Book.^4_/ CoByiiglit:N ? /^/ ^. CSPoaam depose CHOOSING THE WEDDING GOWN. \ After Mulready.] r Cj^e mittmnt €\amc^ ; THE Vicar of Wakefield A TALE SUPPOSED TO BE WRITTEN BY HIMSELF By OLIVER GOLDSMITH Sperate viiseri, cavete felices \\ n, -. o' NEW YORK PUBLISHED BY HURD AND HOUGHTON Catttiirttiffe: Cbe Ettemtie Press 1876 71? 5^^^ COPYEIGHT, 1876, By HTRD and HOUGHTON. RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE: STEROTYPED AND PRINTED BY H, 0. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FIRST EDITION. There are a hundred faults in this thing, and a hundred things anight he said to prove them beauties. But it is needless. A hook may he amusing with nu- merous errors, or it may he dull without a single ab- surdity. The hero of this piece unites in himself the three greatest characters upon earth : he is a priest, a husbandman, and the father of a family. He is drawn as ready to teach, and ready to obey ; as simple in affluence, and majestic in adversity. In this age of opulence and refinement, whom can such a charac- ter please ? Such as are fond of high life, will turn with disdain from the simplicity of his country fire- side. Such as mistake ribaldry for humor, loill find no wit in his harmless conversation ; and such as have been taught to deride religion, will laugh at one whose chief stores of comfort are drawn from futurity. OLIVER GOLDSMITH. I I I OOISTTEE'TS. INTRODUCTION. page Oliver Goldsmith and the Vicar of Wakefield vii CHAPTER I. The Description of the Family of Wakefield, in which a Kin- dred Likeness prevails, as well of Minds as of Persons . . 1 CHAPTER II. Family Misfortunes. — The Loss of Fortune only serves to in- crease the Pride of the Worthy 7 CHAPTER III. A Migration. — The Fortunate Circumstances of our Lives are generally found at last to be of our own procuring ... 13 CHAPTER IV. A Proof that even the Humblest Fortune may grant Happi- ness, which depends not on Circumstances, but Constitution, 23 CHAPTER V. A New and Great Acquaintance introduced. — What we place most Hopes upon generally proves most fatal 28 CHAPTER VL The Happiness of a Country Fireside 34 IV CONTENTS. CHAPTER Yll. PAGE A Town Wit described. — The Dullest Fellows may learn to be comical for a Night or two , . 39 CHAPTER Vin. An Amour, which promises little Good Fortune, yet may be productive of much 45 CHAPTER IX. Two Ladies of Great Distinction introduced. — Superior Finery ever seems to confer Superior Breeding 55 CHAPTER X. The Family endeavors to cope with their Betters. —The Mis- eries of the Poor when they attempt to appear above their Circumstances 60 CHAPTER XL The Family still resolve to hold up their Heads 66 CHAPTER Xn. Fortune seems resolved to humble the Family of Wakefield. — Mortifications are often more painful than Real Calamities, 73 CHAPTER XHL Mr. Burchell is found to be an Enemy; for he has the Confi- dence to give Disagreeable Advice 80 CHAPTER XIV. Fresh Mortifications, or a Demonstration that Seeming Calam- ities may be Real Blessings 85 CHAPTER XV. All BIr. Burchell's Villainy at once detected. — The Folly of being over-wise 93 CONTENTS. V CHAPTER XVI. PAGE The Family use Art, which is opposed with still greater . . 100 CHAPTER XVII. Scarcely any Virtue found to resist the Power of Long and Pleasing Temptation 108 CHAPTER XVni. The Pursuit of a Father to reclaim a Lost Child to Virtue . . 119 CHAPTER XIX. The Description of a Person discontented with the Present Government, and apprehensive of the Loss of our Liberties, 125 CHAPTER XX. The History of a Philosophic Vagabond, pursuing Novelty, but losing Content 136 CHAPTER XXI. The Short Continuance of Friendship among the Vicious, which is coeval only with Mutual Satisfaction 156 CHAPTER XXII. Offences are easily pardoned where there is Love at Bottom, 167 CHAPTER XXIII. None but the Guiltj'- can be long and completely miserable . 173 CHAPTER XXIV. Fresh Calamities 179 CHAPTER XXV. No Situation, however wretched it seems, but has some Sort of Comfort attending it 186 VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXVI. page A Reformation in the Jail. — To make Laws complete, they should reward as well as punish 192 CHAPTER XXVir. The same Subject continued 199 CHAPTER XXVIII. Happiness and Misery i-ather the Result of Prudence than of Virtue in this Life ; Temporal Evils or Felicities being re- garded by Heaven as Things merely in themselves trifling and unworthy its Care in the Distribution 205 CHAPTER XXIX. The Equal Dealings of Providence demonstrated with regard to the Happy and the Miserable here below. — That from the Nature of Pleasure and Pain, the Wretched must be re- paid the Balance of their Sufferings in the Life hereafter . 219 CHAPTER XXX. Happier Prospects begin to appear. — Let us be inflexible, and Fortune will at last change in our favor 225 CHAPTER XXXI. Former Benevolence now repaid with Unexpected Interest . 236 CHAPTER XXXII. The Conclusion 256 OLIVER GOLDSMITH AND THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. To sit down to a classic, even in one's own lan- guage, means for most people to undertake a task. There is a certain ordering of the mind which seems requisite, as when one dresses to pay a visit to an eminent and instructive person. There are few who can pass easily from their common thoughts into the presence of one of the masters of literature, and so acquainted are we with this attitude of mind toward the classics, that we are led to make a test of the genuineness of a great work, that we should not ap- proach it too familiarly. It is of ordinary readers that I speak ; the mind trained upon a severe regi- men of the best literature moves easily amongst great men. But these distinctions surely disappear when one takes up the Vicar of Wakefield. This book, answering all the definitions of a classic, has in it a personal charm, a certain exquisite undress of manner which invites readers without requiring of them a VIU OLIVER GOLDSMITH AND THE formal approach, and surprises the most modern-fed mind by its perennial freshness. Perhaps it is the property of genuine humor to be always human, and certainly Goldsmith in the Vicar of Wakefield pleases us not by an archaic quaintness, but • by a certain simplicity of nature, a sympathy with ever-recurring modes of thought, so that it is easy to believe that his manner will be scarcely more remote from the famil- iar manner of writers and readers a hundred years hence than it is now. lYe are accustomed to think of the period in which he wrote as one of formality, and the literature as dealing in sounding phrases and measured tones. The Club and the Coffee House are its foci, and the leaders of literature, even when driven contemptuously from their proper social posi- tion, seem to carry themselves at a certain elevation above ordinary affairs ; dress marks the gentleman, and the common features of humanity seem carefully covered even by those who, as men of letters, are the priests of humanity. The popular feeling regarding the period is measurably just, and it is because the wayward Goldsmith was perpetually at odds with the company in which he lived, while perpetually eager to bring himself under the same social laws, that he is easily singled from the rest and his impressible nature seen to have a finer sympathy with the ever- varying, ever-constant flux of human life. In Gold- smith's career may be read some of the indications of his peculiar place in literature. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. IX Oliver Goldsmith, the son of a humble village preacher was born at the parsonage in Pallas, the property of the Edge worths of Edgeworthstown in the county of Longford, Ireland, November 10, 1728. He died in London, wept over by Johnson, Burke, Reynolds and Garrick, April 4, 1774, five months over his forty-fifth year. Between the obscure Irish village birtli-place and the monument in Westminster Abbey stretched a career which was half in clouds and half in sunshine, a rainbow of tears and smiles. He had no advantages of birth other than the price- less one of a simple-hearted father, " passing rich with forty pounds a year," who lives again in tlie preacher of the " Deserted Village " and more minutely in the hero of the " Vicar of Wakefield." His life to out- ward seeming was a series of blunders. He was tossed about from one school to another, learning many things which somehow seem more in his life than Latin or Greek. He learned to play the flute, and he fell in love with vagrancy, or rather the vagrant in him was carefully nourished by an unworldly, unsophisti- cated father, a merry-andrew of a teacher, and by fickle Fortune herself. An uncle, the Rev. Mr. Con- tarine, was the prudent man of the family, always ap- pearing as the necessary counterpoise to prevent Oliver from flying off into irrecoverable wandering. By his advice and help the lad passed from his schools to Trinity College, Dublin, perhaps a needful discipline, but certainly a harsh one, for there where one might X OLIVER GOLDSMITH AND THE look for genial surroundings to one afterward to be- come a master in literature, the luckless youth was to find new trials to his sensitive spirit and to have his compensation in pleasures quite unprovided in the col- lege scheme. His poverty compelled him to take a menial position, he had a brutal tutor, and after he had been a year and a half at college his father died, leaving him in still more abject poverty than before. He wrote street ballads to save himself from actual starvation, and sold them for five shillings apiece. In all this murky gloom the lights that twinkle are the secret joy with which the poor poet would steal out at night to hear his ballads sung, and the quick rush of feeling in which he would use his five shillings upon some forlorn beggar, whose misery made him forget his own. Once he ran away from college, stung by some sharper insult from his tutor, but he returned to take his degree, and at the end of three years, carrying away some scraps of learning, he re- turned to his mother's house. There for two years he led an aimless, happy life, waiting for the necessary age at which he could qualify for orders in the church. He had few wants, and gayly shared the little family's small stock of pro- vision and joint labors, teaching in the village school, fishing, strolling, flute-playing and dancing. They were two years that made his Irish home always green in his memory, a spot almost dazzling for brightness when he looked back on it from the hard- VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. XI ships of his London life. When the two years were passed he applied to the Bishop for orders, but was rejected for various reasons according to various au- thorities, but the most sufficient one in any case was his own unwillingness to take the step urged upon him by friends. He was sent by his uncle to begin the study of law, but the fifty pounds with which he was furnished were lost at play, and the vagabond re- turned forgiven to his uncle's house. He had visions of coming to America which fortunately never passed into waking resolution, for I fear there would have been small likelihood of his blossoming into literature on this side of the water in the days of ante-revolu- tionary flatness. Medicine was the next resort, and Goldsmith was sent by his uncle to Edinburgh. Although the title of doctor has become familiarly connected with his name, it is very certain that he did not acquire the degree in Edinburgh, but afterward in a foreign university upon one of his wanderings. Few tradi- tions remain of his life at Edinburgh ; three or four amusing letters were written thence, but the impres- sion made by them and by such gossip as survives is that he was an inimitable teller of humorous stories and a capital singer of Irish songs. His profession of medicine, however, gave a show of consistency to his purpose of travel on the continent where he per- suaded himself and his friends that he should qualify himself for his professional degree. In point of fact Xll OLIVER GOLDSMITH AND THE he spent his time in a happy-go-hickj fashion, wan- dering from place to place, and singing a so.ng for a sixpence. The philosophic vagabond in the " Vicar of Wakefield " is but a transparent mask for Goldsmith's own features at this time. " I had some knowledge of music," says that entertaining philosopher, " with a tolerable voice ; I now turned what was once my amusement into a present means of subsistence. I passed among the harmless peasants of Flanders, and among such of the French as were poor enough to be very merry ; for I ever found them sprightly in pro- portion to their wants. Whenever I approached a peasant's house towards nightfall, I played one of iny most merry tunes, and that procured me not only a lodging, but subsistence for the next day. I once or twice attempted to play for people of fashion, but they always thought my performance odious, and never re- warded me even with a trifle." Although Goldsmith's medical knowledge was scarcely increased by his con- tinental experience, he was wittingly or unwittingly adding daily to that knowledge of men and nature . which shines through his lightest writings. " The Traveller " is a distillation of these wanderings. He returned to England in 1756 after two years of desultory life on the continent, and landed we are told without a farthing in his pockets. He lived by hook and by crook, serving in an apothecary's shop in a humble capacity, acting as tutor it is said under a feigned name, and living the while as he afterward VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. XIU declared, among beggars. Then, falling in with an old friend, and getting some little assistance, for Goldsmith seemed always one of the open-handed^ ready to receive and ready to bestow, he became a physician in a humble way, struggling for a living in doctoring those only one degree richer than himself'. By a curious coincidence, one of his patients was a printer working under Samuel Richardson, printer, and what is more, author of " Clarissa." From a hint given by this man, Goldsmith applied to Rich- ardson and was given occupation as a proof-reader. Then, falling in with an old school-fellow whose father kept a school in Peckham, Goldsmith became an usher and a miserable time he had of it. " Aye," cries George Primrose's cousin to him, " this is indeed a very pretty career that has been checked out for you. I have been an usher at a boarding-school myself, and may I die by an anodyne necklace, but I had rather be an under-turnkey in Newgate. I was up early and late ; I was brow-beat by the master, hated for my ugly face by the mistress, worried by the boys within, and never permitted to stir out to meet civility abroad. But are you sure you are fit for a school ? Let me examine you a little. Have you been bred apprentice to the business ? No. Then you won't do for a school. Can you dress the boys' hair ? No. Then you won't do for a school. Have you had the small-pox ? No. Then you won't do for a school. Can you lie three in a bed? No. XIV OLIVER GOLDSMITH AND THE Then you will never do for a school. Have you got a good stomach ? Yes. Then you will by no means do for a school. No, sir, if you are for a genteel, easy profession, bind yourself seven years as an apprentice to turn a cutler's wheel, but avoid a school by any means." In the same conversation the city cousin advises George to take u]d authorship for a trade, and it was indeed by the humblest entrance that Gold- smith passed into the domain where afterward he was to be recognized as master. Griffiths, the book- seller, dined one day at the school where Goldsmith was usher. The conversation turned upon the "Monthly Eeview," owned and conducted by Grif- fifths. Something said by Goldsmith led to further consideration, and the usher left the school to board and lodge with the bookseller, to have a small regular salary, and to devote himself to the " Monthly Re- view." The history of literature at this time in England gives much space necessarily to the bookseller. In the transition period of authorship, this middleman oc- cupied a position of power and authority not since ac- corded to him ; it was a singular relation which the drudging author held to his employer, and Goldsmith from this time forward was scarcely ever free from a dependence upon the autocrats of the book trade. He entered the profession of literature as upon some- thing which was a little more profitable and certainly more agreeable than the occupation of an usher in a VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. XV boarding-scliool, or the profession of a doctor without paying clients. A profession wliich now dignifies its members, was then without respect, socially, and at- tended by all the meanness which springs from a false position. The rich and powerful in government looked upon it as appointed only to serve the ends of the ambitious, and the poor author had to struggle to maintain his independence of nature. The men who could sell their talents and their self-respect for gold and place jostled roughly their nobler comrades who served literature faithfully in poverty, and it was only now and then that the fickle breath of popular favor wafted some author's book into warmer waters. So crowding was this Grub Street life that Goldsmith sought release from it in a vain attempt after a gov- ernment appointment as medical ofiicer at Coroman- del. He was driven back into the galleys from which he was striving to escape, yet out of this life there began to issue the true products of his genius. He brooded over his own and his fellows' condition. Something within him made protest against the ignoble state of literature, and he wrote the first book which gave him a name, — " An Enquiry into the Present State of Polite Learning in Europe." The subject was wrung from his fortunes, but the style was the music which he had never failed to hear from boyhood. Style, bred of no special study at Trinity College, nor too closely allied with learning, but a gift of nature, guarded well and cher- XVI OLIVER GOLDSMITH AND THE ished by the varying fortune, which was moulding his mind in the secret fashion that makes a genuine surface when discovered : this was seen in his book, and justified his place in the great profession of authorship. There is in Goldsmith's life, as in An- dersen's, and in that of many a man of genius, the sad, sweet story of the Ugly Duckling. Pecked at, and scorned by meaner associates, conscious of disadvan- tages and of inferiority in inferior things, a divine ray of hope and longing never left him, and when at length he gave outward expression to the genius in him, he found himself amongst his true fellows, rec- ognized by men of genius as their associate. From this time forward Goldsmith knew his place and took it. He was thirty-one years of age, and in the remainder of his life he wrote his essays in " The Bee," " The Citizen of the World," " The Vicar of Wakefield," "The Traveller," "The Deserted Vil- lage," his poems, and the two comedies, " A Good-na- tured Man," and, " She stoops to conquer." In quan- tity, not a large showing, but glistening with that pure fancy and happy temper which are among the choicest gifts of literature to a tired world. These are his works which give him his place in literature, but during the time when they were composed, he was constantly at work upon tasks. He wrote his histories of England and Rome and his " Animated Nature," which despite its unscientific cast, is a store- house of delightful reading, and he wrote reviews, VICAR 0F WAKEFIELB. xvil essays, prefaces, translations and the like quite be- 3^ond record. Yet all this time he was in debt. He did not want because his work was ill paid or he was not indus- trious, but because his money slipped through his fingers, too volatile to hold it fast. Some of it went upon his back in the odd finery which has stuck to his reputation, but a large share went to the poor and miserable. Look at the poor man lying dead in his solitary chamber. " The staircase of Birch Court is said to have been filled with mourners, the reverse of domestic ; women without a home, without domestic- ity of any kind, with no friend but him they had come to weep for, outcasts of that great, solitary, wicked city, to whom he had never forgotten to be kind and charitable." ^ There were two sets of people who looked upon Oliver Goldsmith the poet, and each saw correctly enough what each was capable of seeing. One saw in him a shiftless, vain, awkward, homely fellow, thrusting himself into good company, blundering, blurting out nonsense or mal a propos sayings, a gooseberry fool. The other, containing men of genius, laughed at "poor Goldy," but never failed to seek his company and to receive him as their equal. When Burke was told of his death, he burst into tears. Reynolds was painting when the news was 1 Forster's The Life and Times of Oliver Goldsmith. II. 467. XVlll OLIVER GOLDSMITH AND THE brought to him ; he laid his pencil aside and would not go back that day to his studio, a sign of grief never shown in times of deep family distress. John- son never ceased to mourn him, and cast his pro- foundest conviction of the poet's genius into the mon- umental lines which form one of the noblest of elegies. OLIVARII GOLDSMITH Poetae, Physici, Historic!, qui nullum fere scribendi genus non tetigit, nullum quod tetigit non ornavit : sive risus essent movendi sive lacrymae, affectuum potens, at lenis dominator ; ingenio sublimis, vividus, versatilis ; oratione grandis, nitidus, venustus: hoc monumento memoriam coluit Sodalium amor, Amicorum fides, Lectorum veneratio. Natus Hibemia, Forneite Lonfordiensis in loco cui nomen Pallas Nov. XXix. MDCCXXXI. Eblanae literis institutus Objit Londini Apr. iv. MDCCLXxiv. Englished thus by Mr. Forster. OF OLIVER GOLDSMITH Poet, Naturalist, Historian, who left scarcely any kind of writing untouched, and touched nothing that he did not adorn : whether smiles were to be stirred or tears, VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. XIX commanding our emotions, yet a gentle master : In genius lofty, lively, versatile, in style weighty, clear, engaging — The memory in this monument is cherished by the love of Companions, the faithfulness of Friends, the reverence of Readers. He was born in Ireland, at a place called Pallas, (in the parish) of Forney, (and county) of Longford, on the 29th Nov. 1731. Trained in letters at Dublin, Died in London, 4th April, 1774. " To be the most beloved of English writers," says Thackeray, " what a title that is for a man ! a wild youth, wayward, but full of tenderness and affection, quits the country village where his boyhood has been passed in happy musing, in idle shelter, in fond long- ing, to see the great world out of doors, and achieve name and fortune ; and after years of dire struggle, and neglect and poverty, his heart turning back as fondly to his native place as it had longed eagerly for change when sheltered there, he writes a book and a poem full of the recollections and feelings of home ; he paints the friends and scenes of his youth, and peoples Auburn and Wakefield with remembrances of Lissoy. Wander he must, but he carries away a home relic with him, and dies with it on his breast. His nature is truant ; in repose it longs for change : as on the journey it looks back for friends and quiet. He passes to-day in building an air-castle for to- XX OLIVER GOLDSMITH AND THE morrow, or in writing yesterday's elegy ; and he would fly away this hour, but that a cage and necessity keep him. What is the charm of his verse, of his style and humor ? His sweet regrets, his delicate compassion, his soft smile, his tremulous sympathy, the weakness which he owns ? Your love for him is half pity. You come hot and tired from the day's battle, and this sweet minstrel sings to you. Who could harm the kind, vagrant harper ? Whom did he ever hurt ? He carries no weapon, save the harp on which he plays to you ; and with which he delights great and humble, young and old, the captain in the tent, or the sol- diers round the fire, or the women and children in the villages, at whose porches he stops and sings his simple songs of love and beauty. With that sweet story of the * Vicar of Wakefield ' he has found entry into every castle and every hamlet in Europe. Not one of us, however busy or hard, but once or twice in our lives has passed an evening with him, and undergone the charm of his delightful music." ^ The unbroken succession of delight in this story is illustrated by the pictures which it has given rise to. Wilkie, Newton, Stothard, Leslie, Maclise and Mul- ready have all turned to its pages for subjects. Moses fitted out for the Fair, Choosing the Wedding Gown, The Whistonian Controversy, Haymaking, Fudge ! these and others have glanced back and forth from Goldsmith's pages and the painter's canvas. But 1 The English Humorists, — Sterne and Goldsmith. VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. XXI every reader of the story carries in liis memory some scene made vivid by those inexplicable touches of genius which seem in Goldsmith's work to be like the dew on the grass, giving a heavenly radiance to common things, yet disappearing as soon as one en- deavors to catch and hold the momentary moisture. After all, the best that one can do, when inviting readers again to this ever delightful feast, is to set the book before them in such dainty style as the printer's art may afford — the best will not be too good — and leave each to taste the pleasant fruit. Here then is the book, yet I for one, would fain look over the shoulder of the reader, re-read it myself, and * enjoy the ripple of pleasure which will assuredly move the surface of every reader's countenance. H. E. S. THE YICAE OF WAKEFIELD. CHAPTER 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 more ser- vice 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 for such qualities as would wear well. To do her jus- tice, 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 with- out much spelling ; but for pickling, preserving, and cookery, none could excel her. She prided herself also upon being an excellent contriver in housekeep- ing ; though I could never find that we grew richer with all her contrivances. 1 2 VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. However, we loved each other tenderly, and our fondness increased as we grew old. There was, in fact, nothing that could make us angry with the world or each other. We had an elegant house sit- uated in a fine country, and a good neighborhood. The year was spent in moral or rural amusements, in visiting our rich neighbors, and relieving such as were poor. We had no revolutions to fear, nor fa- tigues to undergo ; all our adventures were by the the ii re-side, and all our migrations from the blue bed to the brown. As we lived near the road, we often had the trav- eler or stranger visit us to taste our gooseberry-wine, for which we had great reputation ; and I profess with the veracity of an historian, that I never knew one of them find fault with it. Our cousins too, even to the fortieth remove, all remembered their afhuity, without any help from the herald's office, and came very frequently to see us. Some of them did us no great honor by these claims of kindred ; as we had the blind, the maimed, and the halt amongst the number. However, my wife always insisted that as they were the same flesh and blood, they should sit with us at the same table. So that if we had not very rich, we generally had very happy friends about us ; for this remark will hold good through life, that the poorer the guest, the better pleased he ever is with being treated : and as some men gaze with ad- miration at the colors of a tulip, or the wings of a butterfly, so I was by nature an admirer of happy VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 3 human faces. However, when any one of our rela- tions was found to be a person of very bad character, a troublesome guest, or one we desired to get rid of, upon his leaving my house, I ever took care to lend him a riding-coat, or a pair of boots, or sometimes a horse of small value, and I always had the satisfac- tion of finding he never came back to 1-eturn them. By this the house was cleared of such as we did not like ; but never was the family of Wakefield known to turn the traveler or the poor dependent out of doors. Thus we lived several years in a state of much happiness, not but that we sometimes had those little rubs which Providence sends to enhance the value of its favors. My orchard was often robbed by schoolboys, and my wife's custards plundered by the cats or the children. The Squire would sometimes fall asleep in the most pathetic parts of my sermon, or his lady return my wife's civilities at church with a mutilated courtesy. But we soon got over the un- easiness caused by such accidents, and usually in three or four days began to wonder how they vexed us. My children the offspring of temperance, as they were educated without softness, so they were at once well formed and healthy; my sons hardy and active, my daughters beautiful and blooming. When I stood in the midst of the little circle, which promised to be the support of my declining. age, I could not avoid repeating the famous story of Count Abens- 4 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. berg, who, in Henry II.'s progress through Germany, while other courtiers came with their treasures, brought his thirty-two children, and j^resented them to his sovereign as the most valuable offering he had to bestow. In this manner, though I had but six, I considered them as a very valuable present made to my country, and consequently looked upon it as my debtor. Oar eldest son was named George, after his uncle, who left us ten thousand pounds. Our second child, a girl, I intended to call after her Aunt Grissel ; but my wife, who during her pregnancy had been reading romances, insisted upon her be- ing called Olivia. In less than another year we had another daughter, and now I was determined that Grissel should be her name ; but a rich rela- tion taking a fancy to stand godmother, the girl was by her directions, called Sophia ; so that we had two romantic names in the family ; but I solemnly protest I had no hand in it. Moses was our next, and after an interval of twelve years, we had two SODS more. It would be fruitless to deny my exultation when I saw my little ones about me ; but the vanity and the satisfaction of my wife were even greater than mine. When our visitors would say, " Well, upon my word, Mrs. Primrose, you have the finest children in the whole country : " " Ay, neighbor," she would an- swer, " 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 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 5 girls hold up their heads ; who, to conceal nothing, were certainly very handsome. Mere outside is so very trifling a circumstance with me, that I should scarcely have remembered to mention it, had it not been a general topic of conversation in the country. Olivia, now about eighteen, had that luxuriancy of beauty with which painters generally draw Hebe ; open, sprightly, and commanding. Sophia's features were not so striking at first, but often did more cer- tain execution ; for they were soft, modest, and allur- ing. The one vanquished by a single blow, the other by efforts successively repeated. The temper of a woman is generally formed from the turn of her features, at least it was so with my daughters. Olivia wished for many lovers, Sophia to secure one. Olivia was often affected from too great a desire to please. Sophia even repressed excellence, from her fears to offend. The one entertained me with her vivacity when I was gay, the other with her sense when I was serious. But these qualities were never carried to excess in either, and I have often seen them exchange characters for a whole day to- gether. A suit of mourning has transformed my coquette into a prude, and a new set of ribbons has given her younger sister more than natural vivacity. My eldest son George was bred at Oxford, as I in- tended him for one of the learned professions. My second boy Moses, whom I designed for business, re- ceived a sort of miscellaneous education at home. But it is needless to attempt describing the particular 6 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. characters of young people that had seen but very little of the world. In short a family likeness pre- vailed through all, and properly speaking, they had but one character, that of being all equally generous, credulous, simple, and inoffensive. CHAPTER 11. FAMILY MISFORTUNES. THE LOSS OF FORTUNE ONLY SERVES TO INCREASE THE PRIDE OF THE WORTHY. The temporal concerns of our family were chiefly committed to my wife's management ; as to the spir- itual, I took them entirely under my own direction. The profits of my living, which amounted to but thirty-five pounds a year, I made over to the orphans and widows of the clergy of our diocese ; for having sufficient fortune of my own, I was careless of tem- poralities, and felt a secret pleasure in doing my duty without reward. I also set a resolution of keeping no curate, and of being acquainted with every man in the parish, exhorting the married men to temper- ance, and the bachelors to matrimony ; so that in a few years it was a common saying, that there were three strange wants at Wakefield, a parson wanting pride, young men wanting wives, and ale-houses wanting customers. Matrimony was always one of my favorite topics, and I wrote several sermons to prove its happiness : but there was a peculiar tenet which I made a point of supporting ; for I maintained with Whiston, that 8 VICAR OF WAKEHELD. it was