 For as this changed
from Weeds to Black, from Black to Grey, from Grey to White, so did her
Countenance change from Dismal to Sorrowful, from Sorrowful to Sad, and from Sad
to Serious, till the Day came in which she was allowed to return to her former
Serenity.
    We have mentioned these two as Examples only of the Task which may be
imposed on Readers of the lowest Class. Much higher and harder Exercises of
Judgment and Penetration may reasonably be expected from the upper Graduates in
Criticism. Many notable Discoveries will, I doubt not, be made by such, of the
Transactions which happened in the Family of our worthy Man, during all the
Years which we have thought proper to pass over: For tho' nothing worthy of a
Place in this History occurred within that Period; yet did several Incidents
happen, of equal Importance with those reported by the daily and weekly
Historians of the Age, in reading which, great Numbers of Persons consume a
considerable Part of their Time, very little, I am afraid, to their Emolument.
Now, in the Conjectures here proposed, some of the most excellent Faculties of
the Mind may be employed to much Advantage, since it is a more useful Capacity
to be able to foretel the Actions of Men in any Circumstance from their
Characters; than to judge of their Characters from their Actions. The former, I
own, requires the greater Penetration; but may be accomplished by true Sagacity,
with no less Certainty than the latter.
    As we are sensible that much the greatest Part of our Readers are very
eminently possessed of this Quality, we have left them a Space of twelve Years
to exert it in; and shall now bring forth our Heroe, at about fourteen Years of
Age, not questioning that many have been long impatient to be introduced to his
Acquaintance.
 

                                   Chapter II

 The Heroe of this great History appears with very bad Omens. A little Tale, of
  so LOW a Kind, that some may think it not worth their Notice. A Word or two
  concerning a Squire, and more relating to a Game-keeper, and a Schoolmaster.
 
As we determined when we first sat down to write this History, to flatter no
Man; but to guide our Pen throughout by the Directions of Truth, we are obliged
to bring our Heroe on the Stage in a much more disadvantageous Manner than we
could wish; and to declare honestly, even at his first Appearance, that it was
the universal Opinion of all Mr. Allworthy's Family, that he was certainly born
to be hanged.
    Indeed, I am sorry to say,
