their violence to continue for a long time unpunished. Their ship was +taken, the whole gang were seized, and Oliver, with the rest, was +committed to prison. He was put into a solitary cell, loaded with +fetters, deprived nearly of light, and allowed only bread and water +to subsist upon. His bed was composed of straw. In this miserable +situation he remained two months. He was then tried, found guilty +of many crimes, and condemned to be shot to death. I will spare you +the pain you would feel on hearing the account of his exit. Let this +suffice, he ended his short term of wickedness by much repentance and +a disgraceful death. + +[Illustration: (man shooting rifle)] + +Alas! had Oliver listened at first to reason, his case would not have +been thus. Had the dictates of conscience been regarded, all would +have been well. His situation would have been easy; his pleasures +temperate, as become a sensible being. He would have enjoyed +repute and honour, and the repose of opulent old age; have lived +respectably, and died happily. + +Surely, my young friends, you shudder at such lamentable folly. I +hope as _you_ grow up you will avoid bad company, and the love of +more liquor than nature requires. Always attend to what your friends +advise. So may God prosper your pursuits. Be good, and you will sooner +or later be happy. If not in this life, in that beyond the grave. + +Be always careful of your money; laying it out on something that may +be useful. Money is intended for some good purpose. You may sometime +want it extremely. Never buy any thing, without asking your friends +what is most proper for your age and capacity. Never spend it without +thought. + +Days, months, and years pass on. At times, look back, and examine if +a good use has been made of them, and if we may not do something +better in future. The design of this life is to prepare our minds +and dispositions to enter upon a state of existence perfectly happy; +where no care or misery is known, but where all people, who have been +virtuous here, enjoy complete felicity. In that future state, those +who have done evil actions in this world, feel misery that cannot be +described; and better would it have been for them, had they never +possessed rational faculties, but have been brute beasts, without +understanding, yea, never to have existed. + +[Illustration: (boar)] + +If vice at any time appears to us in an engaging dress, it is +occasioned by overlooking the deformities it endeavours to hide. The +disposition of a wolf is not changed, though he put on the clothing +of a sheep. If vice ensnares for a moment, think of the story of Young +Oliver, and be wise ere it is too late. + +[Illustration: (decorative)] + + + + +[Illustration: (decorative border)] + + + + +TWO WAYS _OF ATTAINING WISDOM_. + + +[Illustration: (decorative)] + +The two sons of a certain gentleman repaired, one afternoon, to the +garden, for an airing. The gardener, seeing them approach a bee-hive, +begged they would keep at a greater distance, lest the enraged insects +should sting them. + +[Illustration: (bee hive)] + +"I have never yet been stung!" said Harry, daringly; and walked on, +regardless of the caution which he had received. Before the gardener +could turn round, master Harry was saluted by a most excruciating +impression on his cheek. Thus, by _doleful experience_, he became +wise. + +Constantine, on the contrary, following the gardener's advice, +owed his wisdom to timely _instruction_.--Now, Children, which of +these two young gentlemen had the greatest claim to superiority of +understanding? Not one of you will hesitate to give Constantine that +preference to which he is so justly entitled! + + +[Illustration: A Tinker. (front inside cover)] + +[Illustration: A Jew. (back inside cover)] + + + + + * * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Minor punctuation errors were silently corrected. + +Illustrations were moved to avoid breaking up paragraphs of text. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44045 *** |