unlawful for a priest of the church of England, after the death of his first wife, to take a second ; or, to express it in one word, I valued myself upon being a strict monogamist. I was early initiated into this important dispute, on which so many laborious volumes have been writ- ten. I published some tracts upon the subject my- self, which, as they never sold, I have the consolation of thinking are read only by the happ j few. Some of my friends called this my weak side ; but, alas ! they had not, like me, made it the subject of long contemplation. The more I reflected upon it, the more important it appeared. I even went a step be- yond Whiston in displaying my principles : ^s he had engraven upon his wife's tomb that she was the only wife of William Whiston ; so I wrote a similar epitaph for my wife, though still living, in which I extolled her prudence, economy, and obedience till death ; and having got it copied fair, with an elegant frame, it was placed over the chimney-piece, where it answered several very useful purposes. It admon- ished my wife of her duty to me, and my fidelity to her ; it inspired her with a passion for fame, and con- stantly put her in mind of her end. It was thus, perhaps, from hearing marriage so often recommended, that my eldest son, just upon leaving college, fixed his affections upon the daughter of a neighboring clergyman, who was a dignitary in the church, and in circumstances to give her a large fortune. But fortune was her smallest accomplish- VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 9 ment. Miss Arabella Wilmot was allowed by all (except my two daughters) to be completely pretty. Her youth, health, and innocence, were still height- ened by a complexion so transparent, and such a happy sensibility of look, as even age could not gaze on with indifference. As Mr. Wilmot knew that I could make a very handsome settlement on my son, he was not averse to the match : so both families lived together in all that harmony which generally precedes an expected alliance. Being convinced by experience that the days of courtship are the most happy of our lives, I was willing enough to lengthen the period ; and the various amusements which the young coujDle every day shared in each other's com- pany, seemed to increase their passion. We were generally awakened in the morning by music, and on fine days rode a-hunting. The hours between break- fast and dinner the ladies devoted to dress and study ; they usually read a page, and gazed at themselves in the glass, which even philosophers might own often presented the page of greatest beauty. At dinner my wife took the lead ; for as she always insisted upon carving everything herself, it being her moth- er's way, she gave us upon these occasions the history of every dish. When we had dined, to prevent the ladies leaving us, I generally ordered the table to be removed ; and sometimes, with the music-master's assistance, the girls would give us a very agreeable concert. Walking out, drinking tea, country dances, and forfeits, shortened the rest of the day, without 10 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. the assistance of cards, as I hated all manner of gam- ing, except backgammon, at which my old friend and I sometimes took a two-penny hit. Nor can I here pass over an ominous circumstance that happened the last time we played together ; I only wanted to fling a quatre, and yet I threw deuce ace five times run- ning. Some months were elapsed in this manner, till at last it was thought convenient to fix a day for the nuptials of the young couple, who seemed earnestly to desire it. During the preparations for the wed- ding, I need not describe the busy importance of my wife, nor the sly looks of my daughters ; in fact, my attention was fixed on another object, the completing a tract which I intended shortly to publish in defense of my favorite principle. As I looked upon this as a masterpiece, both for argument and style, I could not in the pride of my heart avoid showing it to my old friend Mr. Wilmot, as I made no doubt of receiv- ing his approbation ; but not till too late I discovered that he was most violently attached to the contrary opinion, and with good reason ; for he was at that time actually courting a fourth wife. : This, as may be expected, produced a dispute attended with some acrimony, which threatened to interrupt our intended alliance : but on the day before that appointed for the ceremony, we agreed to discuss the subject at large. It was managed with proper spirit on both sides ; he asserted th^t I was heterodox, I retorted the charge ; VICAK OF WAKEFIELD. ll he replied, and I rejoined. In the meantime, while the controversy was hottest, I was called out by one of my relations, who, with a face of concern, advised me to give up the dispute, at least till my son's wed- ding was over. " How," cried I, '• relinquish the cause of truth, and let him be a husband, already driven to the very verge of absurdity. You might as well advise me to give up my fortune, as my argu- ment." " Your fortune," returned my friend, " I am now sorry to inform you, is almost nothing. The merchant in town in whose hands your money was lodged, has gone off, to avoid a statute of bankruptcy, and is thought not to have left a shilling in the pound. I was unwilling to shock you or the family with the account till after the wedding : but now it may serve to moderate your warmth in the argument ; for, I suppose, your own prudence will enforce the necessity of dissembling, at least, till your son has the young lady's fortune secure." " Well," returned I, " if what you tell me be true, and if I am to be a beggar, it shall never make me a rascal, or induce me to dis- avow my principles. I '11 go this moment and inform the company of my circumstances ; and as for the argument, I even here retract my former concessions in the old gentleman's favor, nor will I allow him now to be a husband in any sense of the expres- sion." It would be endless to describe the different sen- sations of both families when I divulged the news of our misfortune: but what others felt was slight to 12 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. what the lovers appeared to endure. Mr. Wilmot, who seemed before sufficiently inclined to break off the match, was by this blow soon determined ; one virtue, he had in perfection, which was prudence, too often the only one that is left us at seventy-two. CHAPTER III. A MIGRATION. — THE FORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES OF OUR LIVES ARE GENERALLY FOUND AT LAST TO BE OP OUR OWN PROCURING. The only hope of our family now was, that the report of our misfortune might be malicious or pre- mature ; but a letter from my agent in town soon came with a confirmation of every particular. The loss of fortune to myself alone would have been tri- fling ; the only uneasiness I felt was for my family, who were to be humble without an education to ren- der them callous to contempt. Near a fortnight had passed before I attempted to restrain their affliction ; for premature consolation is but the remembrancer of sorrow. During this inter- val, my thoughts were employed on some future means of supporting them ; and at last a small cure of fifteen pounds a year was offered me in a distant neighborhood, where I could still enjoy my principles without molestation. With this proposal I joyfully closed, having determined to increase my salary by managing a little farm. Having taken this resolution, my next care was to get together the wrecks of my fortune : and, all debts 14 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. collected and paid, out of fourteen thousand pounds we had but four hundred remaining. My chief at- tention, therefore, was now to bring down the pride of my family to their circumstances ; for I well knew that aspiring beggary is wretchedness itself. " You cannot be ignorant, my children," cried I, " that no prudence of ours could have prevented our late mis- fortune ; but prudence may do much in disappointing its effects. We are now poor, my fondlings, and wis- dom bids us conform to our humble situation. Let us then, without repining, give up those splendors in which numbers are wretched, and seek in humbler circumstances that peace with which all may be happy. The poor live pleasantly without our help, why then should we not learn to live without theirs ? No, my children, let us from this moment give up all pretentions to gentility ; we have still enough left for happiness, if we are wise ; and let us draw upon con- tent for the deficiencies of fortune." ^ As my eldest son was bred a scholar, I determined to send him to town, where his abilities might con- tribute to our support and his own. The separation of friends and families is, perhaps, one of the most distressful circumstances attendant on penury. The day soon arrived on which we were to disperse for the first time. My son, after taking leave of his mother and the rest, who mingled their tears with their kisses, came to ask a blessing from me. This I gave him from my heart, and which, added to five guineas, was all the patrimony I had now to bestow. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 15 " You are going, my boy," cried I, " to London on foot, in the manner Hooker, your great ancestor, traveled there before you. Take from me the same horse that was given him by the good Bishop Jewel, this staff, and this book too, it will be your comfort on the way : these two lines in it are worth a million, / have been young, and now am old; yet never saw I the righteous man forsaken, or his seed begging their bread. Let this be your consolation as you travel on. Go, my boy ; whatever be thy fortune, let me see thee once a year ; still keep a good heart, and farewell." As he was possessed of integrity and honor, I was under no apprehensions for throwing him naked into the amphitheatre of life ; for I knew he would act a good part whether vanquished or vic- torious. His departure only prepared the way for our own, which arrived a few days afterwards. The leaving a neighborhood in which we had enjoyed so many hours of tranquillity, was not without a tear which scarcely fortitude itself could suppress. Besides, a journey of seventy miles to a family that had hitherto never been above ten from home, filled us with ap- prehension ; and the cries of the poor, who followed us for some miles, contributed to increase it. The first day's journey brought us in safety within thirty miles of our future retreat, and we put up for the night at an obscure inn in a village by the way. When we were shown a room, I desired the landlord, in my usual way, to let us have his company, with 16 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. which, he complied, as what he drank would increase the bill next morning. He knew, however, the whole neighborhood to which I was removing, par- ticularly Squire Thornhill, who was to be my land- lord, and who lived within a few miles of the place. This gentleman he described as one who desired to know little more of the world than its pleasures, be- ing particularly remarkable for his attachment to the fair sex. He observed that no virtue was able to resist his arts and assiduity, and that scarcely a farmer's daughter within ten miles round, but what had found him successful and faithless. Though this account gave me some pain, it had a very differ- ent effect upon my daughters, whose features seemed to brighten with the expectation of an approaching triumph : nor was my wife less pleased and confident of their allurements and virtue. While our thoughts were thus employed, the hostess entered the room to inform her husband, that the strange gentleman, who had been two days in the house, wanted money, and could not satisfy them for his reckoning. " Want money ! " replied the host, " that must be impossi- ble ; for it was no later than yesterday he paid three guineas to our beadle to spare an old broken soldier that was to be whipped through the town for dog- stealing." The hostess, however, still persisting in her first assertion, he was preparing to leave the room, swearing that he would be satisfied one way or another, when I begged the landlord would in- troduce me to a stranger of so much charity as he • VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 17 described. With this he complied, showing in a gen- tleman who seemed to be about thirty, dressed in clothes that once were laced. His person was well formed, and his face marked with the lines of think- ing. He had something short and dry in his address, and seemed not to understand ceremony, or to despise it. Upon the landlord's leaving the room, I could not avoid expressing my concern to the stranger at seeing a gentleman in such circumstances, and offered him my purse to satisfy the present demand. " I take it with all my heart, sir," replied he, " and am glad that a late oversight in giving what money I had about me, has shown me that there are still some men like you. I must, however, previously entreat being informed of the name and residence of my bene- factor, in order to repay him as soon as possible." In this I satisfied him fully, not only mentioning my name and late misfortunes, but the place to which I was going to remove. " This," cried he, " happens still more luckily than I hoped for, as I am going the same way myself, having been detained here two days by the floods, which I hope by to-morrow will be found passable." I testified the pleasure I should have in his company, and my wife and daughters joining in entreaty, he was prevailed upon to stay supper. The stranger's conversation, which was at once pleasing and instructive, induced me to wish for a continuance of it; but it was now high time to retire and take refreshment against the fatigues of the following day. 18 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. The next morning we all set forward together : my family on horseback, while Mr. Burchell,^ our new companion, walked along the foot-path by the road- side, observing with a smile, that as we were ill- mounted, he would be too generous to attempt leav- ing us behind. As the floods were not yet subsided, we were obliged to hire a guide, who trotted on be- fore, Mr. Burchell and I bringing up the rear. We lightened the fatigues of the road with philosophical disputes, which he seemed to understand perfectly. But what surprised me most was, that though he was a money-borrower, he defended his opinions with as much obstinacy as if he had been my patron. He now and then also informed me to whom the differ- ent seats belonged that lay in our view as we traveled the road. " That," cried he, pointing to a very mag- nificent house which stood at some distance, " belongs to Mr. Thornhill, a young gentleman who enjoys a large fortune, though entirely dependent on the will of his uncle, Sir William Thornhill, a gentleman, who content with a little himself, permits his nephew to enjoy the rest, and chiefly resides in town." " What ! " cried I, " is my young landlord then the nephew of a man, whose virtues, generosity, and singularities are so universally known? I have heard Sir William Thornhill represented as one of the most generous yet whimsical men in the kingdom ; a man of con- 1 One of Goldsmith's relations married a person named Bur- chell, which may have suggested this name when writing the tale. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 19 summate benevolence." " Something, perhaps, too much so," replied Mr. Burchell ; " at least he carried benevolence to an excess when young ; for his pas- sions were then strong, and as they were all upon the side of virtue, they led it up to a romantic ex- treme. He early began to aim at the qualifications of the soldier and scholar ; was soon distinguished in the army, and had some reputation among men of learn- ing. Adulation ever follows the ambitious ; for such alone receive most pleasure from flattery. He was surrounded with crowds, who showed him only one side of their character ; so that he began to lose a re- gard for private interest in universal sympathy. He loved all mankind ; for fortune prevented him from knowing that there were rascals. Physicians tell us of a disorder, in which the whole body is so exqui- sitely sensible that the slightest touch gives pain ; what some have thus suffered in their persons, this gentleman felt in his mind. The slightest distress, whether real or fictitious, touched him to the quick, and his soul labored under a sickly sensibility of the miseries of others. Thus disposed to relieve, it will be easily conjectured he found numbers disposed to solicit ; his profusions began to impair his fortune, but not his good-nature ; that, indeed, was seen to increase as the other seemed to decay ; he grew im- provident as he grew poor ; and though he talked like a man of sense, his actions were those of a fool. Still, however, being surrounded with importunity, and no longer able to satisfy every request that was 20 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. made him, instead of money he gave promises. They were all he had to bestow, and he had not resolution enough to give any man pain by a denial. By this he drew round him crowds of dependents, whom he was sure to disappoint, yet wished to relieve. These hung upon him for a time, and left him with merited reproaches and contempt. But in proportion as he became contemptible to others, he became despicable to himself. His mind had leaned upon their adula- tion, and that support taken away, he could find no pleasure in the applause of his heart, which he had never learnt to reverence. The world now began to wear a different aspect ; the flattery of his friends began to dwindle into simple approbation. Approba- tion soon took the more friendly form of advice, and advice when rejected produced their reproaches. He now therefore found, that such friends as benefits had gathered round him, were little estimable ; he now found that a man's own heart must be ever given to gain that of another. I now found that — that — I forgot what I was going to observe : in short, sir, he resolved to respect himself, and laid down a plan of restoring his fallen fortune. For this purpose, in his own whimsical manner, he traveled through Europe on foot, and now, though he has scarcely attained the age of thirty,^ his circumstances are more affluent than ever. At present, his bounties are more rational and more moderate than before ; but still he preserves 1 Allusions which recall the time, place, and manner of some of Goldsmith's own adventures. VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 21 the character of a humorist, and finds most pleasure in eccentric virtues." Mj attention was so much taken up by Mr. Bur- chell's account, that I scarcely looked forward as we went along, till we were alarmed by the cries of my family, when turning, I perceived my youngest daugh- ter in the midst of a rapid stream, thrown from her horse, and struggling with the toi-rent. She had sunk twice, nor was it in my power to disengage my- self in time to bring her relief. My sensations were even too violent to permit my attempting her rescue : she must have certainly perished had not my compan- ion, perceiving her danger, instantly plunged in to her relief, and, with some difficulty, brought her safely to the opposite shore. By taking the current a little further up, the rest of the family got safely over, where we had an opportunity of joining our ac- knowledgments to her's. Her gratitude may be more readily imagined than described ; she thanked her deliverer more with looks than words, and continued to lean upon his arm, as if still willing to receive as- sistance. My wife also hoped one day to have the pleasure of returning his kindness at her own house. Thus, after we were refreshed at the next inn, and had dined together, as Mr. Burchell was going to a different part of the country he took leave ; and we pursued our journey my wife observing as we went, that she liked him extremely, and protesting that, if he had birth and fortune to entitle him to match into such a family as ours, she knew no man she would 22 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. sooner fix upon. I could not but smile to hear her talk in this lofty strain ; ^ but I was never much dis- pleased with those harmless delusions that tend to make us more happy. 1 " One almost at the verge of beggary, thus to assume the lan- guage of the most insulting affluence, might excite the ridicule of ill-nature; but I was never," &c. — First Edit. CHAPTER IV. A PROOF THAT EVEN THE HUMBLEST FORTUNE MAY GRANT HAPPINESS, WHICH DEPENDS NOT ON CIR- CUMSTANCES BUT CONSTITUTION. The place of our retreat was in a little neighbor- hood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty. As they had almost all the conveniences of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity. Remote from the polite, they still retained the primeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarcely knew that temperance was a virtue. They wrought with cheer- fulness on days of labor : but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure. They kept up the Christmas carol, sent true love-knots on Valentine morning, eat pancakes on Shrovetide, showed their wit on the first of April, and religiously cracked nuts on Michaelmas eve. Being apprised of our approach, the whole neighborhood came out to meet their min- ister, dressed in their finest clothes, and preceded by pipe and tabor. A feast was also provided for our reception, at which we sat cheerfully down ; and what the conversation wanted in wit, was made up in laughter. 24 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. Our little habitation was situated at the foot of a sloping hill, sheltered with beautiful underwood be- hind and a prattling river before ; on one side a meadow, on the other a green. My farm consisted of about twenty acres of excellent land, having given a hundred pounds for my predecessor's good will. Nothing could exceed the neatness of my little in- closures ; the elms and hedge-rows appearing with inexpressible beauty. My house consisted of but one story, and was covered with thatch, which gave it an air of great snuguess ; the walls on the inside were nicely whitewashed, and my daughters undertook to adorn them with pictures of their own designing. Though the same room served us for parlor and kitchen, that only made it the warmer. Besides, as it was kept with the utmost neatness, the dishes, plates and coppers, being well scoured, and all disposed in bright rows on the shelves, the eye was agreeably re- lieved, and did not want richer furniture. There were three other apartments, one for my wife and me, another for our two daughters, within our own, and the third, with two beds, for the rest of the children. The little republic to which I gave laws, was regu- lated in the following manner ; by sun-rise we all assembled in our common apartment ; the fire being previously kindled by the servant. After we had saluted each other with proper ceremony, for I always thought fit to keep up some mechanical forms of good breeding, without which freedom ever destroys friendship, we all bent in gratitude to that Being who VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 25 gave us another day. This duty being performed, my son and I went to pursue our usual industry abroad, while my wife and daughters employed them- selves in prpviding breakfast, which was always ready at a certain time. I allowed half an hour for this meal, and an hour for dinner ; which time was taken up in innocent mirth between my wife and daughters, and in philosophical arguments between my son and me. As we rose with the sun, so we never pursued our labors after it was gone down, but returned home to the expecting family ; where smiling looks, a neat hearth, and pleasant fire, were prepared for our re- ception. Nor were we without guests ; sometimes Farmer Flamborough, our talkative neighbor, and often the blind piper, would pay us a visit, and taste our gooseberry wine ; for the making of which we had lost neither the receipt nor the reputation. These harmless people had several ways of being good com- pany ; while one played, the other would sing some soothing ballad, Johnny Armstrong's last good night, or the cruelty of Barbara Allen. The night was con- cluded in the manner we began the morning, my youngest boys being appointed to read the lessons of the day ; and he that read loudest, distinctest, and best, was to have a half-penny on Sunday to put in the poor's box. When Sunday came, it was indeed a day of finery, which all my sumptuary edicts could not restrain. How well soever I fancied my lectures against pride 26 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. had conquered the vanity of my daughters, yet I found them still secretly attached to all their former finery ; they still loved laces, ribands, bugles and cat- gut ; my wife herself retained a passion for her crim- son paduasoy, because I formerly happened to say it became her. The first Sunday in particular their behavior served to mortify me ; I had desired my girls the preceding night to be drest early the next day ; for I alvrays loved to be at church a good while before the rest of the congregation. They punctually obeyed my di- rections ; but when we were to assemble in the morn- ing at breakfast, down came my wife and daughters, drest out in all their former splendor : their hair plastered, up with pomatum, their faces patched to taste, their trains bundled up in a heap behind, and rustling at every motion. I could not help smiling at their vanity, particularly that of my wife, from whom I expected more discretion. In this exigence, therefore, my only resource was to order my son, with an important air, to call our coach. The girls were amazed at the command ; but I repeated it with more solemnity than before. — " Surely, my dear, jou jest," cried my wife, " we can walk it perfectly well : we want no coach to carry us now." " You mistake, child," returned I, " we do want a coach ; for if we walk to church in this trim, the very children in the parish will hoot after us." "Indeed," replied my wife, " I always imagined that my Charles was fond of seeing his children neat and handsome about him." VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 27 " You may be as neat as you please," interrupted I, " and I shall love you the better for it ; but all this is not neatness, but frippery. These rufflings, and pinkings, and patchings, will only make us hated by all the wives of all our neighbors. No, my children," continued I, more gravely, " those gowns may be al- tered into something of a plainer cut ; for finery is very unbecoming in us, who want the means of de- cency. I do not know whether such flouncing and shredding is becoming even in the rich, if we consider, upon a moderate calculation, that the nakedness of the indigent world might be clothed from the trim- mings of the vain." This remonstrance had a proper effect ; they went with great composure, that very instant, to change their dress ; and the next day I had the satisfaction of finding my daughters, at their own request, em- ployed in cutting up their trains into Sunday waist- coats for Dick and Bill, the two little ones, and what was still more satisfactory, the gowns seemed im- proved by this curtailing. *^ 1 ^H ^ 1 i\\iif &f CHAPTER V. A NEAV AND GREAT ACQUAINTANCE INTRODUCED. WHAT WE PLACE MOST HOPES UPON GENERALLY PROVES MOST FATAL. At a small distance from the house, my predeces- sor had made a seat, overshadowed by a hedge of hawthorn and honeysuckle. Here, when the weather was fine and our labor soon finished, we usually sat together, to enjoy an extensive landscape in the calm of the evening. Here too we drank tea, which was now become an occasional banquet ; and as we had it but seldom it diffused a new joy, the preparations for it being made with no small share of bustle and cere- mony. On these occasions our two little ones always read to us, and they were regularly served after wo had done. Sometimes, to give a variety to our amuse- ments, the girls sung to the guitar ; and while they thus formed a little concert, my wife and I would stroll down the sloping field, that was embellished with blue-bells and centaury, talk of our children with rapture, and enjoy the breeze that wafted both health and harmony. In this manner we began to find that every situa- tion in life might bring its own peculiar pleasures ; VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 29 every morning awaked us to a repetition of toil ; but the evening repaid it with vacant hilarity. It was about the beginning of the autumn, on a holiday, for I kept such as intervals of relaxation from labor, that I had drawn out my family to our usual place of amusement, and our young musicians began their usual concert. As we were thus engaged, we saw a stag bound nimbly by, within about twenty paces of where we were sitting, and by its panting it seemed pressed by the hunters. "We had not much time to reflect upon the poor animal's distress, when we perceived the dogs and horsemen come sweeping along at some distance behind, and making the very path it had taken. I was instantly for returning in with my family ; but either curiosity, or surprise, or some more hidden motive, held my wife and daugh- ters to their seats. The huntsman, who rode foremost, passed us with great swiftness, followed by four or five persons more, who seemed in equal haste. At last, a young gentleman of a more genteel appearance than the rest came forward, and for a while regarding us, instead of pursuing the chase, stopt short, and giv- ing his horse to a servant who attended, approached us with a careless superior air. He seemed to want no introduction, but was going to salute my daugh- ters, as one certain of a kind reception ; but they had earlyQ.earnt the lesson of looking presumption out of countenance?\ Upon which he let us know his name was Thornhiii, and that he was the owner of the es- tate that lay for some extent round us. He again 80 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. therefore offered to salute the female part of the fam- ily, and such was the power of fortune and fine clothes, that he found no second repulse. As his ad- dress, though confident, was easy, we soon became more familiar ; and perceiving musical instruments Ijdng near, he begged to be fiivored with a song. As I did not approve of such disproportioned acquain- tance, I winked upon my daughters in order to pre- vent their compliance ; but my hint was counteracted by one from their mother ; so that, with a cheerful air, they gave us a favorite song of Dryden's. Mr. Thornhill seemed highly delighted with their per- formance and choice, and then took up the guitar himself. He played but very indiiferently ; however, my eldest daughter repaid his former applause with interest, and assured him that his tones were louder than even those of her master. At this compliment he bowed, which she returned with a courtesy. He praised her taste, and she commended his understand- ing; an age could not have made them better ac- quainted : while the fond mother, too, equally happy, insisted upon her landlord's stepping in, and tasting a glass of gooseberry. The whole family seemed earn- est to please him : my girls attempted to entertain him with topics they thought most modern, while Moses, on the contrary, gave him a question or two from the ancients, for which he had the satisfaction of being laughed at:^ my little ones were no less busy, and 1 "For he alvvaj^s ascribed to his wit that laughter which was lavished at his simplicity." — Fh^st Edit. VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 31 fondly stuck close to the stranger. All my endeav- ors could scarcely keep their fingers from handling and tarnishing the lace on his clothes, and lifting up the flaps of his pocket-holes, to see what was there. At the approach of evening he took leave ; but not till he had requested permission to renew his visit, which, as he was our landlord, we most readily agreed to. As soon as he was gone, my wife called a council on the conduct of the day. She was of opinion, that it was a most fortunate hit ; for that she had known even stranger things at last brought to bear. She hoped again to see the day in which we might hold up our heads with the best of them ; and concluded, she protested she could see no reason why the two Miss Wrinkles should marry great fortunes, and her children get none. As this last argument was di- rected to me, I protested I could see no reason for it either, nor why Mr. Simkins got the ten thousand pound prize in the lottery, and we sat down with a blank.