The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-01-18
THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.
BY DG. OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

1 WIS ever Of opinion that the homes;
man Who. married, and brought up a
large fan4v. did more service than he
who conttued single and l had scarce
taken oniA = wear before l chose my
wife, good naturei, notable woman,
who could read any English book with
ont much spelling, while for picking,
preserving anG cookery none could excel
her. We loved each other tenderly, had
an elegant house IA q good nsighborhood,
and lived many years in state OF much
happiness.
oar children were well formed and
healthy, and, though we hal but SIX,
considered them a very valuable prssen:
naieto my country. Our eldest son WAS
named George oUr second child, a girl,
Olivia another girl, Sophia Moses was
our next; anl, after twelve years, We
had two sons more, Rlchar5and William.
When our visitors would say
Mrs. Primrose, You have the finest
children III the whole country
Av. neighbor.' she would answer,
"thev are as Heaven mad%them-hand-
some enough il they be CoOd enough
for handsome is that handsome does.
And then she would bid the girls hold
up their heSds who, 20 conceal moth
ing. were certainly very handsome.
Matrimony was always one Of my
flvarite topics. and | wrute several SER
mons to prove its happiness. 1t was,
perhaps. from hearing marriage SO often
re,ommenlel that my eldest son, upon
leaving Oxf ri, fixed his affections upon
q neighborjug clerEymEn's daughter.
Miss rabella Wilmot, who was allowed
hy all Jexcept my two daughters 70 be
completely pretty. Everything WIS
sDoa happily arranged, bat, rs Mr.. VII
mot was courtng his fourth wife, and |
always st0utly eontended that clergy
man should not marry second time.
cur controversies on this point began to
col his friendship. The day before the
welding a relation OF mine called with
sorry news.
The merchant in town, said he, in
whose hands your money was lodged, has
gone of to avoid bankruptcy, and is
thought not - have left shilling in the
pound
This blow soon determined Mr. VII
i1ot t. break or the match, and my
family found themselves humbled IN the
world without an e,lucat:on to render
them callous to its contempt As We had
only four hundred pounds remaining ont
of fourteen thousand, / joy.ully accepted
q small cure Of fifteen pounds year,
meaning - increase my salary by farm
ing. Nv eldest son George having
started for London 20 seek his fortune,
we set out soon after for our new home.
Stopping the first night ~ an obscure
inn, we founl there a poor gentleman q,
named Burchell, who lacked money u
pay his reckoning. having Temporarily
Impoverished himself by his beneynlence.
] gladly lent him two pounds, and, dur
ing part Of the next day, be Travelled
with u, giving me an entertaining nc
count Of S.r William Thornhll, the gen
crUus and eccentric uncle of our new
landlord, and endearing himself 10 Us all
by plunging into a rapid stream and res
cling SOPHIA. who had been thrown from
her horse by the force ot the current
Our retreat was in a little ne:ghbOr-
hood of frugal farmers. The house, OF
one story, was snugly tiatcled, and nicely
whitewRshed inside, and, though the
same room served for parlor and kitchen,
that only made il the warmer. We had
many simple pleasures 20 refresh Us after
our honest ministry, and often sat To-
gether, when the weather was fine, on q
rustic seat eEeTshadowed with hawthorn
and honeyBuckle.
There, one holiday, q genteel young
man approached us with careless supe-
rior air, and soon let us know that he WIS
Squire Thornhill, onr landlord. Slch Is
tine power OF fortune and fine clothes that
lie was forthwith on the easiest terms
with the female part Of the family, and
readily obtained permission to renew his
visits.
NJ wife thought this meeting most
luchy hit, and declared she could see no
reason why the two Mss Wrinklers
should marry great fortunes, and her
children get none. Observing that Olivia
secretly admired the squire, / warned
them heartily against disproportioned
friendships, but the arrival Of n side Of
venison, with his compliments, dulled the
edge Of my Temonstrance.
That evening poor Mr. Burchen made
ns visit, pnd helped us the next day in
the bayfield,, assisting Sophia with assi1-
Eity but / had too good an opinion Of
her understanding to be under any I'M
Business from the attentions of man Of
broken fortune
Shortly after, we entertained our land
lord OF dinner, aud, though he talked
Ike fippant freethiuker, he made him
self highly agreeable to Olivia and her
mother, who began TO speak exultantly
Of match with the squire's family, and
defended him with warmth, when / de-
clared:
81 could have been better pleased
with one that was poor and honest, than
this fine gentleman with his fortune and
infidelity"
The rext morning Mr.. Burchell came
again, and though lie was always cheer
ful, amiable and even wise, L began to be
displeased with the impression he seemed
to be making on Sophia. However, he
took himself away when the squire sent
word by his chaplain that he intended
giving a moonlight ball on the grass be.
fore or door. Mr.. Thornhill fetched
two young ladies Of fashion from town
neighbor Flamborough's rosy daughters
were brought in, Haunting with red top
knots, end we had very gay time OF it.
winding up with prayers.