Summary
Chapter I
The narrator sets up a contract with the Reader, casting himself as a
Restauranteur, his work as a "Feast," and the Reader as his patron. Since the
Reader must pay for what he eats—the book—the narrator invites the
Reader to mull over the menu, which he promises to provide in the way of an
introductory clause at the opening of each Book and each Chapter. The type of
cuisine is none other than "human nature," a topic which has been written about
in the cheaper kind of literature, —thought it has been grossly bandied
about in stall-bound "Romances, Novels, Plays and Poems"—may have
refinement depending on the "Cookery of the Author." The narrator intends to
mimic the cookery of Heliogabalus, a Roman emperor who initiated his guests with
simple fare, slowly building to more sophisticated delicacies. After serving up
his simple fare of country characters, the narrator will present the Reader with
the "high French and Italian Seasoning of Affectation and Vice which Courts and
Cities afford."
Chapter II
In the western domain of England lives a retired gentleman, Mr. Allworthy,
blessed by Nature with good looks, robust health, understanding, an altruistic
disposition, and one of the most prosperous estates in the county of
Somersetshire. Five years before the story begins, Allworthy's beautiful and
virtuous wife passed away, following their three children, who died as infants.
Allworthy, however, still considers himself married—a sentiment that
inspires the praise of his neighbors. Allworthy lives with his only sibling, his
beloved sister, Miss Bridget Allworthy, who is called an "old Maid" because
she is thirty years old and unmarried. Miss Bridget is one of those "very good
sort of Women," which is the description women give to other women who are
deprived of beauty.
Chapter III
The reader may assume, based on the previous chapter's description, that
Allworthy does nothing other than perform benevolent deeds. But if this were the
case, the narrator says, he would not have wasted his time producing a work of
such epic length. If the Reader would rather read such matter, he can peruse
instead one of those boring books called The History of England.
An exhausted Allworthy, returning from business in London, retires to bed. On
pulling back the sheets he discovers a baby boy, swaddled in linen, sleeping
sweetly. Although greatly surprised, Allworthy cannot help but feel empathy for
the little being, and awe at its beauty. Allworthy rings his bell to summon his
old-time servant, Mrs. Deborah Wilkins. Mrs. Deborah takes some time to preen
herself, in spite of the urgency of Allworthy's summons, and it should therefore
come as no surprise, the narrator says, that she is shocked to find Allworthy,
who in his haste has forgotten to dress, wearing only his nightshirt. After
delivering a long monologue on the indecency of unchaste women—whom she
calls "wicked Sluts", Mrs. Deborah advises Allworthy to discard the baby at the
parish door. But, during Mrs. Deborah's speech, the baby has clasped Allworthy's
finger in his tiny hand, winning the man's heart. Allworthy orders Mrs. Deborah
to carry the boy to her bed, prepare food for him, and to seek out appropriate
clothes the next day. Mrs. Deborah, always loyal to her master, now calls the
boy a "sweet little Infant" and whisks the child away in her arms.
Chapter IV
Allworthy's Gothic-style house, which resides on a hill beneath a grove of old
oaks, is on a property that stretches out beyond lawns, meadows, and woods, and
out to the sea. Allworthy takes in this view during a mid-May morning walk, in
which his mind stews over the noble question of how he "might render himself
most acceptable to his Creator, by doing most Good to his Creatures." At
breakfast, Allworthy tells Miss Bridget he has a gift for her, which she
suspects will be a gown, or jewelry. She is therefore speechless with surprise
on first being presented with the baby boy Allworthy found in his bed the night
before. Miss Bridget calls the unknown mother every vile name she knows, but she
nevertheless shows some compassion for the child. All the female servants in the
house are suspected, but all are "acquitted" by Mrs. Wilkins, to whom the task
of inspecting all the women in the parish is given. Miss Bridget agrees to take
care of the child, at her brother's request.
Chapter V
Once Allworthy departs, Mrs. Deborah waits for contradictory orders from
Miss Bridget, since she knows that the brother and sister's opinions begin to
differ as soon as they are apart. Miss Bridget, after staring for a little
while at the baby sleeping in Mrs. Deborah's lap, cannot refrain from kissing it
and praising its beauty. She then sets about ordering "Necessaries" for the
child, and appoints one of the best rooms in the house to be its nursery. This
is not without a sly and contradictory quip at her brother, however, whom she
scorns for desiring to support Vice by adopting "the little Brat."
