The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-01-20
The Vicar Of Wakefield; or Trials OF
the Primrose Family.
BY DIR. OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

srrrHE - tf.N
BY DIR. OLIVER GOLDSMITH.
I was ever of tue opinion that the
honest man who married and brought
up large family, did more service than
he who continued single; and l had
scarce taken orders year before chose
nv wife, a good-natured notable wo-
man. who could read any English book
with out much spelling, while for pick
ling, preserving and cookery none could
excel her. We loved each other tender
". had an elegant house in good
neighborhood, and lived many years in
a state of much happiness.
Our children were well-formed and
healthy, and, though we had but six, l
considered them a very valuable pres
ent to nv country. Our eldest son was
named George; our second child, girl,
Olivia; another girl, Sophia; Moses was
our next; and, after twelve years, we
HAD two sons more, Richard and Will
liam. When our visitors would say:
"Mrs. Primrose, you have the finest
children in the whole country!
"Ah, Aeighbor." she would answer,
'sthay are as heaven made them-hand-
some enough if they be good enough;
for handsome is that hondsome does. "
And then she would bid the girls hold
mn their heads; who, to conceal nothing,
were certainly handsome.
Ma rimony was always one OF my IA
vorite topics, and wrote several SER
mons to prove its happiness. 1t was
perhaps. from hearing marriage SO Of
ten recommended that my oldest son,
upon leaving Oxford fixed his affections
upon neighboring clergyman's daugh-
ter. Miss Arabella Wilmot, who was al
lowed by all Except my two daughters
to be completely pretty everything
was soon happily arranged, but as Mr..
Wilmot vas counting his fourth wife,
and 1 always stoutly contended that
a clergyman should not marry second
time. our controversies on this point be-
gan to cool his friendship. The day be-
fore the marriage o relation called with
sorry news. -,
ssThe merchant in town" said he, lin
whose hands your money was lodged:
has gone off to avoid bankruptcy, and
is thought not to have left shilling In
the pound" ~,
This blow soon determined Mr.. Will
mot to break OF the match, and my fami-
" found themselves humbled in the
world, without an education to render
them callous to its contempt. Az We
had only four hundred pounds remain
ing out OF fourteen thousand, / joyfully
accepted . small cure Of Afteen pounds
. year, meaning to increase my salary
bv farming. Ny eldest son, George,
having started for London to seek his
fortune. We ct ont soon after for our
nev home. Stopping the first night 1t
An obscure inn, We found there poor
gentleman named Burchell. who lacked
money to pay his reckoning, hav.
ine temporarily impoverished him
Ell bv his benovelence. gladly lent
him two pounds, and, during part Of
nert dav. he travelled with M, giving me
~ ep1ertaiuing account Of Sir William
ThoruhilI. the generous and eccentric
nncIs Of our new landlord, and endear.
ing himself 70 ~ all BY riunging IN
70 . rapid stream and rescuing Sophia
Who had been thrown from her horse by
the force Of the current.
Oar retreak vas in . little neighbor
hood az frugal farmers. The house, O
a. story. ~ saugly matched, and
nicolv vS,6svnahed ineids, and, though
~ - rpom sarvsd for paFlor ani
ki1ehen - ea1y nAde y the warner
- ~ 10y oinp1D pleasures 10 ~
erh - 49, 60 hono1 Industry, and
-. - 1nnu1nss ~ ~ Wssthsr -!
~ = 1905 - 0voguhnbod VII
~y =