^ " I protest, Charles," cried my wife, " this is the way you always damp my girls and me when we are in spirits. Tell me, Sophy, my dear, what do you think of our new visitor ? Don't you think he seemed to be good-natured ! " " Immensely so in- 1 "But those," added I, "who either aim at husbands greater than them<5elves, or at the ten thousand pound prize, have been fools for their ridiculous claims, whether successful or not." — First Edit. 32 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. deed, mamma," replied she. " I think he has a great deal to say upon everything, and is never at a loss ; and the more trifling the subject, the more he has to say." " Yes," cried Olivia, " he is well enough for a man ; but for my own part, I don't much like him, he is so extremely impudent and familiar ; but on the guitar he is shocking." These two last speeches I interpreted by contraries. I found by this, that Sophia internally desjDised, as much as Olivia secretly admired him. " Whatever may be your opinions of him, my children," cried T, " to confess the truth, he has not prepossessed me in his favor. Disproportioned friendships ever terminate in disgust ; and I thought, notwithstanding all his ease, that he seemed perfectly sensible of the distance between us. Let us keep to companions of our own rank. There is no character more contemptible than a man that is a fortune- hunter ; and I can see no reason why fortune-hunting women should not be contemptible too. Thus, at best, we shall be contemptible if his views be honora- ble ; but if they be otherwise ! I should shudder but to think of that. It is true I have no apprehensions from the conduct of my children, but I think there are some from his character." I would have pro- ceeded, but for the interruption of a servant from the Squire, who, with his compliments, sent us a side of venison, and a promise to dine with us some days after. This well-timed present pleaded more power- fully in his favor than anything I had to say could VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 33 obviate. I therefore continued silent, satisfied with just having pointed out danger, and leaving it to their own discretion to avoid it. That virtue which requires to be ever guarded, is scarcely worth the sentinel. 3 CHAPTER VI. THE HAPPINESS OF A COUNTRY FIRESIDE. As we carried on the former dispute with some deofree of warmth, iu order to accommodate matters, it was universally agreed, that we should have a part of the venison for supper ; and the girls undertook the task with alacrity. " I am sorry," cried I, " that we have no neighbor or stranger to take a part in this good cheer ; feasts of this kind acquire a double relish from hospitality." " Bless me," cried my wife, "here comes our good friend Mr. Burchell, that saved our Sophia, and that ran you down fairly in the argument." " Confute me in argument, child ! " cried I. " You mistake there, my dear ; I believe there are but few that can do that ; I never dispute your abilities at making a goose-pie, and I beg you '11 leave argument to me." As I spoke, poor Mr. Bur- chell entered the house, and was welcomed by the family, who shook him heartily by the hand, while little Dick officiously reached him a chair. I was pleased with the poor man's friendship for two reasons ; because I knew that he wanted mine, and I knew him to be friendly as far as he was able. He was known in our neighborhood by the VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 35 character of the poor Gentleman that would do no good when he was young, though he was not yet thirty. He would at intervals talk with great good sense ; but in general he was fondest of the company of children, whom he used to call harmless little men. He was famous, I found, for singing them ballads, and telling them stories ; and seldom went out with- out something in his pockets for them ; a piece of gingerbread, or a halfpenny whistle. He generally came for a few days into our neighborhood once a year, and lived upon the neighbors' hospitality. He sat down to supper among us, and my wife was not sparing of her gooseberry wine. The tale went round ; he sung us old songs, and gave the children the story of the Buck of Beverland, with the history of Patient Grissel, the adventures of Catskin, and then Fair Rosamond's Bower. Our cock, which always crew at eleven, now told us it was time for repose ; but an unforeseen difficulty started about lodging the stranger — all our beds were already taken up, and it was too late to send him to the next ale-house. In this dilemma, little Dick offered him his part of the bed, if his brother Moses would let him lie with him : " And I," cried Bill, " will give Mr. Burchell my part, if my sisters will take me to theirs." " Well done, my good children," cried I, " hospitality is one of the first Christian duties. The beast retires to his shelter, and the bird flies to its nest ; but helpless man can only find refuge from his fellow creature. The greatest stranger in this world, 3j5 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. was he that came to save it. He never had a house, as if willing to see what hosiDitality was left remain- ing amongst us. Deborah, my clear," cried I to my wife, " give those boys a lump of sugar each, and let Dick's be the largest, because he spoke first." In the morning early I called out my whole family to help at saving an after-growth of hay, and our guest offering his assistance, he was accepted among the number. Our labors went on lightly ; we turned the swath to the wind. I went foremost, and the rest followed in due succession. I could not avoid, however, observing the assiduity of Mr. Burchell in assisting my daughter Sophia in her part of the task. When he had finished his own, he would join in her's, and enter into a close conversation ; but I had too good an opinion of Sophia's understanding, and was too well convinced of her ambition, to be under any uneasiness from a man of broken fortune. When we were finished for the day, Mr. Burchell was invited as on the night before ; but he refused, as he was to lie that night at a neighbor's, to whose child he was carrying a whistle. When gone, our conversation at supper turned upon our late unfortunate guest. "What a strong instance," said I, "is that poor man of the miseries attending a youth of levity and ex- travagance ! He by no means wants sense, which only serves to aggravate his former folly. Poor for- lorn creature, where are now the revellers, the flat- terers, that he could once inspire and command ! Gone, perhaps, to attend the bagnio pander, grown VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 37 ricli by his extravagance. They once praised him, and now they applaud the pander ; their former rap- tures at his wit are now converted into sarcasms at his folly : he is poor, and perhaps deserves poverty ; for he has neither the ambition to be independent, nor the skill to be useful." Prompted, perhaps, by some secret reasons, I delivered this observation with too much acrimony, which my Sophia gently reproved — " Whatsoever his former conduct may have been, papa, his circumstances should exempt him from cen- sure now. His present indigence is a sufficient pun- ishment for former folly ; and I have heard my papa himself say, that we should never strike one unneces- sary blow at a victim over whom Providence holds the scourge of its resentment." "You are right, Sophy," cried my son Moses, "and one of the an- cients finely represents so malicious a conduct, by the attempts of a rustic to flay Marsyas, whose skin, the fable tells us, had been wholly stript off by another. Besides, I don't know if this poor man's situation be so bad as my father would represent it. We are not to judge of the feelings of others, by what we might feel if in their place. However dark the habitation of the mole to our eyes, yet the animal itself finds the apartment sufficiently lightsome. And to confess the truth, this man's mind seems fitted to his station ; for I never heard any one more sprightly than he was to-day, when he conversed with you." This was Baid without the least design ; however, it excited a blush, which she strove to cover by an affected laugh, 38 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. assuring him, that she scarcely took any notice of what he said to her; but that she. believed he naight once have been a very fine gentleman. The readi- ness with which she undertook to vindicate herself, and her blushing, were symptoms I did not internally approve ; but I repressed my suspicions. As we expected our landlord the next day, my wife went to make the venison pasty. Moses sat reading, while I taught the little ones : my daughters seemed equally busy with the rest ; and I observed them for a good while cooking something over the fire. I at first supposed they were assisting their mother; but little Dick informed me in a whisper, that they were making a wash for the face. Washes of all kinds I had a natural antipathy to ; for I knew that instead of mending the complexion, they spoiled it. I therefore approached my chair by sly degrees to the fire, and grasping the poker as if it wanted mending, seemingly by accident overturned the whole composition, and it was too late to begin another. CHAPTER VII. A. TOWN WIT DESCRIBED THE DULLEST FELLOWS MAY LEARN TO BE COMICAL FOR A NIGHT OR TWO. When the mornmg arrived on which we were to entertain our young landlord, it may be easily sup- posed what provisions were exhausted to make an appearance. It may also be conjectured that my wife and daughters expanded their gayest plumage upon this occasion. Mr. Thornhill came with a couple of friends, his chaplain and feeder. The ser- vants, who were numerous, he politely ordered to the next ale-house, but my wife, in the triumph of her heart, insisted on entertaining them all ; for which, by the bye, our family was pinched for three weeks after. As Mr. Burchell had hinted to us the day before, that he was making some proposals of marriage to Miss Wilmot, my son George's former mistress, this a good deal damped the heartiness of his reception : but accident in some measure relieved our embarrass- ment ; for one of the company happening to mention her name, Mr. Thornhill observed with an oath, that he- never knew anything more absurd than calling such a fright a beauty : " For strike me ugly," con- tinued he, "if I should not find as much pleasure in 40 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. choosing my mistress by the information of a lamp under the clock at St. Dunstan's." At this he laughed, and so did we ; the jests of the rich are ever successful. Qlivia, too, could not avoid whis- pering loud enough to be heard, that he had an infi- nite fund of humor. After dinner, I began with my usual toast, the Church ; for this I was thanked by the chaplain, as he said the Church was the only mistress of his affec- tions. " Come tell us honestly, Frank," said the Squire, with his usual archness, " suppose the Church, your present mistress, drest in lawn sleeves, on one hand, and Miss Sophia, with no lawn about her, on the other, which would you be for ? " " For both, to be sure," cried the chaplain. " Right, Frank," cried the Squire, " for may this glass suffocate me but a fine girl is worth all the priestcraft in the creation. For what are tithes and tricks but an imposition, all a confounded imposture, and I can prove it ? " "I wish you would," cried my son Moses ; " and I think," continued he, " that I should be able to an- swer you." " Very well, sir," cried the Squire, who immediately smoked him, and winking on the rest of the company to prepare us for some sport, " if you are for a cool argument upon that subject, I am ready to accept the challenge. And first, whether you are for managing it analogically or dialogically ? " " I am for managing it rationally," cried Moses, quite happy at being permitted to dispute. " Good again," cried the Squire, "and firstly, of the first: I hope VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 41 you '11 not deny, that whatever is, is. If you don't grant me that, I can go no further." "Why," re- turned Moses, " I think I may grant that, and make the best of it." " I hope, "too," returned the other, " you '11 grant that a part is less than the whole." " I grant that too," cried Moses, " it is but just and rea- sonable." " I hope," cried the Squire, '' you will not deny, that the two angles of a triangle are equal to two right ones." " Nothing can be plainer," returned the other, and looked round with his usual impor- tance. " Very well," cried the Squire, speaking very quick, " the premises being thus settled, I proceed to observe, that the concatenation of self-existence, pro- ceeding in a reciprocal duplicate ratio, naturally pro- duces a problematical dialogism, which in some measure proves that the essence of spirituality may be referred to the second predicable." " Hold, hold," cried the other, " I deny that : Do you think I can thus tamely submit to such heterodox doctrines ? " " What ! " replied the Squire, as if in a passion, " not submit! Answer me one plain question: Do you think Aristotle right when he says, that relatives are related ? " " Undoubtedly," replied the other. " If so, then," cried the Squire, " answer me directly to what I propose : Whether do you judge the analytical investigation of the first part of my enthymem defi- cient secundum quoad, or quoad minus, and give me your reasons : give me your reasons, I say, directly." " I protest," cried Moses, " I don't rightly compre- hend the force of your reasoning; but if it be re- 42 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. duced to one simple proposition, I fancy it may then have an answer." " O sir," cried the Squire, " I am your most humble servant; I find you want me to furnish you with argument and intellects too. No, sir, there I protest you are too hard for me." This effectually raised the laugh against poor Moses, who sat the only dismal figure in a group of merry faces ; nor did he offer a single syllable more during the whole entertainment. But though all this gave no pleasure, it had a very different effect upon Olivia, who mistook it, for humor, though but a mere act of the memory. She thought him therefore a very fine gentleman ; and such as consider what powerful ingredients a good figure, fine clothes, and fortune are in that character, will easily forgive her. Mr. Thornhill, notwithstanding his real ignorance, talked with ease, and could expatiate upon the common topics of conversation with fluency. It is not surprising, then, that such talents should win the affections of a girl, who by education was taught to value an appearance in herself, and consequently to set a value upon it in another. Upon his departure, we again entered into a de- bate upon the merits of our young landlord. As he directed his looks and conversation to Olivia, it was no longer doubted but that she was the object that induced him to be our visitor. Nor did she seem to be much displeased at the innocent raillery of her brother and sister upon this occasion. Even Deborah herself seemed to share the glory of the day, and exulted in her daughter's victory as if it were her VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 43 own. "And now, my dear," cried she to me, "I'll fairly own, that it was I that instructed my girls to encourage our landlord's addresses. I had always some ambition, and you now see that I was right ; for who knows how this may end ? " " Ay, who knows that indeed ! " answered I, with a groan : " for my part, I don't much like it ; and I could have been better pleased with one that was poor and hon- est, than this fine gentleman with his fortune and in- fidelity ; for, depend on 't, if he be what I suspect him, no free-thinker shall ever have a child of mine." " Sure, father," cried Moses, " you are too severe in this : for Heaven will never arraign him for what he thinks, but for what he does. Every man has a thousand vicious thoughts, which arise without his power to suppress. Thinking freely of religion may be involuntary with this gentleman ; so that, allow- ing his sentiments to be wrong, yet as he is purely passive in his assent, he is no more to be blamed for his errors, than the governor of a city without walls for the shelter he is obliged to afford an invading enemy." " True, my son," cried I ; " but if the governor in- vites the enemy there, he is justly culpable. And such is always the case with those who embrace error. The vice does not lie in assenting to the proofs they see ; but in being blind to many of the proofs that offer.^ So that, though our erroneous opinions be 1 " Like corrupt judges on a bench, they determine right to that part of the evidence the}^ hear ; but they will not hear all the evi- dence. Thus my son, though," &c. — First Edit. 44 VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. involuntary when formed, yet as we have been wil- fully corrupt, or very negligent in forming them, we deserve punishment for our vice, or contempt for our folly." My wife now kept up the conversation, though not the argument: she observed, that several very pru- dent men of our acquaintance were free-thinkers, and made very good husbands ; and she knew some sen- sible girls that had skill enough to make converts of their spouses : " And who knows, my dear," con- tinued she, " what Olivia may be able to do. The girl has a great deal to say upon every subject, and to my knowledge is very well skilled in contro- versy." " Why, my dear, what controversy can she have read ? " cried I : "It does not occur to me that I ever put such books into her hand ; you certainly over- rate her merit." " Indeed, . papa," replied Olivia, " she does not ; I have read a great deal of contro- versy. I have read the disputes between Thwackum and Square ; the controvesy between Robinson Cru- soe and Friday the savage, and am now employed in reading the controversy in ' Religious Courtship.' " ^ " Very well," cried I, " that 's a good girl, I find you are perfectly qualified for making converts ; and so help your mother to make the gooseberry-pie." 1 A work written in 1722, by Daniel Defoe, to exhibit in a fa- miliar manner the unhappy consequences of marriage between persons of opposite persuasions in religion. CHAPTER VIII. AN AMOUR WHICH PROMISES LITTLE GOOD FOR- TUNE, YET MAY BE PRODUCTIVE OF MUCH. The next morning we were again visited by Mr. Burchell, though I began, for certain reasons, to be displeased with the frequency of his return ; but I could not refuse him my company and my fireside. It is true, his labor more than requited his entertain- ment ; for he wrought among us with vigor, and either in the meadow or at the hay-rick put himself foremost. Besides, he had always something amus- ing to say that lessened our toil, and was at once so out of the way, and yet so sensible, that I loved, laughed at, and pitied him. My only dislike arose from an attachment he discovered to my daughter ; he would, in a jesting manner, call her his little mis- tress, and when he bought each of the girls a set of ribbons, hers was the finest. I knew not how, but he every day seemed to become more amiable, his wit to improve, and his simplicity to assume the su- perior airs of wisdom. Our family dined in the field, and we sat, or rather reclined round a temperate repast, our cloth spread upon the hay, while Mr. Burchell gave cheerfulness 46 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. to the feast. To heighten our satisfaction two black- birds answered each other from opposite hedges, the familiar redbreast came and pecked the crumbs from our hands, and every sound seemed but the echo of tranquillity. " I never sit thus," says Sophia, " but I think of the two lovers so sweetly described by Mr. Gay, who were struck dead in each other's arms. There is something so pathetic in the description that I have read it a hundred times with new rapture." " In my opinion," cried my son, " the finest strokes in that description are much below those in the Acis and Galatea of Ovid. The Roman poet understands the use of contrast better ; and upon that figure art- full}^ managed, all strength. in the pathetic depends." " It is remarkable," cried Mr. Burchell, " that both the poets you mention have equally contributed to introduce a fiilse taste into their respective countries, by loading all their lines with epithet. Men of little genius found them most easily imitated in their de- fects, and English poetry, like that in the latter em- pire of Rome, is nothing at present but a combination of luxuriant images, without plot or connection ; a string of epithets that improve the sound, without carrying on the sense. But perhaps, madam, while I thus reprehend others, you '11 think it just that I should give them an opportunity to retaliate, and in- deed I have made the remark only to have an oppor- tunity of introducing to the company a ballad, which, whatever be its other defects, is, I think, at least free from those I have mentioned." VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 47 A BALLAD. *' Turn, gentle Hermit of tlie dale, And guide my lonely way, To where yon taper cheers the vale With hospitable ray. " For here forlorn and lost I tread, With fainting steps and slow; Where wilds, immeasurably spread, Seem lengthening as I go." *' Forbear, my son," the Hermit cries, " To tempt the dangerous gloom; For yonder faithless phantom flies To lure thee to thy doom. ' ' Here to the houseless child of want My door is open still; And though my portion is but scant, I give it with good will. " Then turn to-night, and freely share Whate'er my cell bestows ; My rushy couch and frugal fare, My blessing and repose. " No flocks that range the valley free To slaughter I condemn ; Taught. by that power that pities me, I learn to pity them : 48 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. " But from the mountain's grassy side, A guiltless feast I bring ; A scrip with herbs and fruits supplied, And water from the spring. *' Then, pilgrim, turn, thy cares forego, ■All earth-born cares are wrong ; )Man wants but little here below. Nor wants that little long." Soft as the dew from Heaven descends, His gentle accents fell, The modest stranger lowly bends, And follows to the cell. Far in a wilderness obscure The lonely mansion lay, A refuge to the neighb'ring poor And strangers led astray. No stores beneath its humble thatch Required a master's care ; The wicket, op'ning with a latch, Keceived the harmless pair. And now, when busy crowds retire To take their ev'ning rest, The Hermit trimm'd his little fire, And cheer'd his pensive guest : And spread his vegetable store. And gayly press'd and smil'd ; And skill 'd in legendary lore. The linof'rino: hours beaiuil'd. n VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 49 Around in sympatlietic mirth Its tricks the kitten tries, The cricket chirrups in the hearth, The crackling fagot flies. But nothing could a charm impart To soothe the stranger's woe ; For grief was heavy at his heart, And tears began to flow. His rising cares the Hermit spied, With answ'ring care opprest : And whence, unhappy youth," he cried, * ' The sorrows of thy breast ? *' From better habitations spurn'd, Reluctant dost thou rove ? Or grieve for friendship unreturn'd, Or unregarded love ? *' Alas ! the joys that fortune brings Are trifling, and decay ; And those who prize the paltry things, More trifling still than they. " And what is friendship but a name, A charm that lulls to sleep ; A shade that follows wealth or fame ■ But leaves the wretch to weep ? *i And love is still an emptier sound, The modern fair-one's jest ; On earth unseen, or only found To warm the turtle's nest. 4 50 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. " For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush, And spurn the sex," he said; But while he spoke, a rising blush His love-lorn guest betray'd. Surpris'd, he sees new beauties rise, Swift mantling to the view ; Like colors o'er the morning skies, As bright, as transient too. The bashful look, the rising breast, Alternate spread alarms : The lovely stranger stands confest A maid in all her charms. *' And ah ! forgive a stranger rude, A wretch forlorn," she cried ; Whose feet unhallow'd thus intrude Where Heaven and you reside. *' But let a maid thy pity share, Whom love has taught to stray ; Who seeks for rest, but finds despair Companion of her way. *' My father liv'd beside the Tyne, A wealthy lord was he ; And all his wealth was mark'd as mine, He had but only me. " To win me from his tender arms, Unnumber'd suitors came ; Who prais'd me for imputed charms, And felt or feign'd a flame. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 61 *' Each hour a mercenary crowd With richest proffers strove ; Among the rest young Edwin bow'd, But never talk'd of love. *' In humble, simplest habit clad, No wealth nor power had he ; Wisdom and worth were all he had, But these were all to me. ** And when beside me in the dale. He carol'd lays of love. His breath lent fragrance to the gale, And music to the grove. *' The blossom opening to the day, The dews of Heaven refin'd, Could naught of purity display To emulate his mind. ** The dew, the blossom on the tree. With charms inconstant shine ; Their charms were his, but woe to me, Their constancy was mine. " For still I tried each fickle art. Importunate and vain ; And while his passion touch'd my heart, I triumph 'd in his pain. " Till quite dejected with my scorn. He left me to my pride ; And sought a solitude folorn. In secret, where he died. 52 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. " But mine the sorrow, mine the fault, And well my life shall pay ; I '11 seek the solitude he sought, And stretch me where he lay. *' And there forlorn, despairing, hid, I '11 lay me down and die ; 'T was so for me that Edwin did, And so for him will I. '' *' Forbid it, Heaven ! " the Hermit cried, And clasp'd her to his breast : The wond'ring fair one turn'd to chide — 'T was Edwin's self that prest. *' Turn, Angelina, ever dear ! My charmer, turn to see Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here Restor'd to love and thee. ♦ ' Thus let me hold thee to my heart, And every care resign : And shall we never, never part. My life — my all that 's mine? " No, never from this hour to part, We '11 live and love so true ; The sigh that rends thy constant heart, Shall break thy Edwin's too." While this ballad was reading, Sophia seemed to mix an air of tenderness with her approbation. But our tranquillity was soon disturbed by the report of a VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 53 gun just by us, and immediately after a man was seen bursting through the hedge, to take up the game he had killed. This sportsman was the Squire's chap- lain, who had shot one of the blackbirds that so agree- ably entertained us. So loud a report, and so near, startled my daughters; and I could perceive that Sophia, in the fright, had thrown herself into Mr. Burcheli's arms for protection. The gentleman came up and asked pardon for having disturbed us, affirm- ing that he was ignorant of our being so near. He therefore sat down by my youngest daughter, and, sportsman-like, oifered her what he had killed that morning. She was going to refuse, but a private look from her mother soon induced her to correct the mis- take, and accept his present, though with some reluc- tance. My wife, as usual, discovered her pride in a whisper, observing, that Sophy had made a conquest of the chaplain, as well as her sister had of the Squire. I suspected, however, with more probability, that her affections were placed upon a different object. The chaplain's errand was to inform us, that Mr. Thorn- hill had provided music and refreshments, and in- tended that night giving the young ladies a ball by moonlight, on the grass-plot before our door. " Nor can I deny," continued he, " but I have an interest in being first to deliver this message, as I expect for my reward to be honored with Miss Sophy's hand as a partner." To this my girl replied, that she should have no objection, if she could do it with honor ; " but here," continued she, " is a gentleman," looking 54 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. at Mr. Burcliell, " who has been my companion in the task for the day, and it is fit he should share in its amusements." Mr. Burchell returned her a compli- ment for her intentions ; but resigned her up to the chaplain adding, that he was to go that night five miles, being invited to a harvest supper. His refusal appeared to me a little extraordinary ; nor could I conceive how so sensible a girl as my youngest, could thus prefer a man of broken fortunes to one whose expectations were much greater. But as men are most capable of distinguishing merit in women, so the ladies often form the truest judgments of us. The two sexes seem placed as spies upon each other, and are furnished with different abilities, adapted for mu- tual inspection. CHAPTER IX. TWO LADIES OF GREAT DISTINCTION INTRODUCED. SUPERIOR FINERY EVER SEEMS TO CONFER SUPE- RIOR BREEDING. Mr. Burchell had scarcely taken leave, and So- phia consented to dance with the chaplain, when my little ones came running out to tell us, that the Squire was come with a crowd of company. Upon our re- turn in, we found our landlord, with a couple of un- der gentlemen and two young ladies richly dressed, whom he introduced as women of very great distinc- tion and fashion from town. We happened not to have chairs enough for the whole company ; but Mr. Thornhill immediately proposed, that every gentle- man should sit in a lady's lap. This I positively ob- jected to, notwithstanding a look of disapprobation from my wife. Moses was therefore dispatched to borrow a couple of chairs ; and as we were in want of ladies to make up a set at country dances, the two gentlemen went with him in quest of a couple of partners. Chairs and partners were soon provided. The gentlemen returned with my neighbor Flam- borough's rosy daughters, flaunting with red top- knots ; but an unlucky circumstance was not adverted 56 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. to — though the Miss Flamboroughs were reckoned the very best dancers in the parish, and understood the jig and roundabout to perfection, yet they were totally unacquainted with country dances. This at first discomposed us ; however, after a little shoving and dragging, they at last went merrily on. Our mu- sic consisted of two fiddles, with a pipe and tabor. The moon shone bright. Mr. Thornhill and my eld- est daughter led up the ball, to the great delight of the spectators ; for the neighbors, hearing what was going forward, came flocking about us. My girl moved with so much grace and vivacity, that my wife could not avoid discovering the pride of her heart, by assuring me, that though the little chit did it so clev- erly, all the steps were stolen from herself. The ladies of the town strove hard to be equally easy, but without success. They swam, sprawled, lan- guished and frisked ; but all would not do : the gazers indeed owned that it was fine ; but neighbor Flam- borough observed, that Miss Livy's feet seemed to pat to the music as its echo. After the dance had continued about an hour, the two ladies, who were apprehensive of catching cold, moved to break up the ball. One of them, I thought, expressed her sentiments on this occasion in a very coarse manner, when she observed, that hy the living jingo she was all of a much of sweat. Upon our return to the house, we found a very elegant cold su23per, which Mr. Thornhill had ordered to be brought with him. The conversation at this time was more reserved than VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 57 before. The two ladies threw my girls quite into the shade ; for they would talk of nothing but high-life and high-lived company ; with other fashionable top- ics, such as pictures, taste, Shakespeare, and the musi- cal glasses. 