The Osceola times., 1877-02-17
THEvICAR OFWAKEFIELD
BY DIR. OLIVER GOLDSMITH,

was ever of opinion that tie honest
man who married, and brought up a
large family, did more service than he
who continued single; and I had scarce
token orders year before | chose nv
wife, good natnred. notable woman,
who could read any English book with
out much spelling, while for picking,
preserving and cooking none could excel
her. We loved each other tenderly. had
an elegant house, good neighborhood
and lived many years in state OF much
happiness.
Our children were well formed and
healthy, and though we had but six, |
considered them very valuable present
made to my country. Our eldest son
was named George; our secoad child, n
girl, Olivia; another girl, Sophia; Moses
was our next; and after twelve years, we
had two sons more, Richard and William.
When our visitors would say:
Mrs. Primrose, you have the finest
children in the whole country /"
"Ay, neighbor," she would answer
"they are as heaven made them
handsome enough il they he good
enough; for handsome is that handsome
does"
And then she would bid the girls hold
up their heads, who, to conceal nothing.
were certainly very handsome.
Matrimony was always one of INV IA
write topics, and wrote several ser.
mons to prove its happiness. 1t was
perhaps, from hearing marrisge 40 often
recommended that nv eldest son. upon
leaving Oxford, fixed his affections upon
aneiighboring clergyman's daughter. Mis-.
AraDslla Wllmot, who was allowed by
all Except my two dsughters) 10 be
completely pretty. Everything was
soon happily arranged, but, as Mr.. vii.
mot was cour,ing his fourth wife, and |
always stoutly contended that clergy
mea should not marry a second time.
our controversies on the point began to
cool his friendship. The day before the
wedding relation of mine called with
sorry news.
The merchant in town." said he, "in
whose hands your money was lodged,
has gone Oh 10 avoid bankruptcy. and is
Thought not to have left a shilling in the
found"
This blow soon determined Mr. Wilmot
TO preak of the match, and nv famil.
found themselves humblei in the world
without an education ts render them cal
iout TO Its contempt. As we had only
tf,ooO remaining out of clI,O00, /
loyiuliy accepted small cure of 6l.
teen pounds a year, meaning 10 in.
crease my salary by farming. NY cid.
est son George having started for Lon.
don TO seek his fortune, we set out soon
after Tor our new home. Stopping the
iirst night at en- obscure inn, we found
there poor gentleman, named Burchrll
who lacked money to pay his reckoning,
having temporarily Impoverished him.
sell by his benevoence. I gladly lent
him two pounds, and, during part Of the
next day, he Travelled with us. giving
me an entertaining account of SIR vii.
ham Thornhill, the generous and cecen.
inc uncle OF our new landlord, and en-
dearing himself TO us all bv plunging
into a rapid stream and rescuinr Sophia,
who had been thrown from her horse by
the force of the current.
Our retreat was in little neighbor-
hood OF frugal iarmes. The house of one
story, was snugly matched, and nicely
whitewashed inside, and, though the
same room served for a parlor and
kltchen, that only made il the warmer.
We had many simple pleasures TO refresh
us alter our honest industry, and often
SAT together, when the weather was fine,
on q rustic seat overshadewed with
hawthorn and honeysuckle.
There, one holiday, a genteel young
msn approached us with careless supe.
rior air, and soon let us know that he
was Squire Thornhill our landlord. Such
is the power of fortune and fine clothes
that be was forthwith on the easiest
terms with the female part Of the fami.
~, and readily obtained permission to
renew his visits.
Ny wife thought this meeting a most
lucky hit, and declared she could see no
reason why the two Miss Wrinklers
should marry great fortunes, and ber
children ret none. Observing that
Olivia secretly admired the squire, I
warned them heartily against dispropor-
tened friendships, but the arrival Of a
sids Of venison, with his compliments,
dulled the edge of my remonstrance.
That evening poor Mr.. BurcKell made
us : visit, and helped up the pext day
is ~ hAyGeld, assisting Sophia With !
1s25ty; bat ! had too good an opinloq /