The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-02-16
VICAR OF
BY DIR. OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

| was aver of opinion that the honest
man who married, and brought up a
large family, did more service than he
who continued single; and had scarce
taken orders a year before | chose my
wife, a good natured, 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, a 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, |
considered them a very valuable present
made to my country. Our eldest son
was named George; our second child, a
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 %
GAY, ~neighbor," she would answer,
"they are as heaven made them
handsome enough if they be 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 vas always one OF my IA
vorite topics, and | wrote several SER
mons to prove its happiness. 1t was,
perhaps, from hearing marriage so often
recommended that my eldest son, upon
leaving Oxford, fixed his affections upon
a %neighboring clergyman's daughter, Miss
Arabella Wilmot, who was allowed by
all Except my two daughters) to be
completely pretty. Everything was
soon happily arranged, but, as Mr.. Will
mot was counting his fourth wife, and l
always stoutly contended that clergy
men should not marry a second time,
our controversies on the point began to
cool his friendship. The day before the
wedding a relation of mine called with
sorry news.
'"The merchant in town." said he, Sin
whose hands your money vas lodged,
has gone off to avoid bankruptcy, and is
thought not to have left a shilling in the
pound"
This blow soon Determined Mr.. Wilmot
to break off the match, and my family
found themselves humbled in the world
without an education to render them cal
lous to its contempt. As We had only
$4,000 remaining out of Gl4,00O, ]
ioyfully accepted a small CURE of hit
teen pounds a year, meaning to in
crease my salary by farming. My cid
est son George having started for Lon
don to seek his fortune, we set out soor
after for our new home. Stopping the
first night at an obscure inn, we founC
there a poor gentleman, named Burchell
who lacked money to pay his reckoning
having temporarily impoverished him
self by his benevolence. ! gladly len
him two pounds, and, during part of tn,
next day, he travelled with us, givins
me an entertaining account of Sir Wi
liam Thornhill, the generous and eccen
trio uncle of our new landlord, and en-.
dearing himself to us all by plunginI
into a rapid stream and rescuing Sophia
who had been thrown from her horse b.
the force of the current.
Our retreat was in a little neighboI
hood of frugal farmes. The house of on
story, was snugly matched, and nicel
whitewashed inside, and, though tn
same room served for a parlor an
kitchen, that only made it the warmer
We had many simple pleasures to refres
us after our honest industry, and otte
sat together, when the weather was mt
on a rustic seat o~vershadewed wit
hawthorn and hofeysuckle.
There, one holiday, a genteel youn
man approached us with a careless sup
rior air, and soon let us know that
was Squire Thornhill our landlord. sue
is the power Of fortune and fine cleth
that he was forthwith IN the easie
terms with the female part of the fan
ly, and readily obtained permission
renew his visits.
My wife thought this meeting a mo
lucky hit, and declared she could see
reason why the two Miss Wrinkle
should marry great fortunes, and b
children get none Observing tn
Olivia secretly admired the squire,
warned them heartily against dispropt
tened friendships, but the arrival of
side of venison, with his compliment
dulled the edge of my remonstrance
That evening poor Mr.. Burchell ma
us a visit, and helped up the next d
in the bayfield,, assisting Sophia wi
assiduity; but l had too good an opini
of her understanding to be under a
uneasipess from the attentions Of a m
OF broken fortune.
Shortly after, we entertained our Lar
lori at dinner, and though he talked !
a fippant free thinker, he made him'