'Tis true they once or twice mortified us sensibly by slipping out an oath; but that appeared to me as the surest symptom of their distinction (though I am since informed that swearing is per- fectly unfashionable). Their finery, however, threw a veil over any grossness in their conversation. My daughters seemed to .regard their superior accomplish- ments with envy; and what appeared amiss, was ascribed to tip-top quality breeding. But the conde- scension of the ladies was still superior to their other accomplishments. One of them observed, that had Miss Olivia seen a little more of the world, it would greatly improve her. To which the other added, that a single winter in town would make her little Sophia quite another thing. My wife warmly as- sented to both; adding, that there was nothing she more ardently desired than to give her girls a single winter's polishing. To this I could not help replying, that their breeding was already superior to their for- tune ; and that greater refinement would only serve to make their poverty ridiculous, and give them a taste for pleasures they had no right to possess. " And what pleasures," cried Mr. Thornhill, " do they not deserve to possess, who have so much in their power to bestow ? As for my part," continued he, " my fortune is pretty large ; love, liberty, and 58 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. pleasure are my maxims ; but curse me if a settle- ment of half my estate could give my charming Olivia pleasure, it should be hers ; and the only favor I would ask in return would be to add myself to the benefit." I was not such a stranger to the world as to be ignorant that this was the fashionable cant to disguise the insolence of the basest proposal ; but I made an effort to suppress my resentment. *' Sir," cried I, "the family which you now condescend to favor with your company, has been bred with as nice a sense of honor as you. Any attempts to injure that, may be attended with very dangerous consequences. Honor, sir, is our only possession a.t present, and of that last treasure we must be particularly careful." I was soon sorry for the warmth with which I had spoken this, when the young gentleman, grasping my hand, swore he commended my spirit, though he dis- approved my suspicions. " As to your present hint," continued he, " I protest nothing was farther from my heart than such a thought. No, by all that 's tempting, the virtue that will stand a regular siege was never to my taste ; for all my amours are carried by a coup-de-main." The two ladies, who affected to be ignorant of the rest, seemed highly displeased with this last stroke of freedom, and began a very discreet and serious dia- logue upon virtue ; in this my wife, the chaplain; and I, soon joined ; and the Squire himself was at last brought to confess a sense of his sorrow for his former excesses. "We talked of the pleasures of VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 59 temperance, and of the sunshine in the mind unpol- luted with guilt. I was so well pleased, that my little ones were kept up beyond the usual time, to be edified by so much good conversation. Mr. Thornhill even went beyond me, and demanded if I had any objection to giving prayers. I joyfully embraced the proposal ; and in this manner the night was passed in a most comfortable way, till at last the company began to think of returning. The ladies seemed very unwilling to part with my daughters, for whom they had conceived a particular affection, and joined in a request to have the pleasure of their company home. The Squire seconded the proposal, and my wife added her entreaties ; the girls too looked upon me as if they wished to go. In this perplexity I made two or three excuses, which my daughters as readily removed ; so that at last I was obliged to give a peremptory refusal ; for which we had nothing but sullen looks and short answers the whole day ensuing. CHAPTER X. THE FAMILY ENDEAVORS TO COPE WITH THEIR BETTERS. THE MISERIES OF THE POOR WHEN THEY ATTEMPT TO APPEAR ABOVE THEIR CIR- CUMSTANCES. I NOW began to find, that all my long and painful lectures upon temperance, simplicity, and content- ment, were entirely disregarded. The distinctions lately paid us by our betters awaked that pride which I had laid asleep, but not removed. Our win- dows, again, as formerly, were filled with washes for the neck and face. The sun was dreaded as an enemy to the skin without doors, and the fire as a spoiler of the complexion within. My wife observed that rising too early would hurt her daughters' eyes, that working after dinner would redden their noses, and she convinced me that the hands never looked so white as when they did nothing. Instead therefore of finishing George's shirts, we now had them new- modeling their old gauzes, or flourishing upon catgut. The poor Miss Flamboroughs, their former gay com- panions, were cast off as mean acquaintances, and the whole conversation ran upon high-life and high-lived company, with pictures, taste, Shakespeare, and the musical glasses. VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 61 But we could have borne all this, had not a for- tune-telling gypsy come to raise us into perfect sub- limity. The tawny sibyl no sooner appeared, than my girls came running to me for a shilling a-piece to cross her hand with silver. To say the truth I was tired of being always wise, and could not help grati- fying their request, because I loved to see them happy. I gave each of them a shilling; though for the honor of the family it must be observed, that they never went without money themselves, as my wife always let them have a guinea each, to keep in their pockets, but with strict injunctions never to change it. After they had been closeted up with the fortune-teller for some time, I knew by their looks, upon their returning, that they had been promised something great. "Well, my girls, how have you sped? Tell me, Livy, has the fortune-teller given thee a pennyworth ? " "I protest, papa," says the girl, " I believe she deals with somebody that 's not right ; for she positively declared, that I am to be married to a Squire in less than a twelvemonth ! " " Well now Sophy, my child," said I, " and what sort of a husband are you to have ? " " Sir," replied she, " I am to have a Lord soon after my sister has mar- ried the Squire." " How," cried I, " is that all you are to have for your two shillings ? Only a Lord and a Squire for two shillings ! You fools, I could have promised you a Prince and a Nabob for half the money." This curiosity of theirs, however, was attended 62 VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. with very serious effects : we now began to think ourselves designed by the stars to something .exalted, and already anticipated our future grandeur. It has been a thousand times observed, and I must observe it once more, that the hours we pass with happy prospects in view, are more pleasing than those crowned with fruition. In the first case we cook the dish to our own appetite ! in the latter, nat- ure cooks it for us. It is impossible to repeat the train of agreeable reveries we called up for our en- tertainment. We looked upon our fortunes as once more rising ; and as the whole parish asserted that the Squire was in love with my daughter, she was actually so with him ; for they persuaded her into the passion. In this agreeable interval, my wife had the most lucky dreams in the world, which she took care to tell us every morning with great solemnity and exactness. It was one night a coffin and cross bones, the sign of an approaching wedding ; at an- other time she imagined her daughter's pockets filled with farthings, a certain sign of their being shortly stuffed with gold. The girls themselves had their omens. They felt strange kisses on their lips ; they saw rings in the candle, purses bound from the fire, and true love-knots lurked in the bottom of every tea-cup. Towards the end of the week we received a card from the town ladies ; in which, with their compli- ments, they hoped to see all our family at church the Sunday following. All Saturday morning I could VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. b6 perceive, in consequence of this, my wife and daugh- ters in close conference together, and now and then glancing at me with looks that betrayed a latent plot. To be sincere, I had strong suspicions that some ab- surd proposal was preparing for appearing with splendor the next day. In the evening they began their operations in a very regular manner, and my wife undertook to conduct the siege. After tea, when I seemed in spirits, she began thus : " I fancy, Charles, my dear, we shall have a great deal of good company at our church to-morrow." " Perhaps we may, my dear," returned I, " though you need be under no uneasiness about that, you shall have a ser- mon whether there be or not." " That is what I ex- pect," returned she ; " but I think, my dear, we ought to appear there as decently as possible, for who knows what may happen ? " " Your precautions," replied I, " are highly commendable. A decent be- havior aiid appearance in church is what charms me. We should be devout and humble, cheerful and se- rene." " Yes," cried she, " I know that ; but I mean we should go there in as proper a manner as possible ; not altogether like the scrubs about us." " You are quite right, my dear," returned I, "and I was going to make the very same proposal. The proper man- ner of going is, to go there as early as possible, to have time for meditation before the service begins." " Phoo, Charles," interrupted she, '" all that is very true ; but not what I would be at. I mean, we should go there genteelly. You know the church is 64 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. two miles off, and I protest I don't like to see my daughters trudging up to their pew all blowzed and red with walking, and looking for all the world as if they had been winners at a smock race. Now, my dear, my proposal is this : there are our two plow horses, the colt that has been in our family these nine years, and his companion Blackberry, that has scarcely done an earthly thing for this month past. They are both grown fat and lazy. Why should they not do something as well as we ? And let me tell you, when Moses has trimmed them a little, they will cut a very tolerable figure." To this proposal I objected, that walking would be twenty times more genteel than such a paltry con- veyance, as Blackberry was wall-eyed, and the colt wanted a tail : that they had never been broke to the rein, but had a hundred vicious tricks : and that we had but one saddle and pillion in the whole house. All these objections, however, were overruled; so that I was obliged to comply. The next morning I perceived them not a little busy in collecting such materials as might be necessary for the expedition ; but, as I found it would be a business of time, I walked on to the church before, and they promised speedily to follow. I waited near an hour in the reading desk for their arrival ; but not finding them come as expected, I was obliged to begin, and went through the service, not without some uneasiness at findinij them absent. This was increased when all was finished, and no appearance of the family. I VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 65 therefore walked back by the horse-way, which was five miles round, though the foot-way was but two, and when got about half way home, perceived the procession marching slowly forwards towards the church ; my son, my wife, and the two little ones, ex- alted on one horse, and my two daughters upon the other. I demanded the cause of their delay ; but I soon found by their looks they had met with a thou- sand misfortunes on the road. The horses had at first refused to move from the door, till Mr. Burchell was kind enough to beat them forward for about two hundred yards with his cudgel. Next, the straps of my wife's pillion broke down, and they were obliged to stop to repair them before they could proceed. After that, one of the horses took it into his head to stand still, and neither blows nor entreaties could prevail with him to proceed. He was just recover- ing from his dismal situation when I found them ; but perceiving everything safe, I own their present mortification did not much displease me, as it would give many opportunities of future triumph, and teach my daughters more humility. 5 CHAPTER XI. THE FAMILY STILL RESOLVE TO HOLD UP THEIR HEADS. Michaelmas Eve happeoing on the next day, we were invited to burn nuts and play tricks at neighbor Flamborough's. Our late mortifications had hum- bled us a little, or it is probable we might have re- jected such an invitation with contempt : however, we suffered ourselves to be happy. Our honest neigh- bor's goose and dumplings were fine, and the lamb's wool, even in the opinion of my wife, who was a con- noisseur, was excellent. It is true, his manner of telling stories was not quite so well. They were very long, and very dull, and about himself and we had laughed at them ten times before ; however, we were kind enough to laugh at them once more. Mr. Burchell, who was of the party, was always fond of seeing some innocent amusement going for- ward, and set the boys and girls to blind man's buff. My wife too was persuaded to join in the diversion, and it gave me pleasure to think she was not yet too old. In the mean-time, my neighbor and I looked on, laughed at every feat, and praised our own dex- terity when we were young. Hot cockles succeeded VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 67 next, questions and commands followed that, and last of all, they sat down to hunt the slipper. As every person may not be acquainted with this primeval pas- time, it may be necessary to observe, that the com- pany at this play plant themselves in a ring upon the ground, all except one who stands in the middle, whose business it is to catch a shoe, which the com- pany shove about under their hams from one to an- other, something like a weaver's shuttle. As it is impossible, in this case, for the lady who is up to face all the company at once, the great beauty of the play lies in hitting her a thump with the heel of the shoe on that side least capable of making a defence. It was in this manner that my eldest daughter was hemmed in, and thumped about, all blowzed, in spirits, and bawling for fair play, with a voice that might deafen a ballad-singer, when, confusion on con- fusion ! who should enter the room but our two great acquaintances from town. Lady Blarney and Miss Carolina Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs ! Description would but beggar, therefore it is unnecessary to de- cribe this new mortification. Death! To be seen by ladies of such high breeding in such vulgar atti- tudes ! Nothing better could ensue from such a vul- gar play of Mr. Flamborough's proposing. We seemed struck to the ground for some time, as if act- ually petrified with amazement. The two ladies had been at our house to see us, and finding us from home, came after us hither, as they were uneasy to know what accident could have 68 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. kept us from church the day before. Olivia under- took to be our prolocutor, and delivered the whole in a summary way, only saying, " We were thrown from our horses." At which account the ladies were greatly concerned ; but being told the family received no hurt, they were extremely glad : but being in- formed that we were almost killed by the fright, they were vastly sorry : but hearing that we had a very good night, they were extremely glad again. Noth- ing could exceed their complaisance to my daughters ; their professions the last evening were warm, but now they were ardent. They protested a desire of hav- ing a more lasting acquaintance. Lady Blarney was particularly attached to Olivia; Miss Carolina Wil- helmina Amelia Skeggs (I love to give the whole n^ine) took a greater fancy to her sister. They sup- ported the conversation between themselves, while my daughters sat silent, admiring their exalted breed- ing. But as every reader, however beggarly him- self, is fond of high-lived dialogues, with anecdotes of Lords, Ladies, and Knights of the Garter, I must beg leave to give him the concluding part of the present conversation. "All that I know of the matter," cried Miss Skeggs, " is this, that it may be true, or it may not be true : but this I can assure your Ladyship, that the rout was in amaze ; his Lordship turned all manner of colors, my Lady fell into a swoon, but Sir Tomkyn, drawing his sword, swore he was her's to the last drop of his blood." YICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 69 " Well," replied our Peeress, "■' this I can say, that the Duchess never told me a syllable of the matter, and I believe her Grace would keep nothing a secret from me. This you may depend upon as a fact, that the next day my Lord Duke cried out three times to his valet de chambre, Jernigan, Jernigan, Jernigan, bring me my garters," But previously I should have mentioned the very, impolite behavior of Mr. Burchell, who, during this discourse, sat with his face turned to the fire, and at the conclusion of every sentence would cry out fudge ;^ an expression which displeased us all, and in some measure damped the rising spirit of the con- versation. " Besides, my dear Skeggs," continued our Peeress, " there is nothing of this in the copy of verses that Dr. Burdock made upon the occasion." — Fudge! " I am surprised at that," cried Miss Skeggs ; " for he seldom leaves anything out, as he writes only for his own amusement. But can your Ladyship favor me with a sight of them ? " — Fudge 1 " My dear creature," replied our Peeress, " do you think I carry such things about me ? Though they are very fine to be sure, and I think myself some- thing of a judge ; at least I know what pleases my- self. Indeed I was ever an admirer of all Dr. Bur- dock's little pieces ; for, except what he does, and our 1 An expression of the utmost contempt, usually bestowed on absurd or lying talkers. It probably was introduced in Gold- smith's time, and is now common in colloquial language. — Todd. 70 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. dear Countess at Hanover-square, there 's nothing comes put but the most lowest stuff in nature ; not a bit of high life among them." — Fudge ! "Your Ladyship should except," says t'other, " your own things in the Lady's Magazine. I hope you '11 say there 's nothing low-lived there ? But I suppose we are to have no more from that quarter ? " — Fudge I " Why, my dear," says the Lady, " you know my reader and companion has left me, to be married to Captain Roach, and as my poor eyes won't suffer me to write myself, I have been for some time looking out for another. A proper person is no easy matter to find, and to be sure thirty pounds a year is a small stipend for a well-bred girl of character, that can read, write, and behave in company : as for the chits about town, there is no bearing them about one." — Fudge ! " That I know," cried Miss Skeggs, " by experi- ence. For of the three companions I had this last half-year one of them refused to do plain work an hour in a day ; another thought twenty-five guineas a year too small a salary, and I was obliged to send away the third, because I suspected an intrigue with the chaplain. Virtue, my dear Lady Blarney, virtue is worth any price ; but where is that to be found ? '* — Fudge ! My wife had been for a long time all attention to this discourse ; but was particularly struck with the latter part of it. Thirty pounds and twenty -five guin- VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 71 eas a year, made fifty-six pounds five shillings Eng- lish money, all which was in a manner going a-beg- ging, and might easily be secured in the family. She for a moment sudied my looks for approbation ; and, to own a truth, I was of opinion that two such places would fit our two daughters exactly. Besides, if the Squire had any real affection for my eldest daughter, this would be the way to make her every way qual- ified for her fortune. My wife therefore was re- solved that we should not be deprived of such advan- tages for want of assurance, and undertook to harangue for the family. '' I hope," cried she, " your Ladyships will pardon my present presumption. It is true, we have no right to pretend to such favors ; but yet it is natural for me to wish putting my children forward in the world. And I will be bold to say my two girls have had a pretty good education and capacity, at least the country can't show better. They can read, write, and cast accounts ; they understand their needle, broadstitch, cross and change, and all man- ner of plain work ; they can pink, point, and frill, and know something of music ; they can do up small clothes ; work upon catgut ! my eldest can cut paper, and my youngest has a very pretty manner of telling fortunes upon the cards." — Fudge / When she had delivered this pretty piece of elo- quence, the two ladies looked at each other a few min- utes in silence with an air of doubt and importance. At last Miss Carolina Wilhelmina Amelia Skeggs con- descended to observe, that the young ladies, from the 72 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. opinion she could form of them from so slight an ac- quaintance, seemed very fit for such employments : " But a thing of this kind, madam," cried she, address- ing my spouse, "requires a thorough examination into characters, and a more perfect knowledge of each other. Not, madam," continued she, " that I in the least suspect the young ladies' virtue, prudence, and discretion ; but there is a form in those things, madam, there is a form." My wife approved her suspicions very much, ob- serving that" she was very apt to be suspicious her- self; but referred her to all the neighbors for a char- acter : but this our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient, and upon this we rested our peti- tion. CHAPTER XIL FORTUNE SEEMS RESOLVED TO HUMBLE THE FAMILY OF WAKEFIELD. MORTIFICATIONS ARE OFTEN MORE PAINFUL THAN REAL CALAMITIES. When we were returned home, the night was ded- icated to schemes of future conquest. Deborah ex- erted much sagacity in conjecturing which of the two girls was likely to have the best place, and most op- portunities of seeing good company. The only obstacle to our preferment was in obtaining the Squire's recommendation, but he had already shown us too many instances of his friendship to doubt of it now. Even in bed my wife kept up the usual theme ; " "Well, faith, my dear Charles, between ourselves, I think we have made an excellent day's work of it." " Pretty well," cried I, not knowing what to say. " What ! only pretty well ! " returned she. " I think it is very well. Suppose the girls should come to make acquaintances of taste in town ! This I am assured of, that London is the only place in the world for all manner of husbands. Besides, my dear, stranger things happen every day ; and as ladies of quality are so taken with my daughters, what will not men of quality be ? Entre nous, I protest I like my 74 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. Lady Blarney vastly, so very obliging. However, Miss Carolina Wilhemina Amelia Skeggs has my warm heart. But yet, when they came to talk of places in town, you saw at once how I nailed them. Tell me, my dear, don't you think I did for my chil- dren there ? " " Ay," returned I, not knowing well what to think of the matter. " Heaven grant they may be both the better for it this day three mouths ! " This was one of those observations I usually made to impress my wife with an opinion of my sagacity ; for if the girls succeeded, then it was a pious wish ful- filled ; but if anything unfortunate ensued then it might be looked upon as a prophecy. All this con- versation, however, was only preparatory to another scheme, and indeed I dreaded as much. This was nothing less than that, as we were now to hold up our heads a little higher in the world, it would be proper to sell the colt, which was grown old, at a neighboring fair, and buy us a horse that would carry single or double upon an occasion, and make a pretty appearance at church, or upon a visit. This at first I opposed stoutly ; but it was as stoutly defended. However, as I weakened, my antagonists gained strength, till at last it was resolved to part with him. As the fair happened on the following day, I had intentions of going myself; but my wife persuaded me that I had got a cold, and nothing could prevail upon her to permit me from home. " No, my dear," said she, " our son Moses is a discreet boy, and can buy and sell to a very good advantage ; you know all VICAR OF WAKEFIELD; 75 our great bargains are of his purchasing. He always stands out and higgles, and actually tires them till he gets a bargain." As I had some opinion of my son's prudence, I was willing enough to intrust him with his commis- sion ; and the next morning I perceived his sisters mighty busy in fitting out Moses for the fair ; trim- ming his hair, brushing his buckles, and cocking his hat with pins. The business of the toilet being over, we had at last the satisfaction of seeing him mounted upon the colt, with a deal box before him to bring home groceries in. He had on a coat made of that cloth they called thunder and lightning, which, though grown too short, was much too good to be thrown away. His waistcoat was of gosling green, and his sisters had tied his hair with a broad black riband. We all followed him several paces from the door, bawling after him good luck, good hick, till we could see him no longer. He was scarcely gone, when Mr. Thornhill's butler came to congratulate us upon our good fortune, say- ing, that he overheard his young master mention our names with great commendation. Good fortune seemed resolved not to come alone. Another footman from the same family followed, with a card for my daughters, importing that the two ladies had received such pleasing accounts from Mr. Thornhill of us all, that, after a few previous inquir- ies, they hoped to be perfectly satisfied. " Ay," cried my wife, " I now see it is no easy matter to g^t into 76 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. the families of the great ; but when one once gets in, then, as Moses says, one may go to sleep." To this piece of humor, for she intended it for wit, my daugh- ters assented with a loud laugh of pleasure. In short, such was her satisfaction at this message, that she actually put her hand in her pocket, and gave the messenger sevenpence halfpenny. This was to be our visiting day. The next that came was Mr. Burchell, who had been at the fair. He brought my little ones a pennyworth of ginger- bread each, which my wife undertook to keep for them, and give them by letters at a time. He brought my daughters also a couple of boxes, in which they might keep wafers, snufF, patches, or even money, when they got it. My wife was usually fond of a weasel-skin purse, as being the most lucky ; but this by the bye. We had still a regard for Mr. Burchell, though his late rude behavior was in some measure displeasing ; nor could we now avoid communicating our happiness to him, and asking his advice ; although we seldom followed advice, we were all ready enough to ask it. When he read the note from the two ladies, he shook his head, and observed, that an affair of this sort demanded the utmost circumspection. This air of diffidence highly displeased my wife. " I never doubted, sir," cried she, "your readiness to be against my daughters and me. You have more cir- cumspection than is wanted. However, I fancy when we come to ask advice, we will apply to persons who seem to have made use of it themselves." " Whatever VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 77 my own conduct may have been, madam," replied he, " is not the present question ; though as I have made no use of advice myself, I should in conscience give it to those that will." As I was apprehensive this answer might draw on a repartee, making up by abuse what it wanted in wit, I changed the subject, by seeming to wonder what could keep our son so long at the fair, as it was now almost nightfall. " Never mind our son," cried my wife, " depend upon it he knows what he is about. I '11 warrant we '11 never see him sell his hen of a rainy day. I have seen him buy such bargains as would amaze one. I '11 tell you a good story about that, that will make you split your sides with laughing.^ But as I live, yonder comes Moses, without a horse and the box at his back." As she spoke Moses came slowly on foot, and sweating under the deal box, which he had strapped round his shoulders like a pedler. " Welcome, wel- come, Moses ; well, my boy, what have you brought us from the fair ? " "I have brought you myself," cried Moses, with a sly look, and resting the box on the dresser. " Ah, Moses," cried my wife, " that we know ; but where is the horse ? " "I have sold him," cried Moses, " for three pounds five shillings and two- pence." " Well done, my good boy," returned she ; " I knew you would touch them off. Between our- 1 This phrase, used as illustrative of the homeliness of the speaker, was one of those untruly attributed as common to the poet himself, by the retailers of anecdote ; who in this instance, as in others, have turned his humor against himself. 78 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. selves, three pounds five shillings and twopence is no bad day's work. Come let us have it then." " I have brought back no money," cried Moses again. " I have laid it all out on a bargain, and here it is," pulling out a bundle from his breast : " here they are ; a gross of green spectacles, with silver rims and shagreen cases." " A gross of green spectacles ! " repeated my wife in a faint voice. " And you have parted with the colt, and brought us back nothing but a gross of green paltry spectacles ! " " Dear mother," cried the boy, " why won't you listen to reason ? I had them a dead bargain, or I should not have bought them. The silver rims alone will sell for double the money." " A fig for the silver rims," cried my wife in a passion : " I dare swear they won't sell for above half the money at the rate of broken silver, five shillings an ounce." " You need be under no uneasiness," cried I, " about selling the rims, for they are not worth sixpence ; for I perceive they are only copper varnished over." " What," cried my wife, " not silver ! the rims not silver ! " " No," cried I, "no more silver than your saucepan." "And so," returned she, " we have parted with the colt, and have only got a gross of green spectacles, with copper rims and shagreen cases ! A murrain take such trumpery. The blockhead has been imposed upon, and should have known his company better." " There, my dear," cried I, " you are wrong, he should not have known them at all." " Marry, hang the idiot," re- turned she, " to brinof me such stuff; if I had them I \ YICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 79 would throw them in the fire/' " Tliere again you are wrong, my dear," cried I ; " for though they be copper, we will keep them by us, as copper spectacles, you know, are better than nothing." By this time the unfortunate Moses was unde- ceived. He now saw that he had been imposed upon by a prowling sharper, who observing his figure, had marked him for an easy prey. I therefore asked the circumstance of his deception. He sold the horse, it seems, and walked the fair in search of another. A reverend looking man brought him to a tent, under a pretence of having one to sell. " Here," continued Moses, " we met another man, very well dressed, who desired to borrow twenty pounds upon these, saying that he wanted money, and would dispose of them for a third of their value. The first gentleman, who pre- tended to be my friend, whispered me to buy them, and cautioned me not to let so good an offer pass. I sent for Mr. Flamborough, and they talked him up as finely as they did me, and so at last we were per- suaded to buy the two gross betwieen us." CHAPTER XIII. MR. BURCHELL IS FOUND TO BE AN ENEMY; FOR HE HAS THE CONFIDENCE TO GIVE DISAGREEABLE ADVICE. Our family had now made several attempts to be fine ; but some unforeseen disaster demolished each as soon as projected. I endeavored to take the advan- tage of every disappointment, to improve their good sense in proportion as they were frustrated in ambi- tion. " You see, my children," cried I, " how little is to be got by attempts to impose upon the world, in coping with our betters. Such as are poor, and will associate with none but the rich, are hated by those they avoid, and despised by those they follow. Un- equal combinations are always disadvantageous to the weaker side : the rich having the pleasure, and the poor the inconveniences that result from them. But come, Dick, my boy, and repeat the fable that you were reading to-day, for the good of the company." " Once upon a time," cried the child, " a Giant and a Dwarf were friends and kept together. They made a bargain that they would never forsake each other, but go seek adventures. The first battle they fought was with two Saracens, and the Dwarf, who was very VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 81 courageous, dealt one of the champions a most angry- blow. It did the Saracen very little injury, who, lift- ing up his sword, fairly struck off the poor Dwarf's arm. He was now in a woeful plight ; but the Giant coming to his assistance, in a short time left the two Saracens dead on the plain, and the Dwarf cut off the dead man's head out of spite. They then traveled on to another adventure. This was against three bloody- minded Satyrs, who were carrying away a damsel in distress. The Dwarf was not quite so fierce now as before ; but for all that struck the first blow, which was returned by another, that knocked out his eye ; but the giant was soon up with them, and had they not fled, would certainly have killed them every one. They were all very joyful for this victory, and the damsel who was relieved fell in love with the Giant, and married him. They now traveled far, and farther than I can tell, till they met with a company of rob- bers. The Giant, for the first time, was foremost now ; but the dwarf was not far behind. The battle was stout and long. Wherever the Giant came, all fell before him ; but the Dwarf had like to have been killed more than once. At last the victory declared for the two adventurers ; but the Dwarf lost his leg. The Dwarf was now without an arm, a leg, and an eye, while the Giant was without a single wound. Upon which he cried out to his little companion, my little hero, this is glorious sport ! let us get one vic- tory more, and then we shall have honor forever. No, cries the dwarf, who was by this time grown 82 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. ^ wiser, no, I declare off; I '11 jSght no more : for I find in every battle that you get all the honor and rewards, but all the blows fall upon me." I was going to moralize this fable, when our atten- tion was called off to a warm dispute between my wife and Mr. Burchell, upon my daughters' intended expedition to town. My wife very strenuously in- sisted upon the advantages that would result from it ; Mr. Burchell, on the contrary, dissuaded her with great ardor, and I stood neuter. His present dissua- sions seemed but the second part of those which were received with so ill a grace in the morning. The dis- pute grew high, while poor Deborah, instead of rea- soning stronger, talked louder, and at last was obliged to take shelter fi^om a defeat in clamor. The conclu- sion of her harangue, however, was highly displeasing to us all : she knew, she said, of some who had their own secret reasons for what they advised ; but, for her part, she wished such to stay from her house for the future. " Madam," cried Burchell, with looks of great composure, which tended to inflame her more, " as for secret reasons, you are right ; I have secret reasons, which I forbear to mention, because you are not able to answer those of which I make no secret : but I find my visits here are become troublesome ; I '11 take my leave therefore now, and perhaps come once more to take a final farewell, when I am quitting the country." Thus saying he took up his hat, nor could the attempts of Sophia, whose looks seemed to upbraid his precipitancy, prevent his going. