History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Read online

  Chapter viii.

  A childish incident, in which, however, is seen a good-natureddisposition in Tom Jones.

  The reader may remember that Mr Allworthy gave Tom Jones a littlehorse, as a kind of smart-money for the punishment which he imaginedhe had suffered innocently.

  This horse Tom kept above half a year, and then rode him to aneighbouring fair, and sold him.

  At his return, being questioned by Thwackum what he had done with themoney for which the horse was sold, he frankly declared he would nottell him.

  "Oho!" says Thwackum, "you will not! then I will have it out of yourbr--h;" that being the place to which he always applied forinformation on every doubtful occasion.

  Tom was now mounted on the back of a footman, and everything preparedfor execution, when Mr Allworthy, entering the room, gave the criminala reprieve, and took him with him into another apartment; where, beingalone with Tom, he put the same question to him which Thwackum hadbefore asked him.

  Tom answered, he could in duty refuse him nothing; but as for thattyrannical rascal, he would never make him any other answer than witha cudgel, with which he hoped soon to be able to pay him for all hisbarbarities.

  Mr Allworthy very severely reprimanded the lad for his indecent anddisrespectful expressions concerning his master; but much more for hisavowing an intention of revenge. He threatened him with the entireloss of his favour, if he ever heard such another word from his mouth;for, he said, he would never support or befriend a reprobate. By theseand the like declarations, he extorted some compunction from Tom, inwhich that youth was not over-sincere; for he really meditated somereturn for all the smarting favours he had received at the hands ofthe pedagogue. He was, however, brought by Mr Allworthy to express aconcern for his resentment against Thwackum; and then the good man,after some wholesome admonition, permitted him to proceed, which hedid as follows:--

  "Indeed, my dear sir, I love and honour you more than all the world: Iknow the great obligations I have to you, and should detest myself ifI thought my heart was capable of ingratitude. Could the little horseyou gave me speak, I am sure he could tell you how fond I was of yourpresent; for I had more pleasure in feeding him than in riding him.Indeed, sir, it went to my heart to part with him; nor would I havesold him upon any other account in the world than what I did. Youyourself, sir, I am convinced, in my case, would have done the same:for none ever so sensibly felt the misfortunes of others. What wouldyou feel, dear sir, if you thought yourself the occasion of them?Indeed, sir, there never was any misery like theirs."

  "Like whose, child?" says Allworthy: "What do you mean?"

  "Oh, sir!" answered Tom, "your poor gamekeeper, with all his largefamily, ever since your discarding him, have been perishing with allthe miseries of cold and hunger: I could not bear to see these poorwretches naked and starving, and at the same time know myself to havebeen the occasion of all their sufferings. I could not bear it, sir;upon my soul, I could not." [Here the tears ran down his cheeks, andhe thus proceeded.] "It was to save them from absolute destruction Iparted with your dear present, notwithstanding all the value I had forit: I sold the horse for them, and they have every farthing of themoney."

  Mr Allworthy now stood silent for some moments, and before he spokethe tears started from his eyes. He at length dismissed Tom with agentle rebuke, advising him for the future to apply to him in cases ofdistress, rather than to use extraordinary means of relieving themhimself.

  This affair was afterwards the subject of much debate between Thwackumand Square. Thwackum held, that this was flying in Mr Allworthy'sface, who had intended to punish the fellow for his disobedience. Hesaid, in some instances, what the world called charity appeared to himto be opposing the will of the Almighty, which had marked someparticular persons for destruction; and that this was in like manneracting in opposition to Mr Allworthy; concluding, as usual, with ahearty recommendation of birch.

  Square argued strongly on the other side, in opposition perhaps toThwackum, or in compliance with Mr Allworthy, who seemed very much toapprove what Jones had done. As to what he urged on this occasion, asI am convinced most of my readers will be much abler advocates forpoor Jones, it would be impertinent to relate it. Indeed it was notdifficult to reconcile to the rule of right an action which it wouldhave been impossible to deduce from the rule of wrong.