CONTENTS PAGE III. A migration. The fortunate circum- stances of our lives are generally found at last to be of our procuring, 21 IV. A proof that even the humblest for- tune may grant happiness, which VI. The happiness of a country fire-side, A town wit described. The dullest fellows may learn to be comical for VIII. An amour, which promises little good Two ladies of great distinction intro- duced. Superior finery ever seems The pursuit of a father to reclaim a The description of a person discon- tented with the present government, XXI. The short continuance of friendship amongst the vicious, which is coeval only with mutual satisfaction, XXVIII. Happiness and misery rather the result of prudence than of virtue in this life. Temporal evils or felicities being regarded by heaven as things merely in themselves trifling and unworthy its care in the distribu- tion, The equal dealings of Providence de- monstrated with regard to the happy and the miserable here below. That from the nature of pleasure and pain, the wretched must be repaid THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. CHAP. I. The description of the family of WAKEFIELD, in which a kindred likeness prevails as well of minds as of persons. I WAS ever of opinion, that the honest man who married and brought up a large family, did morc service than he who continued single and only talked of population. From this motive, I had scarcely taken orders a year, before I began to think seriously of matrimony, and chose my wife, as she did her wedding-gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well. To do her justice, she was a good-natured notable woman, and as for breeding, there were few country ladies who could show more. She could read any English book without much spelling; but for pickling, preserving, and cookery, none could excel her. She prided herself also upon being an excellent contriver in house-keeping, though I could never find that we grew richer with all her contrivances. However, we loved each other fondness increased as we grew old. tenderly, and our There was in fact nothing that could make us angry with the world, or each other. We had an elegant house, situated in a VOL. VI. B |