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 83 When gone, we all regarded each other for some minutes with confusion. My wife, who knew herself to be the cause, strove to hide her concern with a forced smile, and an air of assurance, which I was willing to reprove : " How, woman," cried I to her, " is it thus we treat strangers ? Is it thus we return their kindness ? Be assured, my dear, that these were the harshest words, and to me the most un pleasing that ever escaped your lips ! " " Why would he pro- voke me, then ? " replied she ; " but I know the mo- tives of his advice perfectly well. He would prevent my girls from going to town, that he may have the pleasure of my youngest daughter's company here at home. But whatever happens, she shall choose bet- ter company than such low-lived fellows as he." " Low-lived, my dear, do you call him ? " cried I ; " it is very possible we may mistake this man's character, for he seems upon some occasions the most finished gentleman I ever knew. Tell me, Sophia, my girl, has he ever given you any secret instances of his at- tachment ? " " His conversation with me, sir," replied my daughter, " has ever been sensible, modest, and pleasing. As to aught else, no, never. Once, indeed, I remember to have heard him say, he never knew a woman who could find merit in a man that seemed poor." " Such, my dear," cried I, " is the common cant of all the unfortunate or idle. But I hope you have been taught to judge properly of such men, and that it would be even madness to expect happiness from one who has been so very bad an economist of 84 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. his own. Your mother and I have now better pros- pects for you. The next winter, which you will prob- ably spend in town, will give you opportunities of making a more prudent choice." What Sophia's reflections were upon this occasion I can't pretend to determine ; but I was not displeased at the bottom, that we were rid of a guest from whom I had much to fear. Our breach of hospitality went to my conscience a little ; but I quickly silenced that monitor by two or three specious reasons, which served to satisfy and reconcile me to myself. The pain which conscience gives the man who has already done wrong, is soon got over. Conscience is a cow- ard, and those faults it has not strength enough to prevent, it seldom has justice enough to accuse. CHAPTER XIV. FRESH MORTIFICATIONS, OR A DEMONSTRATION THAT SEEMING CALAMITIES MAT BE REAL BLESS- INGS. The journey of my daughters to town was now resolved upon, Mr. Thornhill having kindly promised to inspect their conduct himself, and inform us by letter of their behavior. But it was thought indis- pensably necessary that their appearance should equal the greatness of their expectations, which could not be done without expense. We debated therefore in full council what were the easiest meth- ods of raising money, or, more properly speaking, what we could most conveniently sell. The deliber- ation was soon finished ; it was found that our re- maining horse was utterly useless for the plow, with- out his companion, and equally unfit for the road, as wanting an eye ; it was therefore determined that we should dispose of him for the purposes above mentioned, at the neighboring fair, and, to prevent imposition, that I should go with him myself. Though this was one of the first mercantile transac- tions of my life, yet I had no doubt about acquitting myself with reputation. The opinion a man forms 86 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. of his own prudence is measured by that of the com- pany he keeps ; and as mine was mostly in the family way, I had conceived no unfavorable sentiments of my worldly wisdom. My wife, however, next morn- ing, at parting, after I had got some paces from the door, called me back, to advise me, in a whisper, to have all my eyes about me. I had, in the usual forms, when I came to the fair, put my horse through all his paces ; but for some time had no bidders. At last a chapman approached, and after he had for a good while examined the horse round, finding him blind of one eye, he would have nothing to say to him : a second came up, but observing he had a spavin, declared he would not take him for the driving home : a third perceived he had a windgall, and would bid no money : a fourth knew by his eye that he had the botts ; a fifth won- dered what the plague I could do at the fair with a blind, spavined, galled hack, that was only fit to be cut up for a dog-kennel. By this time I began to have a most hearty contempt for the poor animal my- self, and was almost ashamed at the approach of every customer ; for though I did not entirely believe all the fellows told me, yet I reflected that the num- ber of witnesses was a strong presumption they were right ; and St. Gregory, upon Good Works, professes himself to be of the same opinion. I was in this mortifying situation, when a brother clergyman, an old acquaintance, who had also busi- ness at the fair, came up, and shaking me by the VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 87 hand, proposed adjourning to a public-house, and tak- ing a glass of whatever we could get. I readily- closed with the offer, and entering an ale-house, we were shown into a little back room, where there was only a venerable old man, who sat wholly intent over a large book, which he was reading. I never in my life saw a figure that prepossessed me more favora- bly. His locks of silver gray venerably shaded his temples, and his green old age seemed to be the re- sult of health and benevolence. However, his pres- ence did not interrupt our conversation; my friend and I discoursed on the various turns of fortune we had met; the Whistonian controversy, my last phamphlet, the arch-deacon's reply, and the hard measure that was dealt me. But our attention was in a short time taken off by the appearance of a youth, who, entering the room, respectfully said something softly to the old stranger. " Make no apologies, my child," said the old man, " to do good is a duty we owe to all our fellow-creatures ; take this, I wish it were more ; but five pounds will re- lieve your distress, and you are welcome." The modest youth shed tears of gratitude, and yet his welcome was scarcely equal to mine. I could have hugged the good old man in my arms, his benevo- lence pleased me so. He continued to read, and we resumed our conversation, until my companion, after some time, recollecting that he had some business to transact in the fair, promised to be soon back ; add- ing, that he always desired to have as much of Dr. 88 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. Primrose's company as possible. The old gentleman hearing my name mentioned, seemed to look at me with attention for some time, and when my friend was gone, most respectfully demanded if I was any way related to the great Primrose, that courageous monogamist, who had been the bulwark of the church. Never did my heart feel sincerer rapture than at that moment. " Sir," cried I, " the applause of so good a man as I am sure you are, adds to that happiness in my breast which your benevolence has already excited. You behold before you, sir, that Dr. Primrose, the monogamist, whom you have been pleased to call great. You here see that unfortunate divine, who has so long, and it would ill become me to say, successfully, fought against the deuterogamy of the age." " Sir," cried the stranger, struck with awe, " I fear I have been too familiar ; but you '11 forgive my curiosity, sir : I beg pardon." " Sir," cried I, grasping his hand, " you are so far from dis- pleasing me by your familiarity, that I must beg you '11 accept my friendship, as you already have my esteem." " Then with gratitude I accept the offer," cried he, squeezing me by the hand, " thou glorious pillar of unshaken orthodoxy ! and do I behold " — I here interrupted what he was going to say ; for though, as an author, I could digest no small share of flattery, yet now my modesty would permit no more. However, no lovers in romance ever cemented a more instantaneous friendship. We talked upon several subjects : at first I thought he seemed rather VICAE OF WAKEriELD. 89 devout than learned, and began to think he despised all human doctrines as dross. Yet this no way les- sened him in my esteem ; for I had for some time begun privately to harbor such an opinion myself. I therefore took occasion to observe, that the world in general began to be blamably indifferent as to doc- trinal matters, and followed human speculations too much. " Ay, sir," replied he, as if he had re- served all his learning to that moment, "Ay, sir, the world is in its dotage, and yet the cosmogony or creation of the world has puzzled philosophers of all ages. What a medley of opinions have they not broached upon the creation of the world ! Sancho- niathon, Manetho, Berosus, and Ocellus Lucanus, have all attempted it in vain. The latter has these words, Anarchon ara hai alelutaion to pan, which im- ply that all things have neither beginning nor end. Manetho also, who lived about the time of Nebu- chadon-Asser, — 'Asser being a Syriac word usually applied as a surname to the kings of that country, as Teglat Phael-Asser, Nabon- Asser, — he, I say, formed a conjecture equally absurd ; for, as we usu- ally say, ek to hiUion Tauhernetes, which implies that books will never teach the world ; so he attempted to investigate — But, sir, I ask pardon, I am stray- ing from the question." That he actually was ; nor could I for my life see how the creation of the world had anything to do with the business I was talking of; but it was sufficient to show me that he was a man of letters, and I now reverenced him the 90 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. more. I was resolved therefore to bring him to the touchstone ; but he was too mild and too gentle to contend for victory. Whenever I made an observa- tion that looked like a challenge to controversy, he would smile, shake his head, and say nothing ; by which, I understood he could say much, if he thought projDcr. The subject therefore insensibly changed from the business of antiquity to that which brought us both to the fair : mine, I told him, was to sell a horse, and very luckily indeed, his was to buy one for one of his tenants. My horse was soon pro- duced, and in fine we struck a bargain. Nothing now remained but to pay me, and he accordingly pulled out a thirty pound note, and bid me change it. Not being in a capacity of complying with this de- mand, he ordered his footman to be called up, who made his appearance in a very genteel livery. " Here, Abraham," cried he, " go and get gold for this ; you'll do it at neighbor Jackson's or anywhere." While the fellow was gone, he entertained me with a pathetic harangue on the great scarcity of silver, which I un- dertook to improve, by deploring also the great scarcity of gold ; so that by the time Abraham re- turned, we had both agreed that money was never so hard to be come at as now. Abraham returned to inform us, that he had been over the whole fair, and could not get change, though he had offered half a crown for doing it. This was a very great disap- pointment to us all ; but the old gentleman, having paused a little, asked me if I knew one Solomon VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 91 Flamborough in my part of the country. Upon re- plying that he was my next-door neighbor ; " If that be the case then," returned he, " I believe we shall deal. You shall have a draft upon him, payable at sight ; and let me tell you, he is as warm a man as any within five miles round him. Honest Solomon and I have been acquainted many years together. I remember I always beat him at three jumps ; but he could hop on one leg farther than I." A draft upon my neighbor was to me the same as money ; for I was sufficiently convinced of his ability. The draft was signed, and put into my hands, and Mr. Jenkin- son, the old gentleman, his man Abraham, and my horse, old Blackberry, trotted off very well pleased with each other. After a short interval, being left to reflection, I began to recollect that I had done wrong in taking a draft from a stranger, and so prudently resolved upon following the purchaser, and having back my horse. But this was now too late : I therefore made directly homewards, resolving to get the draft changed into money at my friend's as fast as possible. I found my honest neighbor smoking his pipe at his own door, and informing him that I had a small bill upon him, he read it twice over. " You can read the name, I suppose," cried I, " Ephraim Jenkinson." " Yes," returned he, " the name is written plain enough, and I know the gentleman too, the greatest rascal under the canopy of heaven. This is the very same rogue who sold us the spectacles. Was he not a venerable looking man, with great hair, and no flaps to his 92 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. pocket-holes? And did he not talk a long string of learning about Greek, and cosmogony, and the world ? " To this I replied with a groan. " Ay," continued he, " he has but that one piece of learning in the world, and he always talks it away whenever he finds a scholar in the company ; but I know the rogue, and will catch him yet." Though I was already sufficiently mortified, my greatest struggle was to come, in facing my wife and daughters. No truant was ever more afraid of re- turning to school, there to behold the master's visage, than I was of going home. I was determined, how- ever, to anticipate their fury, by first falling into a passion myself. But alas ! upon entering, I found the family no way disposed for battle. My wife and girls were all in tears, Mr. Thornhill having been there that day to inform them that their journey to town was entirely over. The two ladies having he^v^d reports of us from some malicious person about us, were that day set out for London. He could neither discover the tendency, nor the author of these ; but whatever they might be, or whoever might have broached them, he continued to assure our family of his friendship and protection. I found, therefore, that they bore my disappointment with great resignation, as it was eclipsed in the greatness of their own. But what perplexed us most, was to think who could be so base as to asperse the character of a family so harm- less as ours, too humble to excite envy, and too in- offensive to create disgust. CHAPTER XV. ALL MR. BURCHELL'S VILLAINY AT ONCE DE- TECTED. THE FOLLY OF BEING OVER WISE. That evening, and a part of the following day, was employed in fruitless attempts to discover our ene- mies : scarcely a family in the neighborhood but in- curred our suspicions, and each of us had reasons for our opinions best known to ourselves. As we were in this perplexity, one of our little boys, who had been playing abroad, brought in a letter-case, which he found on the green. It was quickly known to be- long to Mr. Burchell, with whom it had been seen, and, upon examination, contained some hints upon different subjects ; but what particularly engaged our attention was a sealed note, superscribed, The copy of a letter to he sent to the two ladies at Thornhill Castle. It instantly occurred that he was the base informer, and we deliberated whether the note should not be broke open. I was against it ; but Sophia, who said she was sure that of all men he would be the last to be guilty of so much baseness, insisted upon its being read. In this she was seconded by the rest of the family, and at their joint solicitation I read as fol- lows : 94 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. " Ladies : — The bearer will sufficiently satisfy you as to the person from whom this comes : one at least the friend of innocence, and ready to prevent its being seduced. I am informed for a truth, that you have some intention of bringing two young ladies to town, whom I have some knowledge of, under the character of companions. As I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor .virtue contaminated, I must offer it as my opinion, that the impropriety of such a step will be attended with dangerous conse- quences. It has never been my way to treat the in- famous or the lewd with severity ; nor should 1 now have taken this method of explaining myself, or re- proving folly, did it not aim at guilt. Take therefore the admonition of a friend, and seriously reflect on the consequences of introducing infamy and vice into retreats, where peace and innocence have hitherto resided." Our doubts were now at an end. There seemed indeed something applicable to both sides in this letter, and its censures might as well be referred to those to whom it was written, as to us ; but the ma- licious meaning was obvious, and we went no farther. My wife had scarcely patience to hear me to the end, but railed at the writer with unrestrained resentment. Olivia was equally severe, and Sophia seemed per- fectly amazed at his baseness. As for my part, it appeared to me one of the vilest instances of unpro- voked ingratitude I had met with; nor could I ac- VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 95 count for it in any other manner than by imputing it to his desire of detaining my youngest daughter in the country, to have the more frequent opportunities of an interview. In this manner we all sat ruminating upon schemes of vengeance, when the other little boy came running in to tell us that Mr. Burchell was ap- proaching at the other end of the field. It is easier to conceive than describe the complicated sensations which are felt from the pain of a recent injury, and the pleasure of an approaching vengeance. Though our intentions were only to upbraid him with his in- gratitude, yet it was resolved to do it in a manner that would be perfectly cutting. For this purpose we agreed to meet him with our usual smiles ; to chat in the beginning with more than ordinary kindness ; to amuse him a little ; and then, in the midst of the flat- tering calm, to burst upon him like an earthquake, and overwhelm him with a sense of his own baseness. This being resolved upon, my wife undertook to man- age the business herself, as she really had some tal- ents for such an undertaking. We saw him approach ; he entered, drew a chair, and sat down. " A fine day, Mr. Burchell." "A very fine day. Doctor; though I fancy we shall have some rain by the shoot- ing of my corns." " The shooting of your horns ! " cried my wife in a loud fit of laughter, and then asked pardon for being fond of a joke. " Dear madam," replied he, " I pardon you with all my heart, for I protest I should not have thought it a joke had you not told me." " Perhaps not, sir," cried my wife, 96 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD, winking at us ; '' and yet I dare say you can tell us how many jokes go to an ounce." " I fancy, madam," returned Burchell, " you have been reading a jest book this morning, that ounce of jokes is so very good a conceit ; and yet, madam, I had rather see half an ounce of understanding." "I believe you might," cried my wife, still smiling at us, though the laugh was against her ; " and yet I have seen some men pretend to understanding that have very little." " And no doubt," returned her antagonist, " you have known ladies set up for wit that had none." I quickly began to find that my wife was likely to gain but little at this business ; so I resolved to treat him in a style of more severity myself. " Both wit and under- standing," cried I, " are trifles without integrity ; it is that which gives value to every character. The ig- norant peasant without fault, is greater than the phi- losopher with many ; for what is genius or courage without a heart ? An honest man is the noblest work of Godr " I always held that hackneyed maxim of Pope," returned Mr. Burchell, " as very unworthy a man of genius, and a base desertion of his own superiority. As the reputation of books is raised, not by their free- dom from defect, but the greatness of their beauties ; so should that of men be prized, not for their exemp- tion from fault, but the size of those virtues they are possessed of. The scholar may want prudence, the statesman may have pride, and the champion ferocity ; but shall we prefer to these the low mechanic, who VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 97 laboriously plods through life without censure or ap- plause ? We might as well prefer the tame correct paintings of the Flemish school, to the erroneous but sublime animations of the Roman pencil." " Sir," replied I, " your present observation is just, when there are shining virtues and minute defects ; but when it appears that great vices are opposed in the same mind to as extraordinary virtues, such a character deserves contempt." " Perhaps," cried he, " there may be some such monster as you describe, of great vices joined to great virtues ; yet in my progress through life, I never yet found one instance of their existence ; on the contrary, I have ever perceived, that where the mind was capa- cious, the affections were good. And indeed Prov- idence seems kindly our friend in this particular, thus to debilitate the understanding where the heart is corrupt, and diminish the power, where there is the will to do mischief. This rule seems to extend even to other animals ; the little vermin race are ever treacherous, cruel, and cowardly, whilst those en- dowed with strength and power, are generous, brave, and gentle." " These observations. sound well," returned I, "and yet it would be easy this moment to point out a man," and I fixed my eyes steadfastly upon him, "whose head and heart form a most detestable contrast. Ay, sir," continued I, raising my voice, " and I am glad to have this opportunity of detecting him in the midst of his fancied security. Do you know this, sir, this 7 98 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. pocket-book ? " " Yes, sir," returned he, with a face of impenetrable assurance, " that pocket-book is mine, and I am glad you have found it." " And do you know," cried I, " this letter? Nay, never falter, man ; but look me full in the face : I say do you know this letter ? " " That letter," returned he, " yes, it was I that wrote that letter." "And how could you," said I, " so basely, so ungratefully presume to write this letter ? " " And how came you," rei^lied he, with looks of unparalleled effrontery, " so basely to pre- sume to break open this letter? Don't you know, now, I could hang you all for this ? All that I have to do is to swear at the next Justice's, that you have been guilty of breaking open the lock of my pocket- book, and so hang you all up at this door." This piece of unexpected insolence raised me to such a pitch, that 1 could scarcely govern my passion. " Un- grateful wretch ! begone, and no longer pollute my dwelling with thy baseness ! begone, and never let me see thee again ! Go from my door, and the only punishment I wish thee is an alarmed conscience, which will be a sufficient tormentor ! " So saying, I threw him his pocket-book, which he took up with a smile, and shutting the clasps with the utmost com- posure, left us, quite astonished at the serenity of his assurance. My wife was particularly enraged that nothing could make him angry, or make him seem ashamed of his villainies. " My dear," cried I, will- ing to calm those passions that had been raised too high among us, " we are not surprised that bad men VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 99 want shame ; they only blush at being detected in doing good, but glory in their vices. " Guilt and shame, says the allegory, were at first companions, and in the beginning of their journey, inseparably kept together. But their union was soon found to be disagreeable and inconvenient to both. Guilt gave Shame frequent uneasiness, and Shame often betrayed the secret conspiracies of Guilt. After long disagreement, therefore, they at length consented to part forever. Guilt boldly walked forward alone, to overtake Fate, that went before in the shape of an executioner ; but Shame being naturally timorous, returned back to keep company with Virtue, which in the beginning of their journey they had left be- hind. Thus, my children, after men have traveled through a few stages in vice. Shame forsakes them, and returns back to wait upon the few virtues they have still remaining." ^ 1 " They no longer continue to have shame at doing evil, and shame attends only upon their virtues." — First Edit. CHAPTER XVI. THE FAMILY USE ART, WHICH IS OPPOSED WITH STILL GREATER. Whatever might have been Sophia's sensations, the rest of the family was easily consoled for Mr. Burchell's absence by the company of our landlord, whose visits now became more frequent, and longer. Though he had been disappointed in procuring my daughters the amusements of the town as he designed, he took every opportunity of supplying them with those little recreations which our retirement would admit of. He usually came in the morning, and while my son and I followed our occupations abroad, he sat with the family at home, and amused them by describing the town, with every part of which he was particularly acquainted. He could repeat all the ob- servations that were retailed in the atmosphere of the play houses, and had all the good things of the high wits by rote, long before they made their way into the jest books. The intervals between conversation were employed in teaching my daughters piquet, or sometimes in setting my two little ones to box, to make them sharp, as he called it : but the hopes of having him for a son-in-law, in some measure blinded VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 101 US to all his imperfections. It must be owned that my wife laid a thousand schemes to entrap him ; or, to speak more tenderly, used every art to magnify the merit of her daughter. If the cakes at tea eat short and crisp, they were made by Olivia; if the gooseberry wine was well knit, the gooseberries were of her gathering ; it was her fingers which gave the pickles their peculiar green ; and in the composition of a pudding, it was her judgment that mixed the ingredients. Then the poor woman would sometimes tell the Squire, that she thought him and Olivia ex- tremely of a size, and would bid both stand up to see which was tallest. These instances of cunning, which she thought impenetrable, yet which everybody saw through, were very pleasing to our benefactor, who gave every day some new proofs of his passion, which, though they had not arisen to proposals of marriage, yet we thought fell but little short of it : and his slowness was attributed sometimes to native bashfulness, and sometimes to the fear of offending his uncle. An occurrence, however, which happened soon after, put beyond a doubt that he designed to be- come one of our family ; my wife even regarded it as an absolute promise. My wife and daughters happening to return a visit to neighbor Flamborough's, found that family had lately got their pictures drawn by a limner, who traveled the country, and took likenesses for fifteen shillings a head. As this family and ours had long a sort of rivalry in point of taste, our spirit took the 102 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. alarm at this stolen march upon us, and notwithstand- ing all I could say, and I said much, it was resolved that we should have our pictures done too. Having, therefore, engaged the limner, — for what could I do ? our next deliberation was, to show the superiority of taste in the attitudes. As for our neighbor's family, there were seven of them, and they were drawn with seven oranges, a thing quite out of taste, no variety in life, no composition in the world. We desired to have something in a brighter style, and after many debates, at length came to an unanimous resolution of being drawn together in one large historical family piece. This would be cheaper, since one frame would serve for all, and it would be infinitely more genteel ; for all families of any taste were now drawn in the same manner. As we did not immediately recollect an historical subject to hit us, we were con- tented each with being drawn as independent histori- cal figures. My wife desired to be represented as Venus, and the painter was desired not to be too fru- gal of his diamonds in her stomacher and hair. Her two little ones were to be as Cupids by her side, while I, in my gown and band, was to present her with my books on the Whistonian controversy. Olivia would be drawn as an Amazon sitting upon a bank of flowers, dressed in a green Joseph, richly laced with gold, and a whip in her hand. Sophia was to be a shepherdess, with as many sheep as the painter could put in for nothing ; and Moses was to be dressed out with a hat and white feather. Our VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 103 taste so much pleased the Squire, that he insisted on being put in as one of the family in the character of Alexander the Great, at Olivia's feet. This was con- sidered by us all as an indication of his desire to be introduced into the family, nor could we refuse his request. The painter was therefore set to work, and as he wrought with assiduity and expedition, in less than four days the whole was completed. The piece was large, and it must be owned he did not spare his colors ; for which my wife gave him great encomiums. We were all perfectly satisfied with his performance ; but an unfortunate circumstance had not occurred till the picture was finished, which now struck us with dismay. It was so very large that we had no place in the house to fix it. How we all came to disre- gard so material a point is inconceivable ; but cer- tain it is, we had been all greatly remiss. The pic- ture, therefore, instead of gratifying our vanity, as we hoped, leaned in a most mortifying manner against the kitchen wall, where the canvas was stretched and painted, much too large to be got through any of the doors, and the jest of all our neighbors. One com- pared it to Robinson Crusoe's long-boat, too large to be removed ; another thought it more resembled a reel in a bottle : some wondered how it could be got out, but still more were amazed how it ever got in. But though it excited the ridicule of some, it effec- tually raised more malicious suggestions in many. The Squire's portrait being found united with ours 104 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. was an honor too great to escape envy. Scandalous whispers began to circulate at our expense, and our tranquillity was continually disturbed by persons who came as friends to tell us what was said of us by ene- mies. These reports we always resented, with be- coming spirit ; but scandal ever improves by opposi- tion. "We once again, therefore, entered into a consulta- tion upon obviating the malice of our enemies, and at last came to a resolution which had too much cun- ning to give me entire satisfaction. It was this : as our principal object was to discover the honor of Mr. Thornhill's addresses, my wife undertook to sound him, by pretending to ask his advice in the choice of a husband for her eldest daughter. If this was not found sufficient to induce him to a declaration, it was then resolved to terrify him with a rival. To this last step, however, I would by no means give my con- sent, till Olivia gave me the most solemn assurances that she would marry the person provided to rival him upon this occasion, if he did not prevent it, by taking her himself. Such was the scheme laid, which, though I did not strenuously oppose, I did not entirely approve. The next time, therefore, that Mr. Thornhill came to see us, my girls took care to be out of the way, in order to give their mamma an opportunity of putting their scheme into execution ; but they only retired to the next room, whence they could overhear the whole conversation. My wife artfully introduced it, by ob- VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 105 serving, that one of the Miss Flamboroaghs was like to have a good match of it in Mr. Spanker. To this the Squire assenting, she proceeded to remark, that they who had warm fortunes were always sure of getting good husbands : " But heaven help," continued she, " the girls that have none. What signifies beauty, Mr. Thornhill ? or what signifies all the vir- tue, and all the qualifications in the world, in this age of self-interest ? It is not, what is she ? but, what has she ? is all the cry." " Madam," returned he, " I highly approve the jus- tice, as well as the novelty of your remarks, and if I were a king it should be otherwise. It should, then, indeed, be fine times with the girls without fortunes : our two young ladies should be the first for whom I would provide." " Ah, sir," returned my wife, " you are pleased to be facetious but I wish I were a queen, and then I know where my eldest daughter should look for a husband. But, now that you have put it into my head, seriously, Mr. Thornhill, can't you recommend me a proper husband for her ? she is now nineteen years old, well grown and well educated, and, in my humble opinion, does not want for parts." " Madam," replied he, " if I were to choose, I would find out a person possessed of every accomplishment that can make an angel happy. One with prudence, fortune, taste, and sincerity; such madam, would be, in my opinion, the proper husband." " Ay, sir," said 106 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. she, " but do you know of any such person ? " " No, madam," returned he, " it is imjDossible to know any person that deserves to be her husband : she 's too great a treasure for one man's possession ; she 's a goddess ! Upon my soul, I speak what I think, she 's an angel ! " " Ah, Mr. Thornhill, you only flatter my poor girl ; but we have been thinking of marry- ing her to one