"So, little Mrs. Goody Two-Shoes," said 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 have we 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 lesson."
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 Lord have mercy upon me, and grant I may always be good, and say my prayers, and love the Lord my God with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my strength; and honor government and all good men in authority.
Little Margery then set them to compose the following:
LESSON FOR THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
He that will thrive
Must rise by five.
He that hath thriv'n
May lie till seven.
Truth may be blamed,
But cannot be shamed.
Tell me with whom you go,
And I'll tell what you do.
A friend in your need
Is a friend indeed.
They ne'er can be wise
Who good counsel despise.
As we were returning home, we saw a gentleman, who was very ill, sitting under a shady tree at the corner of his rookery. Though ill, he began to joke with Little Margery, and said laughing, "So, Goody Two-Shoes! They tell me you are a cunning little baggage; pray, can you tell me what I shall do to get well?"