Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 1).pdf/87

  An odd Accident which befel Mr. Allworthy'', at his Return home. The decent Behaviour of Mrs. Deborah Wilkins, with ome proper Animadverions on Batards.''

Have told my Reader, in the preceding Chapter, that Mr. Allworthy inherited a large Fortune; that he had a good Heart, and no Family. Hence, doubtles, it will be concluded by many, that he lived like an honet Man, owed no one a Shilling, took nothing but what was his own, kept a good Houe, entertained his Neighbours with a hearty Welcome at his Table, and was charitable to the Poor, i. e. to thoe who had rather beg than work, by giving them the Offals from it; that he dy’d immenely rich, and built a Hopital.

And true it is, that he did many of thee Things; but, had he done nothing more, I hould have left him to have recorded his own Merit on ome fair Free-Stone over the Door of that Hopital. Matters of a much more extraordinary Kind are to be the Subject of this Hitory, or I hould grosly mipend my Time in writing o voluminous