of your tenants, whose mother is lately dead, and who wants a manager ; you know whom I mean, farmer Williams ; a warm man, Mr. Thornhill, able to give her good bread ; and who has several times made her proposals (which was actually the case) ; but, sir," concluded she, " I should be glad to 'have your approbation of our choice." "How, madam," replied he, " my approbation ! My appro- bation of such a choice ! Never. What ! sacrifice so much beauty, and sense, and goodness, to a creature insensible of the blessing! Excuse me, I can never approve of such a piece of injustice ! And I have my reasons." "Indeed, sir," cried Deborah, "if you have your reasons that's another affair : but I should be glad to know these reasons." " Excuse me, madam," returned he, " they lie too deep for discov- ery (laying his hand upon his bosom) ; they remain buried, riveted here." After he was gone, upon a general consultation, we could not tell what to make of these fine senti- ments. Olivia considered them as instances of the most exalted passion ; but I was not quite so san- VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 107 guine ; it seemed to me pretty plain, that they had more of love than matrimony in them : yet whatever they might portend, it was resolved to prosecute the scheme of farmer Williams, who, from my daughter's first appearance in the country, had paid her his addresses. CHAPTER XVII. SCARCELY ANY VIRTUE FOUND TO RESIST THE POWER OF LONG AND PLEASING TEMPTATION. As I only studied my child's real happiness, the assiduity of Mr. Williams pleased me, as he was in easy circumstances, prudent, and sincere. It required but very little encouragement to revive his former passion ; so that in an evening or two he and Mr. Thornhill met at our house, and surveyed each other for some time with looks of anger ; but Williams owed his landlord no rent, and little regarded his in- dignation. Olivia, on her side, acted the coquette to perfection, if that might be called acting which was her real character, pretending to lavish all her ten- derness on her new lover. Mr. Thornhill appeared quite dejected at this preference, and with a pensive air took leave, though I own it puzzled me to find him so much in pain as he appeared to be, when he had it in his power so easily to remove the cause, by declaring an honorable passion. But whatever un- easiness he seemed to endure, it could easily be per- ceived that Olivia's anguish was still greater. After any of these interviews between her lovers, of which there were several, she usually retired to solitude, and VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 109 there indulged her grief. It was in such a situation I found her one evening, after she had been for some time supporting a fictitious gayety. " You now see, my child," said I, " that your confidence in Mr. Thorn- hill's passion was all a dream : he permits the rivalry of another, every way his inferior, though he knows it lies in his power to secure you to himself by a can- did declaration." " Yes, papa " returned she, " but he has his reasons for this delay : I know he has. The sincerity of his looks and words convinces me of his real esteem. A short time, I hope, will discover the generosity of his sentiments, and convince you that my opinion of him has been more just than yours." " Olivia, my darling," returned I, " every scheme that has been hitherto pursued to compel him to a declaration, has been proposed and planned by yourself, nor can you in the least say that I have constrained you. But you must not suppose, my dear, that I will ever be instrumental in suffering his honest rival to be the dupe of your ill-placed passion. Whatever time you require to bring your fancied ad- mirer to an explanation, shall be granted; but at the' expiration of that term, if he is still regardless, I must absolutely insist that honest Mr. Williams shall be rewarded for his fidelity. The character which I have hitherto supported in life demands this from me, and my tenderness as a parent shall never influence my integrity as a man. Name then your day; let it be as distant as you think proper ; and in the mean time take care to let Mr. Thornhill know the exact 110 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. time on which I design delivering you up to another. If he really loves you, his own good sense will readily suggest that there is but one method alone to prevent his losing you forever." This proposal, which she could not avoid considering as perfectly just, was readily agreed to. She again renewed her most pos- itive promise of marrying Mr. Williams, in case of the other's insensibility ; and at the next opportunity, in Mr. Thornhill's presence, that day month was fixed upon for her nuptials with his rival. Such vigorous proceedings seemed to redouble Mr. Thornhill's anxiety : but what Olivia really felt gave me some uneasiness. In this struggle between pru- dence and passion, her vivacity quite forsook her, and every opportunity of solitude was sought, and spent in tears. One week passed away ; but Mr. Thorn- hill made no efforts to restrain her nuptials. The suc- ceeding week he was still assiduous : but not more open. On the third he discontinued his visits entirely, and instead of my daughter testifying any impatience as I expected, she seemed to retain a pensive tran- quillity, which I looked upon as resignation. For my own j^art, I was now sincerely pleased with thinking that my child was going to be secured in a contin- uance of competence and peace, and frequently ap- plauded her resolution, in preferring happiness to ostentation. It was within about four days of her intended nup- tials, that my little family at night were gathered round a charming fire, telling stories of the past, and VICAK OF WAKEFIELD. Ill laying schemes for the future; busy in forming a thousand projects, and laughing at whatever folly came uppermost. " Well, Moses," cried I, " we shall soon, my boy, have a wedding in the family : what is your opinion of matters and things in general ? " " My opinion, father, is, that all things go on very well ; and I was just now thinking, that when sister Livy is married to farmer Williams, we shall then have the loan of his cider-press and brewing tubs for nothing." " That we shall, Moses," cried I, " and he will sing us Death and the Lady, to raise our spirits into the bargain." " He has taught that song to our Dick," cried Moses, " and I think he goes through with it very prettily." " Does he so ? " cried I, " then let us have it : where 's little Dick ? let him up with it boldly." "My brother Dick," cried Bill, my youngest, "is just gone out with sister Livy: but Mr. Williams has taught me two songs, and I '11 sing them for you, papa. Which song do you choose, The Dyiin^g Swan^ or The Elegy 07i the Death of a Mad Dog ? " " The elegy, child, by all means," said I ; " I never heard that yet ; and Deborah, my life, grief you know is dry, let us have a bottle of the best goose- berry-wine, to keep up our spirits. I have wept so much at all sorts of elegies of late, that without an enlivening glass, I am sure this will overcome me ; and Sophy, love, take your guitar, and thrum in with the boy a little." 112 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. AN ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF A MAD DOG. Good people all of every sort, Give ear unto my song, And if you find it wondrous short It cannot hold you long. In Islington there was a man, Of whom the world might say, That still a godly race he ran Whene'er he went to pray. A kind and gentle heart he had, To comfort friends and foes ; The naked every day he clad. When he put on his clothes. And in that town a dog was found. As many dogs there be, Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound, And curs of low degree. This dog and man at first were friends ; But when a pique began, The dog, to gain some private ends, Went mad, and bit the man. Around from all the neighboring streets The wondering neighbors ran. And swore the dog had lost his wits, To bite so good a man. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 113 The wound it seemed both sore and sad . To every Christian eye ; And while they swore the dog was mad, They swore the man would die. But soon a wonder came to light, That show'd the rogues they lied — The man recover' d of the bite. The dog it was that died. " A very good boy, Bill;^ upon my v7ord, and an elegy that may be truly calle^4ragical. Come, my children, here 's Bill's health, and may he one day be a bishop ! " " With all my heart," cried my wife ; " and if he but preaches as well as he sings, I make no doubt of him. The most of his family by his mother's side, could sing a good song : it was a common saying in our country, that the family of the Blenkinsops could never look straight before them, nor the Hugginsons blow out a candle ; that there were none of the Gro- grams but could sing a song, or of the Marjorams but could tell a story." " However that be," cried I, " the most vulgar ballad of them all generally pleases me better than the fine modern odes, and things that petrify us in a single stanza ; productions that we at once detest and praise. Put the glass to your brother, Moses. The great fault of these elegiasts is, that they are in despair for griefs that give the sensible part of mankind very little pain. A lady loses her muff, her 114 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. fan, or her lap-dog, and so the silly poet runs home to versify the disaster." " That may be the mode," cried Moses, " in siib- limer compositions ; but the Eanelagh songs that come down to us are perfectly familiar, and all cast in the same mould : Colin meets Dolly, and they hold a dialogue together ; he gives her a fairing to put in her hair, and she presents him with a nosegay ; and^ then they go together to a church, where they gave good advice to young nymj)hs and swains to get mar- ried as fast as they can." " And very good advice too," cried I ; " and I am told there is not a place in the world where advice can be given with so much propriety as there ; for as it persuades us to marry, it also furnishes us with a wife : and surely that must be an excellent market, my boy, where we are told what we want, and sup- plied with it when wanting." " Yes, sir," returned Moses, " and I know of but two such markets for wives in Europe, Ranelagh in England, and Fontarabia in Spain. The Spanish market is open once a year ; but our English wives are salable every night." " You are right, my boy," cried his mother, " Old England is the only place in the world for husbands to o-et wives." " And for wives to manaoje their husbands," interrupted I. " It is a proverb abroad, that if a bridge were built across the sea, all the ladies of the continent would come over to take pattern from ours ; for there are no such wives in Europe as our VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 115 own. But let ns have one bottle more, Deborah, my life ; and Moses, give us a good song. What thanks do we not owe to Heaven for thus bestowing tran- quillity, health, and competence ! I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth. He has no such fire side, nor such pleasant faces about it. Yes, Deborah, we are now growing old ; but the evening of our life is likely to be happy. We are descended from ancestors that knew no stain, and we shall leave a good and virtuous race of children behind us. While we live, they will be our support and our pleasure here ; and when we die, they will transmit our honor untainted to posterity. Come, my son, we wait for a song ; let us have a chorus. But where is my darling Olivia ? That little cherub's voice is always sweetest in the concert." Just as I spoke Dick came running in. "0 papa, papa, she is gone from us, she is gone from us ; my sister Livy is gone from us forever." " Gone, child ! " " Yes, she is gone off with two gentlemen in a post-chaise, and one of them kissed her, and said he would die for her : and she cried very much, and was for coming back ; but he persuaded her again, and she went into the chaise, and said, what will my poor papa do when he knows I am undone ! " " Now then," cried I, " my children, go and be miserable ; for we shall never enjoy one hour more. And may Heaven's everlasting fury light upon him and his ! Thus to rob me of my child ! And sure it will, for taking back my sweet innocent that I was leading up to 116 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. Heaven. Such sincerity as my child was possessed of ! But all our earthly happiness is now over ! Go, my children, go and be miserable and infamous ; for my heart is broken within me ! " " Father," cried my son, " is this your fortitude ? " " Fortitude, child ! — yes, ye shall see I have fortitude ! Bring me my pistols. I '11 pursue the traitor ; while he is on earth I '11 pursue him. Old as I am, he shall find I can sting him yet. The villain ! The perfidious villain ! " I had by this time reached down my pistols, when my poor wife, whose passions were not as strong as mine, caught me in her arms. " My dearest, dearest husband," cried she, " the Bible is the only weapon that is fit for your old hands now. Open that, my love, and read our anguish into pa- tience, for she has vilely deceived us." " Indeed, sir," resumed my son, after a pause, " your rage is too violent and unbecoming. You should be my moth- er's comforter, and you increase her pain. It ill suited you and your reverend character, thus to curse your greatest enemy ; you should not have cursed him, villain as he is." " I did not curse him, child, did I ? " Indeed, sir, you did ; you curst him twice." " Then may Heaven forgive me and him if I did ! And now, my son, I see it was more than human be- nevolence that first taught us to bless our enemies ! Blessed be His holy name for all the good He hath given, and for all that he hath taken away. But it is not — it is not a small distress that can wring tears from these old eyes, that have not wept for so many VICAK OF WAKEFIELD. 117 years. My child! — To undo my darling; — May confusion seize — Heaven forgive me, what am I about to say ! You may remember, my love, how good she was, and how charming ; till this vile mo- ment all her care was to make us happy. Had she but died ! But she is gone, the honor of our family contaminated, and I must look out for happiness in other worlds than here. But, my child, you saw them go off: perhaps he forced her away ? If he forced her, she may yet be innocent." " Ah, no, sir," cried the child ; " he only kissed her, and called her his angel, and she wept very much, and leaned upon his arm, and they drove off very fast." " She 's an ungrateful creature," cried my wife, who could scarcely speak for weeping, " to use us thus. She never had the least constraint put upon her affections. The vile strumpet has basely deserted her parents without any provocation, thus to bring your gray hairs to the grave ; and I must shortly follow." In this manner that night, the first of our real mis- fortunes, was spent in the bitterness of complaint, and ill-supported sallies of enthusiasm. I determined, however, to find out our betrayer, wherever he was, and reproach his baseness. The next morning we missed our wretched child at breakfast, where she used to give life and cheerfulness to us all. My wife, as before, attempted to ease her heart by reproaches. " Never," cried she, " shall the vilest stain of our family again darken these harmless doors. I will never call her daughter more. No, let the strumpet 118 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. live with her vile seducer ; she may bring us to shame, but she shall never more deceive us." " Wife," said I, " do not talk thus hardly ; my de- testation of her guilt is as great as yours ; but ever shall this house and this heart be open to a poor re- turning repentant sinner. The sooner she returns from her transgressions, the more welcome shall she be to me. For the first time the very best may err ; art may persuade, and novelty spread out its charm. The first fault is the child of simplicity, but every other the offspring of guilt. Yes, the wretched creat- ure shall be welcome to this heart and this house, though stained with ten thousand vices. I will again hearken to the music of her voice, again will I hang fondly on her bosom, if I find but repentance there. My son, bring hither my Bible and my staff; I will pursue her wherever she is ; and though I cannot save her from shame, I may prevent the continuance of iniquity." CHAPTER XVIII. THE PURSUIT OF A FATHER TO RECLAIM A LOST CHILD TO VIRTUE. Though the child could not describe the gentle- man's person who handed his sister into the post- chaise, yet my suspicions fell entirely upon our young landlord, whose character for such intrigues was but too well known. I therefore directed my steps to- wards Thornhill Castle, resolving to upbraid him, and if possible to bring back my daughter : but be- fore I had reached his seat, I was met hj one of my parishioners, who said he saw a young lady resem- bling my daughter, in a post-chaise with a gentleman, whom, by the description, I could only guess to be Mr. Burchell, and that they drove very fast. This information, however, did by no means satisfy me. I therefore went to the yoang Squire's, and though it was yet early, insisted upon seeing him immedi- ately. He soon appeared with the most open familiar air, and seemed perfectly amazed at my daughter's elopement, protesting upon his honor that he was quite a stranger to it. I now, therefore, condemned my former suspicions, and could turn them only on Mr. Burchell, who I recollected had of late several 120 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. private conferences with her ; but the appearance of another witness left no room to doubt his villainy, who averred, that he and my daughter were actually gone towards the Wells, about thirty miles off, where there was a great deal of company. Being driven to that state of mind in which we all are more ready to act precipitately than to reason right, I never de- bated with myself, whether these accounts might not have been given by persons purposely placed in my way to mislead me, but resolved to pursue my daugh- ter and her fancied deluder thither. I walked along with earnestness, and inquired of several by the way ; but received no accounts, till, entering the town, I was met by a person on horseback, whom I remem- bered to have seen at the Squire's, and he assured me, that if I followed them to the races, which were but thirty miles farther, I might depend upon over- taking them ; for he had seen them dance there the night before, and the whole assembly seemed charmed with my daughter's performance. Early the next day, I walked forward to the races, and about four in the afternoon I came upon the course. The company made a very brilliant appearance, all earnestly em- ployed in one pursuit, that of pleasure ; how different from mine, that of reclaiming a lost child to virtue ! I thought I perceived Mr. Burchell at some distance from me : but, as if he dreaded an interview, upon my approaching him he mixed among a crowd, and I saw him no more. I now reflected that it would be to no purpose to continue my pursuit farther, and re- VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 121 solved to return home to an innocent family who wanted my assistance. But the agitations of my mind, and the fatigues I had undergone, threw me into a fever, the symptoms of which I perceived be- fore I came off the course. This was another unex- pected stroke, as I was more than seventy miles distant from home ; however, I retired to a little ale- house by the road-side, and in this place, the usual retreat of indigence and frugality, I laid me down patiently to wait the issue of my disorder. I lan- guished here for nearly three weeks ; but at last my constitution prevailed, though I was unprovided with money to defray the expenses of my entertainment. It is possible the anxiety from this last circumstance alone might have brought on a relapse, had I not been su23plied by a traveler, who stopped to take a cursory refreshment. This person was no other than the philanthropic bookseller in St. Paul's Church-yard,^ who has written so many little books for children : he called himself their friend ; but he was the friend of all mankind. He was no sooner alighted, but he was in haste to be gone ; for he was ever on business of the utmost importance, and was at that time actu- ally compiling materials for the history of one Mr. Thomas Trip. I immediately recollected this good- natured man's red-pimpled face ; for he had published for me against the Deuterogamists of the age, and from him I borrowed a few pieces, to be paid at my return. Leaving the inn, therefore, as I was yet but 1 Mr. John Newberry. 122 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. weak, I resolved to return home by easy journeys of ten miles a day. My health and usual tranquillity were almost restored, and I now condemned that pride which had made me refractory to the hand of correction. Man little knows what calamities are be- yond his patience to bear, till he tries them : as in ascending the heights of ambition, which look bright from below, every step we rise shows us some new and gloomy prospect of hidden disappointment ; so in our descent from the summits of pleasure, though the vale of misery below may appear at first dark and gloomy, yet the busy mind, still attentive to its own amusement, finds, as we descend, something to flatter and to please. Still, as we approach, the darkest objects appear to brighten, and the mental eye be- comes adapted to its gloomy situation. I now proceeded forward, and had walked about two hours, when I perceived what appeared at a distance like a wagon, which I was resolved to over- take ; but when I came up with it, found it to be a strolling company's cart, that was carrying their scenes and other theatrical furniture to the next vil- lage, where they were to exhibit. The cart was attended only by the person who drove it, and one of the company, as the rest of the players were to fol- low the ensuing day. " Good company upon the road," says the proverb, " is the shortest cut." I therefore entered into conversation with the poor player ; and as I once had some theatrical powers myself, I disserted on such topics with my usual free- VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 123 dom ; but as I was pretty much unacquaiiited with the present state of the stage, I demanded who were the present theatrical writers in vogue, who the Dry- dens and Otways of the day ? " I fancy, sir," cried the player, '' few of our modern dramatists would think themselves much honored by being compared to the writers you mention. Dry den's and Rowe's man- ner, sir, are quite out of fashion ; our taste has gone back a whole century; Fletcher, Ben Jonson, and all the plays of Shakespeare, are the only things that go down." " How," cried I, " is it possible the pres- ent age can be pleased with that antiquated dialect, that obsolete humor, those overcharged characters, which abound in the works you mention ? " " Sir," returned my companion, " the public think nothing about dialect, or humor, or character, for that is none of their business ; they only go to be amused, and find themselves happy when they can enjoy a panto- mime, under the sanction of Jonson's or Shakespeare's name." "So then, I suppose," cried I, "that our modern dramatists are rather imitators of Shakes- peare than of nature." " To say the truth," returned my companion, " I don't know that they imitate any- thing at all ; nor indeed does the public require it of them ; it is not the composition of the piece, but the number of starts and attitudes that may be introduced into it, that elicits applause. I have known a piece, with not one jest in the whole, shrugged into popu- larity, and another saved by the poet's throwing in a fit of the gripes. No, sir, the works of Congreve and 124 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. Farquhar have too much wit in them for the present taste ; our modern dialect is much more natural." By this time the equipage of the strolling com- pany was arrived at the village, which it seems, had been aj^prised of our approach, and was come out to gaze at us : for my companion observed, that strollers always have more spectators without doors than within. I did not consider the impropriety of my being in such company, till I saw a mob gather about me. I therefore took shelter, as fast as possi- ble, in the first ale-house that offered, and being shown into the common room, was accosted by a very well dressed gentleman, who demanded whether I was the real chaplain of the comj^any, or whether it was only to be my masquerade character in the play. Upon my informing him of the truth, and that I did not belong in any sort to the company, he was con- descending enough to desire me and the player to par- take in a bowl of punch, over which he discussed modern politics with great earnestness and interest. I set him down in my own mind for nothing less than a parliament-man at least : but was almost con- firmed in my conjectures, when, upon asking what there was in the house for supper, he insisted that I and the player should sup with him at his house ; with which request after some entreaties, we were prevailed on to comply. CHAPTER XIX. THE DESCRIPTION OF A PERSON DISCONTENTED WITH THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT AND APPRE- HENSIVE OF THE LOSS OF OUR LIBERTIES, The house where we were to be entertained lying at a small distance from the village, our inviter ob- served, that as the coach was not ready, he would conduct us on foot; and we soon arrived at one of the most magnificent mansions I had seen in that part of the country. The apartment into which we were shown was perfectly elegant and modern ; he went to give orders for supper, while the player, with a wink, observed that we were perfectly in luck. Our entertainer soon returned ; an elegant supper was brought in, two or three ladies in easy dishabille were introduced, and the conversation began with some sprightliness. Politics, however, was the sub- ject on which our entertainer chiefly expatiated ; for he asserted that liberty was at once his boast and his terror. After the cloth was removed, he asked me if I had seen the last " Monitor ? " to which reply- ing in the negative, " What, npt the ' Auditor,' I suppose?" cried he. "Neither, sir," returned I. " That's strange, very strange," replied my entertainer. 126 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. " Now I read all the politics, that come out. The " Daily," the "Public," the " Ledger," the "Chroni- cle," the " London Evening," the " Whitehall Even- ing," the seventeen Magazines, and the two Reviews ; and though they hate each other I love them all. Lib- erty, sir, liberty is the Briton's boast, and by all my coal-mines in Cornwall, I reverence its guardians." " Then it is to be hoped," cried I, " you reverence the king." " Yes," returned my entertainer, " when he does what w^e would have him ; but if he goes on as he has done of late, I '11 never trouble myself more with his matters. I say nothing. I think, only, I could have directed some things better. I don't think there has been a sufficient number of advisers ; he should advise with every person willing to give him advice, and then we should have things done in another guess manner." " I wish," cried I, " that such intruding advisers were fixed in the pillory. It should be the duty of honest men to assist the weaker side of our constitu- tion, that sacred power which has for some years been every day declining, and losing its due share of influence in the state. But these ignorants still con- tinue the same cry of liberty ; and if they have any weight, basely throw it iiito the subsiding scale." " How," cried one of the ladies, " do I live to see one so base, so sordid, as to be an enemy to liberty, and a defender of tyrants ? Liberty, that sacred gift of Heaven, that glorious privilege of Britons ! " " Can it be possible," cried our entertainer, " that VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 327 there should be any found at present advocates for slavery? Any who are for meanly giving up the privileges of Britons ? Can any, sir, be so abject ? " " No, sir," replied I, " I am for liberty, that attrib- ute of God ! Glorious liberty ! that theme of modern declamation. I would have all men kings. I would be a king myself. We have all naturally an equal right to the throne : we are all originally equal. This is my opinion, and was once the opinion of a set of honest men who were called Levellers. They tried to erect themselves into a community, where all should be equally free. But, alas ! it would never answer; for there were some among them stronger, and some more cunning than others, and these be- came masters of the rest ; for as sure as your groom rides your horses, because he is a cunninger animal than they, so surely will the animal that is cunninger or stronger than he, sit upon his shoulders in turn. Since, then it is entailed upon humanity to submit, and some are born to command, and others to obey, the question is, as there must be tyrants, whether it is better to have them in the same house with us, or in the same village, or still farther off, in the metrop- olis. Now, sir, for my own part, as I naturally hate the face of a tyrant, the farther off he is removed from me, the better pleased am I. The generality of mankind also are of my way of thinking, and have unanimously created one king, whose election at once diminishes the number of tyrants, and puts tyranny at the greatest distance from the greatest number of 128 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. people. Now, the great, who were tyrants them- selves before the election of one tyrant, are naturally averse to a power raised over them, and whose weight must ever lean heaviest on the subordinate orders. It is the interest of the great, therefore, to diminish kingly jDOwer as much as possible ; because whatever they take from that, is naturally restored to them- selves ; and all they have to do in the state, is to un- dermine the single tyrant, by which they resume their primeval authority. Now the state may be so circumstanced, or its laws may be so disposed, or its* men of opulence so minded, as all to consijire in carrying on this business of undermining monarchy. For, in the first place, if the circumstances of our state be such as to favor the accumulation of wealth, and make the opulent still more rich, this will in- crease their ambition. An accumulation of wealth, however, must necessarily be the consequence, when, as at present, more riches flow in from external com- merce than arise from internal industry : for external commerce can only be managed to advantage by the rich, and they have also at the same time all the emoluments arising from internal industry ; so that the rich, with us, have two sources of wealth, whereas the poor have but one. For this reason, wealth, in all commercial states, is found to accumulate, and all such have hitherto in time become aristocratical. Again, the very laws also of this country may con- tribute to the accumulation of wealth; as when, by their means, the natural ties that bind the rich and VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 129 poor together are broken, and it is ordained, that the rich shall only marry with the rich ; or when the learned are held unqualified to serve their country as counsellors, merely from a defect of opulence, and wealth is thus made the object of a wise man's ambi- tion ; by these means, I say, and such means as these, riches will accumulate. Now the possessor of accu- mulated wealth, when furnished with the necessaries and pleasures of life, has no other method to employ the superfluity of his fortune but in purchasing power. That is, differently speaking, in making dependents, by purchasing the liberty of the needy or the venal, of men who are willing to bear the mortification of contiguous tyranny for bread. Thus each very opu- lent man generally gathers round him a circle of the people ; and the polity abounding in accumulated wealth, may be compared to a Cartesian system, each orb with a vortex of its own. Those, however, who are willing to move in a great man's vortex, are only such as must be slaves, the rabble of mankind, whose souls and whose education are adapted to servitude, and who know nothing of liberty except the name. But there must still be a large number of the people without the sphere of the opulent man's influence ; namely, that order of men which subsist between the very rich and the very rabble ; those men who are possest of too large fortunes to submit to the neigh- boring man in power, and yet are too poor to set up for tyranny themselves. In this middle order of mankind are generally to be found all the arts, wis- 130 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. dom, and virtues of society. This order alone is known to be the true preserver of freedom, and may be called the people. Now it may happen that this middle order of mankind may lose all its influence in a state, and its voice be in a manner drowned in that of the rabble : for if the fortune sufficient for qualify- ing a person at present to give his voice in state affairs be ten times less than was judged sufficient upon forming the constitution, it is evident that greater numbers of the rabble will thus be introduced into the political system, and they ever moving in the vortex of the great, will follow where greatness shall direct. In such a state, therefore, all that the middle order has left, is to preserve the prerogative and priv- ileges of the one principal governor with the most sacred circumspection. For he divides the power of the rich, and calls off the great from falling with ten- fold weight on the middle order placed beneath them. The middle order may be compared to a town, of which the opulent are forming the siege, and to which the governor from without is hastening the relief. While the besiegers are in dread of an enemy over them, it is but natural to offer the townsmen the most specious terms ; to flatter them with sounds, and amuse them with privileges ; but if they once defeat the governor from behind, the walls of the town will be but a small defence to its inhabitants. What they may then expect, may be seen by turning our eyes to Holland, Genoa, or Venice, where the laws govern the poor, and the rich govern the laws. I am then VICAK OF WAKEFIELD. 