Release date is 2013-10-26

E-text prepared by Chris Curnow, Diane Monico, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (https://archive.org)

"Young Oliver: or the Thoughtless Boy. A Tale" by Anonymous is a cautionary tale written during the late 18th to early 19th century. This work serves as a moral narrative aimed at young readers, addressing the perils of thoughtlessness and poor decision-making. It chronicles the life of a young boy who experiences significant hardships that ultimately stem from his inability to heed the advice of those around him. The story centers on Little Oliver, born to respectable parents who, after facing a series of misfortunes and losing their farm, see their son bound to a trade as a joiner. Initially hard-working and industrious, Oliver's downfall begins when he succumbs to the temptation of alcohol and bad company. He fritters away the financial assistance from a benevolent merchant and neglects his business responsibilities, leading to bankruptcy and crime. The tale culminates in his tragic end, as he finds himself imprisoned and executed for a life of vice, serving as a stark warning to readers about the consequences of thoughtlessness and the importance of making wise choices. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Original publication data not identified