131 for, and would die for monarchy, sacred monarchy ; for if there be anything sacred amongst men, it must be the anointed Sovereign of his people ; and every diminution of his power, in war, or in peace, -is an infringement upon the real liberties of the subject. The sounds of liberty, patriotism, and Britons, have already done much ; it is to be hoped that the true sons of freedom will prevent their ever doing more. I have known many of those pretended champions of liberty in my time, yet do I not remember one that was not in his heart and in his family a tyrant." My warmth I found had lengthened this harangue beyond the rules of good breeding ; but the impatience of my entertainer, who often strove to interrupt it, could be restrained no longer. " What," cried he, "then I have been all this while entertaining a Jesuit in parson's clothes ! but by all the coal-mines of Cornwall, out he shall pack, if my name be Wilk- inson." I now found that I had gone too far, and asked pardon for the warmth with which I had spoken. " Pardon ! " returned he in a fury ; " I think such principles demand ten thousand pardons. What ? give up liberty, property, and, as the " Gazetteer" says, lie down to be saddled with wooden shoes ! Sir, I insist upon your marching out of this house imme- diately, to prevent worse consequences : Sir, I insist upon it." I was going to repeat my remonstrances : but just then we heard a footman's rap at the door, and the two ladies cried out, " As sure as death there is our master and mistress come home." It seems 132 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. my entertainer was all this while only the butler, who, in his master's absence, had a mind to cut a figure, and be for a while the gentleman himself; and to say the truth, he talked politics as well as most country gentlemen do. But nothing could now ex- ceed my confusion upon seeing the gentleman and his lady enter ; nor was their surprise at finding such company and good cheer, less than ours. " Gentle- men," qried the real master of the house to me and my companion, " my wife and I are your most hum- ble servants ; but I protest this is so unexpected a favor, that we almost sink under the obligation." However unexpected our company might be to them, theirs I am sure was still more so to us, and I was struck dumb with the apprehensions of my own ab- surdity, when whom should I next see enter the room but my dear Mis Arabella Wilmot, who was formerly designed to be married to my son George, but whose match was broken off as already related. As soon as she saw me, she flew to my arms with the utmost joy. " My dear sir," cried she, " to what happy acci- dent is it that we owe so unexpected a visit ? I am sure my uncle and aunt will be in raptures when they find they have the good Dr. Primrose for their guest." Upon hearing my name, the old gentleman and lady very politely stept up, and welcomed me with the most cordial hospitality. Nor could they forbear smiling, upon being informed of the nature of my present visit : but the unfortunate butler, whom they at first seemed disposed to turn away, was at my in- tercession forgiven. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 133 Mr. Arnold and his lady, to whom the house be- longed, now msisted upon having the pleasure of my stay for some days ; and as their neice, my charming pupil, whose mind in some measure had been formed under my own instructions, joined in their entreaties, I complied. That night I was shown to a magnifi- cent chamber, and the next morning early Miss Wil- mot desired to walk with me in the garden, which was decorated in the modern manner. After some time spent in pointing out the beauties of the place, she inquired with seeming unconcern, when last I had heard from my son George ? " Alas ! madam," cried I, " he has now been nearly three years absent, without ever writing to his friends or me. Where he is I know not ; perhaps I shall never see him or happiness more. No, my dear madam, we shall never more see such pleasing hours as were once spent by our fire-side at Wakefield. My little family are now dispersing very fast, and poverty has brought not only want, but inftimy upon us." The good-na- tured girl let fall a tear at this account ; but as I saw her possessed of too much sensibility, I forbore a more minute detail of our sufierings. It was, how- ever, some consolation to me, to find that time had made no alteration in her affections, and that she had rejected several offers that had been made her, since our leaving her part of the country. She led me round all the extensive improvements of the place, pointing to the several walks and arbors, and at the same time catching from every object a hint 134 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. for some new question relative to my son. In this manner we spent the forenoon, till the bell summoned us in to dinner, where we found the manager of the strolling company that I mentioned before, who was come to dispose of tickets for the Fair Penitent, which was to be acted that evening, the part of Horatio by a young gentleman who had never appeared on any stage. He seemed to be very warm in the praises of the new performer, and averred that he never saw any who bid so fair for excellence. Acting, he observed, was not learned in a day ; " but this gentleman," con- tinued he, " seems born to tread the stage. His voice, his figure, and attitudes, are all admirable. We caught him up accidentally in our journey down." This account, in some measure, excited our curiosity, and, at the entreaty of the ladies, I was prevailed upon to accompany them to the play-house, which was no other than a barn. As the company with which I went was incontestibly the chief of the place, we were received with the greatest respect, and placed in the front seat of the theatre ; where we sat for some time with no small impatience to see Horatio make his appearance. The new performer advanced at last ; and let parents think of my sensations by their own, when I found it was my unfortunate son. He was going to begin, when, turning his eyes upon the audience, he perceived Miss Wilmot and me, and stood at once speechless and immovable. The actors behind the scene, who ascribed this pause to his nat- ural timidity, attempted to encourage him ; but in- VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 135 Stead of going on, he burst into a flood of tears, and retired off the stage. I don't know what were my feelings on this occasion, for they succeeded with too much rapidity for description ; but I was soon awaked from this disagreeable reverie by Miss Wilmot, who, pale, and with a trembling voice, desired me to con- duct her back to her uncle's. When got home, Mr. Arnold, who was as yet a stranger to our extraordi- nary behavior, being informed that the new performer was my son, sent his coach and an invitation for him ; and as he persisted in his refusal to appear again upon the stage, the players put another in his place, and we soon had him with us. Mr. Arnold gave him the kindest reception, and I received him with my usual transport ; for I could never counterfeit false resentment. Miss Wilmot's reception was mixed with seeming neglect, and yet I could perceive she acted a studied part. The tumult in her mind seemed not yet abated ; she said twenty giddy things that looked like joy, and then laughed loud at her own want of meaning. At intervals she would take a sly peep at the glass, as if happy in the consciousness of irresistible beauty, and often would ask questions without giving any manner of attention to the an- swers. CHAPTER XX. THE HISTORY OF A PHILOSOPHIC VAGABOND, PUR- SUING NOVELTY, BUT LOSING CONTENT. After we had supped, Mrs. Arnold politely offered to send a couple of her footmen for ray son's baggage, which he at first seemed to decline ; but upon her pressing the request, he was obliged to inform her, that a stick and wallet were all the movable things upon this earth that he could boast of. " Why, ay, my son," cried I, " you left me but poor, and poor I find you are come back ; and yet I make no doubt you have seen a great deal of the world." " Yes, sir," replied my son, " but traveling after fortune is not the way to secure her ; and indeed of late I have de- sisted from the pursuit." " I fancy, sir," cried Mrs. Arnold, " that the account of your adventures would be amusing : the first part of them I have often heard from my niece ; but could the company prevail for the rest, it would be an additional obligation." " Madam," replied my son, " I promise you the pleas- ure you have in hearing will not be half so great as my vanity in repeating them ; yet in the whole nar- rative I can scarcely promise you one adventm-e, as my account is rather of what I saw than what I did. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 137 Tlie first misfortune of my life, which you all know, was great ; but though it distressed, it could not sink me. No person ever had a better knack at hoping than I. The less kind I found fortune at one time, the more I expected from her another, and being now at the bottom of her wheel, every new revolution might lift, bat could not depress me. I proceeded, therefore, towards London in a fine morning, no way uneasy about to-morrow, but cheerful as the birds that carolled by the road, and comforted myself with reflecting that London was the mart where abilities of every kind were sure of meeting distinction and reward. " Upon my arrival in town, sir, my first care was to deliver your letter of recommendation to our cousin, who was himself in little better circumstances than L My first scheme, you know, sir, was to be usher at an academy, and I asked his advice on the aifair. Our cousin received the proposal with a true Sardonic grin. Ay, cried he, this is indeed a very pretty career that has been chalked out for you. I have been an usher at a boarding-school myself; and may I die by an anodyne necklace, but I had rather be an under-turnkey in Newgate. I was up early and late ; I was browbeat by the master, hated for my ugly face by the mistress, worried by the boys within, and never permitted to stir out to meet civ- ility abroad. But are you sure you are fit for a school ? Let me examine you a little. Have you been bred an apprentice to the business ? No. Then 138 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. you won't do for a school. Can you dress the boys' hair ? No. Then you won't do for a school. Have you had the small-pox ? No. Then you won't do for a school. Can you lie three in a bed "^ No. Then you will never do for a school. Have you got a good stomach ? Yes. Then you will by no means do for a school. No, sir, if you are for a genteel easy profession, bind yourself seven years an appren- tice to turn a cutler's wheel ; but avoid a school by any means. Yet come, continued he, I see you are a lad of spirit and some learning, what do you think of commencing author, like me ? You have read in books, no J, doubt, of men of genius starving at the trade. At present I'll show you forty very dull fellows about town that live by it in opulence ; all honest jog-trot men, who go on smoothly and dully, and write history and politics, and are praised : men, sir, who, had they been bred cobblers, would all their lives have only mended shoes, but never made them. " Finding that there was no great degree of gen- tility affixed to the character of an usher, I resolved to accept his proposals ; and having the highest re- sj:)ect for literature, hailed the antiqua mater of Grub- street with reverence. I thought it my glory to pursue a track which Dryden and Otway trod before me. I considered the goddess of this region as the parent of excellence ; and however an intercourse with the world might give us good sense, the poverty she entailed I supposed to be the nurse of genius ! VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 139 Big with these reflections, I sat down, and finding that the best things remained to be said on the wrong side, I resolved to write a book that should be wholly new. I therefore drest up three paradoxes with some ingenuity. They were false, indeed, but they were new.^ The jewels of truth have been so often im- ported by others, that nothing was left for me to im- port but some splendid things that at a distance looked every bit as well. Witness, ye powers, what fancied importance sat perched upon my quill while I was writing ! The whole learned world, I made no doubt, would rise to oppose my systems ; but then I was prepared to oppose the whole learned world. Like the porcupine, I sat self-collected, with a quill pointed against every opposer." " Well said, my boy," cried I, " and what subject did you treat upon ? I hope you did not pass over the importance of monogamy. But I interrupt ; go on : you published your paradoxes ; well and what did the learned world say to your paradoxes ? " " Sir," replied my son, " the learned worlcf said nothing to my paradoxes ; nothing at all, sir. Every man of them was employed in praising his friends 1 "I remember," said Dr. Johnson, *' a passage in Goldsmith's ' Vicar of Waketield ' which he was afterwards fool enough to ex- punge. ' I do not love a man who is zealous for nothing.' There was another fine passage too, which he struck out: ' When I was a young man, being anxious to distinguish myself, I was perpetu- ally starting new propositions. But I soon gave this over ; for I found that generally what was new was false.' " — Boswell, vol. vii., p. 2-4. 140 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. and himself, or condemning his enemies ; and unfor- tunately, as I had neither, I suffered the cruelest mortification, neglect. " As I was meditating one day in a coffee-house on the fate of my paradoxes, a little man happening to enter the room, placed himself in the box before me, and after some preliminary discourse, finding me to be a scholar, drew out a bundle of proposals, begging me to subscribe to a new edition he was going to give to the world of Propertius with notes. This demand necessarily produced a reply that I had no money ; and that concession led him to inquire into the nature of my expectations. Finding that my expectations were just as great as my purse, I see, cried he, you are unacquainted with the town ; I '11 teach you a part of it. Look at these proposals, — upon these very proposals I have subsisted very comfortably for twelve 3^ears. The moment a nobleman returns from his travels, a Creolian arrives from Jamaica, or a dowager from her country-seat, I strike for a sub- scription. I first besiege their hearts with flattery, and then pour in my projDOsals at the breach. If they subscribe readily the first time, I renew my re- quest to beg a dedication fee. If they let me have that, I smite them once more for engraving their coat of arms at the top. Thus, continued he, I live by vanity and laugh at it. But between ourselves, I am now too well known ; I should be glad to borrow your face a bit ; a nobleman of distinction has just returned from Italy ; my face is famihar to his por- VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 1-41 ter ; but if you bring this copy of verses, my life for it you succeed, and we divide the spoil." " Bless us, George," cried I, " and is this the em- ployment of poets now ! Do men of their exalted talents thus stoop to beggary ! Can they so far dis- grace their calling, as to make a vile traffic of praise for bread ? " " no, sir," returned he, " a true poet can never be so base ; for wherever there is genius, there is pride. The creatures I now describe are only beg- gars in rhyme. The real poet, as he braves every hardship for fame, so he is equally a coward to con- tempt ; and none but those who are unworthy pro- tection, condescend to solicit it. " Having a mind too proud to stoop to such indig- nities, and yet a fortune too humble to hazard a second attempt for fame, I was now obliged to take a middle course, and write for bread. But I was un- qualified for a profession where mere industry alone was to ensure success. I could not suppress my lurking passion for applause ; but usually consumed that time in eiforts after excellence which takes up but little room, when it should have been more ad- vantageously employed in the diffusive productions of fruitful mediocrity. My little piece would therefore come forth in the midst of periodical publications, unnoticed and unknown. The public were more im- / portantly employed than to observe the easy sim- plicity of my style, or the harmony of my periods. Sheet after sheet was thrown off to oblivion. My 142 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. essays were buried among the essays upon liberty, eastern tales, and cures for the bite of a mad dog ; while Philautos, Philalethes, Philelutheros, and Phi- ianthropos all wrote better, because they wrote faster than I.^ '• Now, therefore, I began to associate with none but disappointed authors like myself, who praised, de- plored, and despised each other. The satisfiiction we found in every celebrated writer's attempts, was in- versely as their merits. I found that no genius in another could please me. My unfortunate paradoxes had entirely dried up that source of comfort. I could neither read nor write with satisfaction ; for excel- lence in another way was my aversion, and writing was my trade. " In the midst of these gloomy reflections, as I was one day sitting on a bench in St. James's park, a young gentleman of distinction, who had been my in- timate acquaintance at the university, approached me. We saluted each other with some hesitation ; he almost ashamed of being known to one who made so shabby an a^Dpearance, and I afraid of a repulse. But my suspicions soon vanished ; for Ned Thornhill was at the bottom a very good-natured fellow." ^ Goldsmith's own situation seems to be exactly and minutely described in the above passage. The allusions of having made one attempt for fame, meaning the " Inquir\- into Polite Learning " — his being obliged afterwards to write for bread — to his passion for applause — to his efforts at acquiring an elegant stj'le — scarcely admit of mistake ; and the complaint of the fate of his pieces is in nearly the words used in the preface to his Essays. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 143 u w^iia^ ^[(\ yoxi say, George ! " interrupted I. " Thornliill, was not that his name ? It can certainly be no other than my landlord." " Bless me," cried Mrs. Arnold, " is Mr. Thornhill so near a neighbor of yours ? He has long been a friend to our family, and we expect a visit from him shortly." " My friend's first care," continued my son, " was to alter my appearance by a very fine suit of his own clothes, and then I was admitted to his table, upon the footing of half friend, half underling. My busi- ness was to attend him at auctions, to put him in spirits when he sat for his picture, to take the left hand in his chariot when not filled by another, and to assist at tattering a kip, as the phrase was, when he had a mind for a frolic. Besides this, I had twenty other little employm.ents in the family. I was to do many small things without bidding ; to carry the corkscrew ; to stand godfather to all the butler's children; to sing when I was bid; to be never out of humor ; always to be humble, and if I could, to be very happy. " In this honorable post, however, I was not with- out a rival. A captain of marines, who was formed for the place by nature, opposed me in my patron's affections. His mother had been laundress to a man of quality, and thus he early acquired a taste for pimping and pedigree. As this gentleman made it the study of his life to be acquainted with lords, though he was dismissed from several for his stu- pidity, yet he found many of them who were as dull 144 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. as himself, that permitted his assiduities. As flattery- was liis trade, he practiced it with the easiest address imaginable ; but it came awkward and stiff from me : and as everj^ day my patron's desire of flattery in- creased, so every hour being better acquainted with his defects I became more unwilling to Sfive it. Thus I was once more fairly going to give up the field to the captain, when my friend found occasion for my assistance. This was nothing less than to fioht a duel for him, with a gentleman whose sister it was pretended he had used ill. I readily complied with his request, and though I see you are displeased with my conduct, yet, as it was a debt indispensably due to friendship, I could not refuse. I undertook the affair, disarmed my antagonist, and soon after had the pleasure of finding that the lady was only a woman of the town, and the fellow her bully and a sharper. This piece of service was repaid with the warmest professions of gratitude ; but as my friend was to leave town in a few days, he knew no other method of serving me, but by recommending me to his uncle Sir William Thornhill, and another nobleman of great distinction who enjoyed a post under the government. When he was gone, my first care was to carry his recommendatory letter to his uncle, a man whose character for every virtue was universal, yet just. I was received by his servants with the most hospitable smiles ; for the looks of the domestic ever transmit their master's benevolence. Being shown into a grand apartment, where Sir William soon came to VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 145 me, I delivered my message, and letter, whicli lie read, and after pausing some minutes, Pray, sir, cried he, inform me what you have done for my kinsman to deserve this warm recommendation : But I sup- pose, sir, I guess your merits ; you have fought for him ; and so you would expect a reward from me for being the instrument of his vices. I wish, sincerely wish, that my present refusal may be some punish- ment for your guilt ; but still more, that it may be some inducement to your repentance. The severity of this rebuke I bore patiently, because I knew it was just. My whole expectations now, therefore, lay in my letter to the great man. As the doors of the nobility are almost ever beset with beggars, all ready to thrust in some sly petition, I found it no easy matter to gain admittance. However, after bribing the servants with half my worldly fortune, I was at last shown into a spacious apartment, my letter being previously sent up for his lordship's in- spection. During this anxious interval I had fall time to look around me. Everything was grand and of happy contrivance ; the paintings, the furniture, the guildings, petrified me with awe, and raised my idea of the owner. Ah, thought I to myself, how very great' must the possessor of all these things be, who carries in his head the business of the state, and whose house displays half the wealth of a kingdom ; sure his genius must be unfathomable ! During these awful reflections, I heard a step come heavily for- ward. Ah, this is the great man himself! No, it 10 146 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. was only a chambermaid. Another foot was heard soon after. This must be he ! No, it was only the great man's valet de chambre. At last his lordship actually made his appearance. Are you, cried he, the bearer of this here letter? I answered with a bow. I learn by this, continued he, as how that — But just at that instant a servant delivered him a card, and without taking farther notice, he went out of the room, and left me to digest my own happiness at leisure ; I saw no more of him, till told by a foot- man that his lordship was going to his coach at the door. Down I immediately followed, and joined my voice to that of three or four more, who came, like me, to petition for favors. His lordship, however, went too fast for us, and was gaining his chariot door with large strides, when I hallooed out to know if I was to have any reply. He was by this time got in, and muttered an answer, half of which only I heard, the other half was lost in the rattling of his chariot wheels. I stood for some time with my neck stretched out, in the posture of one that was listening to catch the glorious sounds, till looking round me, I found myself alone at his lordship's gate. " INIy patience," continued my son, " was now quite exhausted : stung with the thousand indigHities I had met with, I was willing to cast myself away, and only wanfed the gulf to receive me. I regarded myself as one of those vile things that nature designed should be thrown by into her lumber-room, there to perish in obscurity. I had still, however, half a guinea left. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 147 and of that I thought fortune herself should not de- prive me; but in order to be sure of this, I was resolved to go instantly and spend it, while I had it, and then trust to occurrences for the rest. As I was going along with this resolution, it happened that Mr. Crispe's office seemed invitingly open to give me a welcome reception. In this office Mr. Crispe kindly offers all his Majesty's subjects a generous promise of £30 a year, for which promise all they give in return is their liberty for life, and permission to let him transport them to America as slaves. I was happy at finding a place, where I could lose my fears in desperation, and entered this cell (for it had the appearance of one) with the devotion of a monastic. Here I found a number of poor creatures, all in cir- cumstances like myself, expecting the arrival of Mr. Crispe, presenting a true epitome of English im- patience. Each untractable soul at variance with fortune, wreaked her injuries on their own hearts : but Mr. Crispe at last came down, and all our mur- murs where hushed. He deigned to regard me with an air of peculiar approbation, and indeed he was the first man who for a month past had talked to me with smiles. After a few questions, he found I was fit for everything in the world. He paused awhile upon the properest means of providing for me, and slap- ping his forehead as if he had found it, assured me, that there was at that time an embassy talked of from the synod of Pennsylvania to the Chickasaw Indians, and that he would use his interest to get me made 148 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. secretary. I knew in my own heart that the fellow lied, and yet his promise gave me pleasure, there was something so magnificent in the sound. I fairly therefore divided my half-guinea, one half of which went to be added to his thirty thousand pounds, and with the other half I resolved to go to the next tav- ern, to be there more happy than he. "As I was going out with that resolution, I was met at the door by the captain of a ship with whom I had formerly some little acquaintance, and he agreed to be my companion over a bowl of punch. As I never chose to make a secret of my circum- stances, he assured me that I was upon the very point of ruin, in listening to the office-keejoer's promises ; for that he only designed to sell me to the plantations. But, continued he, I fancy you might, by a much shorter voyage, be very easily put into a genteel waj'- of bread. Take my advice. My ship sails to-morrow for Amsterdam. What if you go in her as a passen- ger ? The moment you land, all you have to do is to teach the Dutchmen English, and I'll warrant you'll get pupils and money enough. I suppose you under- stand English, added he, by this time, or the deuce is in it. I confidently assured him of that : but ex- pressed a doubt whether the Dutch would be willing to learn English. He affirmed with an oath that they would be fond of it to distraction ; and upon that affirmation I agreed with his proposal, and embarked the next day to teach the Dutch English in Holland. The wind was fair, our voyage short, and after having VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 149 paid my passage with half my movables, I found my- self, fallen as from the skies, a stranger in one of the principal streets of Amsterdam. In this situation I was unwilling to let any time pass unemployed in teaching. I addressed myself therefore to two or three of those I met, whose appearance seemed most promising ; but it was impossible to make ourselves mutually understood. It was not till this very mo- ment I recollected, that in order to teach the Dutch- men English, it was necessary that they should first teach me Dutch. How I came to overlook so obvious an objection is to me amazing ; but certain it is I overlooked it. " This scheme thus blown up, I had some thoughts of fairly shipping back to England again : but falling into company with an Irish student who was return- ing from Louvain, our conversation turning upon topics of literature (for by the way it may be ob- served, that I always forgot the meanness of my cir- cumstances when I could converse upon such subjects), from him I learned that there were not two men in his whole university who understood Greek. This amazed me. I instantly resolved to travel to Lou- vain, and there live by teaching Greek ; and in this design I was heartened by my brother student, who threw out some hints that a fortune might be got by it. " I set boldly forward the next morning. Every day lessened the burden of my movables, like iEsop and his basket of bread ; for I paid them for my lodgings to the Dutch as I traveled on. When I 150 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. came to Louvain, I was resolved not to go sneaking to the lower professors, but openly tendered my tal- ents to the principal himself. I went, had admittance, and offered him my service as a master of the Greek language, which I had been told was a desideratum in his university. The principal seemed at first to doubt of my abilities ; but of these I offered to con- vince him by turning a part of any Greek author he should fix upon into Latin. Finding me perfectly earnest in my proposal, he addressed me thus ; You see me, young man : I never learned Greek, and I don't find that I have ever missed it. I have had a doctor's cap and gown without Greek ; I have ten thousand florins a year without Greek ; I eat heartily without Greek ; and in short, continued he, as I don't know Greek, I do not believe there is any good in it. " I was now too far from home to think of return- ing ; so I resolved to go forward. I had some knowledge of music, with a tolerable voice, and now turned what was my amusement into a present means of subsistence. I passed among the harmless j^eas- ants of Flanders, and among such of the French as were poor enough to be very merry ; for I ever found them sprightly in proportion to their wants. Whenever I approached a peasant's house towards nightfall, I played one of my most nierry tunes, and that procured me not only a lodging, but subsistence for the next day. I once or twice attempted to play for people of fashion ; but they always thought my VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 151 performance odious, and never rewarded me even with a trifle. This was to me the more extraordi- nary, as whenever I used in better days to play for company, when playing was my amusement, my music never failed to throw them into raptures, and the ladies especially ; but as it was now my only means, it was received with contempt — a proof how ready the world is to underrate those talents by which a man is supported. " In this manner I proceeded to Paris, with no de- sign but just to look about me, and then to go for- ward. The people of Paris are much fonder of strangers that have money than those that have wit. As I could not boast much of either I was no great favorite. After walking about the town four or live days, and seeing the outsides of the best houses, I was preparing to leave this retreat of venal hospital- ity, when passing through one of the principal streets, whom should I meet but our cousin, to whom you first recommended me. This meeting was very agreeable to me, and I believe not displeasing to him. He inquired into the nature of my journey to Paris, and informed me of his own business there, which was to collect pictures, medals, intaglios, and antiques of all kinds for a gentleman in London, who had just stept into taste and a large fortune. I was the more surprised at seeing our cousin pitched upon for this office, as he himself had often assured me he knew nothing of the matter. Upon asking how he had been taught the art of a cognoscento so very 152 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. suddenly, he assured me that nothing was more easy. The whole secret consisted in a strict adherence to two rules : the one, always to observe the picture might have been better if the painter had taken more pains ; and the other, to praise the works of Pietro Perugino. But, says he, as I once taught you how to be an author in London, I '11 now undertake to in- struct you in the art of picture-buying at Paris. " With this proposal I very readily closed, as it was living, and now all my ambition was to live. I went therefore to his lodgings, improved my dress by his assistance, and after some time accompanied him to auctions of pictures, where the English gentry were expected to be purchasers. I was not a little surprised at his intimac}^ with people of the best fashion, who referred themselves to his taste or judg- ment upon every picture or medal, as to an unerring standard of taste. He made very good use of my assistance upon these occasions ; for when asked his opinion, he would gravely take me aside and ask mine, shrug, look wise, return, and assure the com- pany that he could give no opinion upon an affair of so much importance. Yet there was sometimes an occasion for a more important assurance. I remem- ber to have seen him, after giving his opinion that the coloring of a picture was not mellow enough, very deliberately take a brush with brown varnish, that was accidentally lying by, and rub it over the piece with great composure before all the company, and then ask if he had not improved the tint. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 153 " When he had finished his commission in Paris, he left me strongly recommended to several men of distinction as a person very proper for a traveling tutor ; and after some time I was employed in that capacity by a gentleman who brought his ward to Paris, in order to set him forward on his tour through Europe. 1 was to be the young gentleman's gov- ernor, but with a proviso that he should always be permitted to govern himself My pupil in fact un- derstood the art of guiding in money concerns much better than I. He was heir to a fortune of about two hundred thousand pounds, left him by an uncle in the West Indies ; and his guardians, to qualify him for the management of it, had bound him an apprentice to an attorney. Thus avarice was his prevailing pas- sion : all his questions on the road were, how money might be saved ; which was the least expensive course of travel ; whether anything could be bought that would turn to account when disposed of again in London ? Such curiosities on the way as could be seen for nothing, he was ready enough to look at ; but if the sight of them was to be paid for, he usually asserted that he had been told they were not worth seeing. He never paid a bill that he would not ob- serve how amazingly expensive traveling was, and all this though he was not yet twenty-one. When arrived at Leghorn, as we took a walk to look at the port and shipping, he inquired the expense of the pas- sage by sea home to England. This he was in- formed was but a trifle compared to his returning by 154 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. land ; he was therefore unable to withstand the temp tation ; so paying me the small part of my salary that was due, he took leave and embarked with only one attendant for London. " I now therefore was left once more upon the world at large ; but then it was a thing I was used to. However, my skill in music could avail me nothing in a country where every peasant was a better musician than I ; but by this time I had acquired another tal- ent which answered my purpose as well, and this was a skill in disputation. In all the foreign universities and convents there are, upon certain days, philosophi- cal theses maintained against every adventitious dis- putant ; for which, if the champion opposes with any dexterity, he can claim a gratuity in money, a dinner and a bed for one night. In this manner, therefore, I fought my way towards England, walked along from city to city, examined mankind more nearly, and, if I may so express it, saw both sides of the pic- ture. My remarks, however, are but few : I found that monarch }'- was the best government for the poor to live in, and commonwealths for the rich. I found that riches in general were in every country another name for freedom ; and that no man is so fond of lib- j erty himself, as not to be desirous of subjecting the ' will of some individuals in society to his own. " Upon my arrival in England I resolved to pay my respects first to you, and then to enlist as a volun- teer in the first exi^edition that was going forward ; but on my journey down my resolutions were VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 155 changed, by meeting an old acquaintance, who I found belonged to a comjDany of comedians that were going to make a summer campaign in the country. The company seemed not much to disapprove of me for an associate. They all, however, apprised me of the importance of the task at which I aimed; that the public was a many-headed monster, and that only such as had very good heads could please it ; that acting was not to be learned in a day, and that with- out some traditional shrugs, which had been on the^ stage, and only on the stage, these hundred years, I could never pretend to please. The next difficulty was in fitting me with parts, as almost every charac- ter was in keeping. I was driven for some time from one character to another, till at last Horatio was fixed upon, which the presence of the present company has happily hindered me from acting." CHAPTER XXI. THE SHORT CONTINUANCE OF FRIENDSHIP AMONG THE VICIOUS, WHICH IS COEVAL ONLY WITH MUTUAL SATISFACTION. My son's account was too long to be delivered at once ; the first part of it was begun that night, and he was concluding the rest after dinner the next day, when the appearance of Mr. Thornhill's equipage at the door seemed to make a pause in the general sat- isfaction. The butler, who was now become my friend in the family, informed me with a whisper, that the Squire had already made some overtures to Miss Wilmot, and that her aunt and uncle seemed highly to approve the match. Upon Mr. Thornhill's enter- ing, he seemed, at seeing my son and me, to start back ; but I readily imputed that to surprise, and not displeasure. However, upon our advancing to salute him, he returned our greeting with the most apparent candor ; and after a short time his presence served only to increase the general good humor. After tea he called me aside to inquire after my daughter; but upon my informing him that my in- quiry was unsuccessful, he seemed greatly surprised ; adding that he had been since frequently at my house VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 157 in order to comfort the rest of my family, whom he left perfectly well. He then asked if I had commu- nicated her misfortune to Miss Wilmot or my son ; and upon my replying that I had not told them as yet, he greatly approved my prudence and precau- tion, desiring me by all means to keep it a secret : " For at best," cried he, '' it is but divulging one's infamy ; and perhaps Miss Livy may not be so guilty as we all imagine." We were interrupted by a ser- vant who came to ask the Squire in,, to stand up at country dances : so that he left me quite pleased with the interest he seemed to take in my concerns. His addresses, however, to Miss Wilmot, were too obvious to be mistaken : and yet she seemed not perfectly pleased, but bore them rather in compliance to the will of her aunt than real inclination. I had even the satisfaction to see her lavish some kind looks upon my unfortunate son, which the other could neither ex- tort by his fortune nor assiduity. Mr. Thornhill's seeming composure, however, not a little surprised me : we had now continued here a week at the press- mg instances of Mr. Arnold ; but each day the more tenderness Miss Wilmot showed my son, Mr. Thorn- hill's friendship seemed proportionably to increase for him. He had formerly made us the most kind assurance of using his interest to serve the family ; but now his generosity was not confined to promises alone. The morning I designed for my departure, Mr. Thornhill came to me with looks of real pleasure, to inform me 158 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. of a piece of service he had clone for his friend George. ^ This was nothing less than his having procured him an ensign's commission in one of the regiments that was going to the West Indies, for which he had prom- ised but one hundred pounds, his interest having been sufficient to get an abatement of the other two. " As for this trifling piece of service," continued the young gentleman, " I desire no other reward but the pleas- ure of having served my friend ; and as for the hun- dred pounds to be 2')aid, if you are unable to raise it yourselves, I will advance it, and you shall repay me at your leisure." This was a favor we wanted words to express our sense of: I readily therefore gave my bond for the money, and testified as much gratitude as if I never intended to pay, George was to depart for town the next day to secure his commission, in pursuance of his generous patron's directions, who judged it highly expedient to use dispatch, least in the mean time another should step in with more advantageous proposals. The next morning therefore our young soldier was early pre- pared for his departure, and seemed the only person among us that was not affected by it. Neither the fatigues and dangers he was going to encounter, nor the friends and mistress — for Miss Wilmot actually loved him — he was leaving behind, any way damped his spirits. After he had taken leave of the rest of the company, I gave him all I had, my blessing. " And now, my boy," cried I, " thou art going to fight for thy country, remember how thy brave grandfather VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 159 fought for his sacred King, when loyalty among Brit- ons was a virtue. Go, my boy, and imitate him in all but his misfortunes, if it was a misfortune to die with Lord Falkland. Go, my boy, and if you fall, though distant, exposed, and unwept by those that love you, the most precious tears are those with which heaven bedews the unburied head of a soldier.'* The next morning I took leave of the good family, that had been kind enough to entertain me so long, not without several expressions of gratitude to Mr. Thornhill for his late bounty. I left them in the en- joyment of all that happiness which affluence and good-breeding procure, and returned towards home, despairing of ever finding my daughter more, but sending a sigh to heaven to spare and forgive her. I was now come within about twenty miles of home, having hired a horse to carry me, as T was yet but weak, and comforted myself with the hopes of soon seeing all I held dearest upon earth. But the night coming on, I put up at a little public-house by the road side, and asked for the landlord's company over a pint of wine. We sat beside his kitchen fire, which was the best room in the house, and chatted on poli- tics and the news of the country. We happened, among other topics, to talk of young Squire Thorn- hill, who, the host assured me, was hated as much as his uncle Sir WilHam, who sometimes came down to the country, was loved. He went on to observe, that he made it his whole study to betray the daughters of such as received him to their houses, and after a 160 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. fortnight or three weeks' possession, turned them out unrewarded and abandoned to the world. As we continued our discourse in this manner, his wife, who had been out to get change, returned, and perceiving that her husband was enjoying a pleasure in which she was not a sharer, she asked him in an angry tone, what he did there ? to which he only replied in an ironical way, by drinking her health. " Mr. Sym- monds," cried she, " you use me very ill, and I '11 bear it no longer. Here three parts of the business is left for me to do, and the fourth left unfinished ; while you do nothing but soak with the guests all day long; whereas, if a spoonful of liquor were to cure me of a fever, I never touch a drop." - I now found what she would be at, and immediately poured lier out a glass, which she received with a curtesy, and drinking to- wards my good health, " sir," resumed she, " it is not so much for the value of the liquor I am angry, but one cannot help it when the house is going out of the windows. If the customers or guests are to be dunned, all the burden lies upon my back : he 'd as lief eat that glass as budge after them himself. There, now, above stairs, we have a young woman who has come to take up her lodgings here, and I don't believe she has got any money, by her over civility. I am certain she is very slow of payment, and I wish she were put in mind of it." " What signifies minding her," cried the host, " if she be slow she is sure." " I don't know that," replied the wife; " but I know that I am sure she has been here a fortnight. VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 161 and we have not yet seen the cross of her money." "I suppose, my dear," cried he, "we shall have it all in a lump." " In a lump ! " cried the other, " I hope we may get it any way ; and that I am resolved we will this very night, or out she tramps, bag and baggage." " Consider, my dear," cried the husband, " she is a gentlewoman and deserves more respect." "As for the matter of that," I'eturned the hostess, " gentle or simple, out she shall pack with a sassarara. Gentry may be good things where they take ; but for my part, I never saw much good of them at the sign of the Harrow." Thus saying, she ran up a narrow flight of stairs that went from the kitchen to a room over-head ; and I soon perceived, by the loudness of her voice, and the bitterness of her reproaches, that no money was to be had from her lodger. I could hear her remonstrances very distinctly : " Out, I say ; pack out this moment ! tram.p, thou infamous strumpet, or I '11 give thee a mark thou won't be the better for this three months. What, you trumpery, to come and take up an honest house without cross or coin to bless yourself with ; come along I say." " dear madam," cried the stranger, " pity me, pity a poor abandoned creature for one night, and death will soon do the rest." I instantly knew the voice of my poor ruined child Olivia. I flew to her rescue, while the woman was dragging her along by the hair, and I caught the dear forlorn wretch in my arms. " Wel- come, any way welcome, my dearest lost one, my treasure, to your poor old father's bosom ! Though 11 162 VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. the vicious forsake thee, there is jet one in the world that will never forsake thee : though thou hadst ten thousand crimes to answer for, he will forget them all." " O my own dear," — for minutes she could say no more — " my own dearest good papa ! Could angels be kinder ! How do I deserve so much ! — The villain, I hate him and myself, to be a reproach to such goodness. You can't forgive me, I know you cannot." " Yes, my child, from my heart I do forgive thee ! Only repent, and we both shall yet be happy. We shall see many pleasant days yet, my Olivia ! " — " Ah ! never, sir, never. The rest of my wretched life must be infamy abroad, and shame at home. But, alas ! papa, you look paler than you used to do. Could such a thing as I am give you so much uneas- iness ? Surely you have too much wisdom to take the miseries of my guilt upon yourself." " Our wisdom, young woman," replied I. " Ah, why so cold a name,' papa? " cried she. " This is the first time you ever called me by so cold a name." " I ask pardon, my darling," returned I : " but I was going to observe, that wisdom makes but a slow defence against trouble, though at last a sure one." The landlady now re- turned to know if we did not choose a more genteel apartment ; to which assenting, we were shown a room where we could converse more freely. After we had talked ourselves into some degree of tran- quillity, I could not avoid desiring some account of the gradations that led to her present wretched situation. " That villain, sir," said she, " from the VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 163 first day of our meeting, made me honorable though private proposals." " Villain, indeed ! " cried I ; " and yet it in some measure surprises me, how a person of Mr. Burchell's good sense and seeming honor could be guilty of such deliberate baseness, and thus step into a family to undo it." " My dear papa," returned my daughter, " you labor under a strange mistake. Mr. Burchell never attempted to deceive me ; instead of that, he took every opportunity of privately admonishing me against the artifices of JVIr. Thornhill, who I now find was even worse than he represented him." " Mr. Thornhill," interrupted T; "can it be?" "Yes, sir," returned she ; " it was Mr. Thornhill who seduced me ; who employed the two ladies, as he called them, but who in fact were abandoned women of the town, without breeding or pity, to decoy us up to London. Their artifices, you may remember, would have cer- tainly succeeded, but for Mr. Burchell's letter, who directed those reproaches at them, which we all ap- plied to ourselves. How he came to have so much influence as to defeat their intentions, still remains a secret to me ; but I am convinced he was ever our warmest, sincerest friend." " You amaze me, my dear," cried I ; " but now I find my first suspicions of Mr. Thornhill's baseness were too well grounded : but he can triumph in se- curity, for he is rich, and we are poor. But tell me, my child, sure it was no small temptation that could 164 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. thus obliterate all tlie impressions of such an educa- tion, and so virtuous a disposition as thine?" " Indeed, sir," replied she, " he owes all his triumph to the desire I had of making him, and not myself, happy. I knew that the ceremony of our marriage, which was privately performed b}^ a popish priest, was no way binding, and that I had nothing to trust to but his honor." " What! " interrupted I, " and were 3^ou indeed married by a priest, and in orders?" " Indeed, sir, we were," replied she, " though we were both sworn to conceal his name." "Wliy, then, my child, come to my arms again : and now you are a thousand times more welcome than before ; for you are now his wife to all intents and purposes : nor can all the laws of man, though written upon tables of adamant, lessen the force of that sacred connection." " Alas, papa," replied she, " you are but little ac- quainted with his villainies ; he has been married already by the same priest to six or eight wives more, whom, like me, he has deceived and abandoned." " Has he so ? " cried I, " then we must hang the priest, and you shall inform against him to-morrow." — " But, sir," returned she, " will that be right, when I am sworn to secresy ? " " My dear," I replied, '' if you have made such a promise, I cannot, nor will I tempt you to break it. Even though it may benefit the public, you must not inform against him. In all human institutions a smaller evil is allowed to procure a greater good; as, in politics, a province may be given to secure a kingdom ; in medicine, a limb may VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 165 be lopt off to preserve the body : but in religion, the law is written, and inflexible, never to do evil. And this law, my child, is right ; for otherwise, if we com- mit a smaller evil to procure a greater good, certain guilt would be thus incurred, in expectation of con- tingent advantage. And though the advantage should certainly follow, yet the interval between commission and advantage, which is allowed to be guilty, may be that in which we are called away to answer for the things we have done, and the volume of human ac- tions is closed forever. But I interrupt you, my dear; go on." "The very next morning," continued she, " I found what little expectation I was to have from his sin- cerity. That very morning he introduced me to two unhappy women more, whom, like me, he had de- ceived, but who lived in contented prostitution. I loved him too tenderly to bear such rivals in his affec- tions, and strove to forget my infamy in a tumult of pleasures. With this view I danced, dressed, and talked ; but still was unhappy. The gentlemen who visited there told me every moment of the power of my charms, and this only contributed to increase my malancholy, as I had thrown all their power quite away. Thus each day I grew more pensive, and he more insolent, till at last the monster had the assur- ance to offer me to a young Baronet of his acquaint- ance. Need I describe, sir, how his ingratitude stung me ? My answer to this proposal was almost madness. I desired to part. As I was going, he offered me a 166 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. purse ; but I flung it at him with iudignation, and burst from him in a rage, that for a while kept me insensible of the miseries of my situation. But I soon looked round me, and saw myself a vile, abject, guilty thing, without one friend in the world to ap- ply to. Just in that interval, a stage coach happen- ing to pass by, I took a place, it being my only aim to be driven at a distance from a wretch I despised and detested. I was set down here, where, since my arrival, my own anxiety and this woman's unkindness have been my only companions. The hours of pleas- ure that I have passed with my mamma and sister, now grow painful to me. Their sorrows are much ; but mine are greater than theirs, for mine are mixed with guilt and infamy." " Have patience, my child," cried I, "and I hope things will yet be better. Take some repose to-night, and to-morrow I '11 carry you home to your mother and the rest of the family, from whom you will re- ceive a kind reception. Poor woman ! this has gone to her heart : but she loves you still, Olivia, and will forget it." CHAPTER XXII. OFFENCES AKE EASILY PARDONED WHERE THERE IS LOVE AT BOTTOM. The next morning I took my daughter behind me, and set out on my return home. As we traveled along, I strove by every persuasion to calm her sor- rows and fears, and to arm her with resolution to bear the presence of her offended mother. I took every opportunity, from the prospect of a fine coun- tey, through which we passed, to observe how much kinder Heaven was to us than we are to each other, and that the misfortunes of nature's making were very few. I assured her that she should never perceive any change in my affections, and that during my life, which yet might be long, she might depend upon a guardian and instructor. I armed her against the censures of the world, showed her that books were sweet unreproaching companions to the miserable, .and that if they could not bring us to enjoy life, they would at least teach us to endure it. The hired horse that we rode was to be put up that night at an inn by the way, within about five miles from my house ; and as I was willing to pre- pare my family for my daughter's reception, I deter- 168 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. mined to leave her that night at the inn, and to re- turn for her, accompanied by my daughter Sophia, early the next morning. It was night before we reached our appointed stage ; however, after seeing her provided with a decent apartment, and having ordered the hostess to prepare proper refreshments, I kissed her, and proceeded towards home. And now my heart caught new sensations of pleasure the nearer I approached that peaceful mansion. As a bird that had been frighted from its nest, my affec- tions outwent my haste, and hovered round my little fireside with all the rapture of expectation. I called up the many fond things I had to say, and antici- pated the welcome I was to receive. I already felt my wife's tender embrace, and smiled at the joy of my little ones. As I walked but slowly, the night waned apace. The laborers of the day were all re- tired to rest ; the lights were out in every cottage ; no sounds were heard but of the shrilling cock, and the deep-mouthed watch-dog at hollow distance. I approached my little abode of pleasure, and before I was within a furlong of the place, our honest mastiff came running to welcome me. " It was now near midnight that I came to knock at my door ; all was still and silent ; my heart dilated with unutterable happiness, when, to my amazement, I saw the house bursting out in a blaze of fire, and every aperture red with conflagration ! I gave a loud convulsive outcry, and fell upon the pavement insensible. This alarmed my son, who had till this VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 169 been asleep, and he perceiving the flames, instantly- waked my wife and daughter ; and all running out, naked, and wiJd with apprehension, recalled me to life with their anguish. But it was only to see ob- jects of new terror ; for the flames had by this time caught the roof of our dwelling, part after part con- tinuing to fail in, while the family stood with silent agony, looking on as if they enjoyed the blaze. I gazed upon them and upon it by turns, and then looked round me for my two little ones ; but they were not to be seen. misery ! " Where," cried 1, " where are my two little ones ? " " They are burnt to death in the flames," says my wife, calmly, " and I will die with them." That moment I heard the cry of the babes within, who were just awaked by the fire, and nothing could have stopped me. " Where, where are my children?" cried I, rushing through the flames, and bursting the door of the chamber in which they were confined; "Where are my little ones ? " " Here, dear papa, here we are," cried they together, while the flames were just catching the bed where they lay. I caught them both in my arms, and snatched them through the fire as fast as possi- ble, while, just as I was got out, the roof sunk in. " Now," cried I, holding up my children, " now let the flames burn on, and all my possessions perish. Here they are ; I have saved my treasure. Here, my dearest, here are our treasures, and we shall yet be happy." We kissed our little darlings a thousand times ; they clasped us round the neck, and seemed 170 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. to share our transports, while the mother laughed and wept by turns. I now stood a calm spectator of the flames, and after some time began to perceive that my arm to the shoulder was scorched in a terrible manner. It was therefore out of my power to give my son any assistance, either in attempting to save our goods, or preventing the flames spreading to our corn. By this time the neighbors were alarmed, and came run- ning to our assistance ; but all they could do was to stand like us, spectators of the calamity. My goods, among which were the notes I had reserved for my daughters' fortunes, were entirely consumed, except a box w^ith some papers that stood in the kitchen, and two or three things more of little consequence, which my son brought away in the beginning. The neigh- bors contributed, however, what they could to lighten our distress. They brought us clothes, and furnished one of our out-houses with kitchen utensils ; so that by day-light we had another, though a wretched dwelling, to retire to. My honest next neighbor and his children were not the least assiduous in providing us with everything necessary, and offering whatever consolation untutored benevolence could suggest. When the fears of my family had subsided, curi- osity to know the cause of my long stay began to take place ; having therefore informed them of every particular, I proceeded to prepare for the reception of our lost one, and though we had nothing but wretchedness now to impart, I was willing to procure VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 171 her a welcome to what we had. This task would have been more difficult but for our recent calamity, which had humbled my wife's pride, and blunted it by more poignant afflictions. Being unable lo go for my poor child myself, as my arm grew very painful, I sent my son and daughter who soon returned, sup- porting the wretched delinquent, who had not the courage to look up at her mother, whom no instruc- tions of mine could persuade to a perfect reconcilia- tion ; for women have a much stronger sense of female error than men. "Ah, madam," cried her mother, " this is but a poor place you are come to after so much finery. My daughter Sophy and I can afford but little entertainment to persons who have kept company only with people of distinction. Yes, Miss Livy, your poor father and I have suffered very much of late ; but I hope Heaven will forgive you." During this reception, the unhappy victim stood pale and trembling, unable to weep or to reply ; but I could not continue a silent spectator of her distress ; wherefore, assuming a degree of severity in my voice and manner, which was ever followed with instant submission, " I entreat, woman, that my words may be now marked once for all ; I have here brought you back a poor deluded wanderer : her return to duty demands the revival of our tenderness. The real hardships of life are now coming fast upon us ; let us not, therefore, increase them by dissension among each other. If we live harmoniously together, we may yet be contented, as there are enough of us 172 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. to shut out the censuring world, and keep each other in countenance. The kindness of Heaven is prom- ised to the penitent, and let ours be directed by the example. Heaven, we are assured, is much more pleased to view a repentant sinner, than ninety-nine persons who have supported a course of undeviating rectitude. And this is right; for that single effort by which we stop short in the down-hill path to per- dition, is itself a greater exertion of virtue than a hundred acts of justice." CHAPTER XXIII. NONE BUT THE GUILTY CAN BE LONG AND COM- PLETELY MISERABLE. Some assiduity was now required to make our pres- ent abode as convenient as possible, and we were soon again qualified to enjoy our former serenity. Being disabled myself from assisting my son in our usual occupations, I read to my family the few books that were saved, and particularly- from such as, by amusing the imagination, contributed to ease the heart. Our good neighbors, too, came every day with the kindest condolence, and fixed a time in which they were all to assist at reparing my former dwelling. Honest farmer Williams was not last amiong' these visitors ; but heartily offered his friend- ship. He would even have renewed his addresses to my daughter ; but she rejected him in such a manner as totally rep rest his future solicitations. Her grief seemed formed for continuing, and she was the only person of our little society that a week did not restore to cheerfulness. She had now lost that unblushing innocence which once taught her to respect herself and to seek pleasure by pleasing. Anxiety now had taken possession of her mind ; her beauty began to 174 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. be impaired with her constitution, and neglect still more contributed to diminish it. Every tender ejDi- thet bestowed on her sister, brought a pang to her heart, and a tear to her eye ; and as one vice, though cured, ever plants others where it has been, so her former guilt, though driven out by repentance, left jealousy and envy behind. I strove a thousand ways to lessen her care, and even forgot my own pain in a concern for hers, collecting such amusing passages of history as a strong memory and some reading could suggest. " Our happiness, my dear," I would say, " is in the power of one who can bring it about a thousand unforeseen ways that mock our foresight. If example be neccessary to prove this, I '11 give you a story, my child, told us by a grave, though sometimes a romancinoj historian. " Matilda was married very young to a Neapolitan nobleman of the first quality, and found herself a widow and a mother at the age of fifteen. As she stood one day caressing her infant son in the open window of an apartment which hung over the river Volturna, the child with a sudden spring leaped from her arms into the flood below, and disappeared in a moment. The mother, struck with instant surprise, and making an effort to save him, plunged in after ; but far from being able to assist the infant, she her- self with great difficulty escaped to the opposite shore, just when some French soldiers were plundering the country on that side, who immediately made her their prisoner. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 175 "As the war was then carried on between the French and Italians with the utmost inhumanity, they were going at once to perpetrate those two ex- tremes suggested by appetite and cruelty. This base resolution, however, was opposed by a young officer, who, though their retreat required the utmost expedi- tion, placed her behind him, and brought her in safety to his native city. Her beauty at first caught his eye, her merit soon after his heart. They were mar- ried : he rose to the highest posts ; they lived long together, and were happy. But the felicity of a sol- dier can never be called permanent : after an interval of several years, the troops which he commanded having met with a repulse, he was obliged to take shelter in the city where he had lived with his wife. Here they suffered a siege, and the city at length was taken. Few histories can produce more various in- stances of cruelty than those which the French and Italians at that time exercised upon each other. It was resolved by the victors, upon this occasion, to put all the French prisoners to death; but particularly the husband of the unfortunate Matilda, as he was principally instrumental in protracting the siege. Their determinations were in general executed almost as soon as resolved upon. The captive soldier was led forth, and the executioner with his sword stood ready, while the spectators in gloomy silence awaited the fatal blow, which was only suspended till the gen- eral, who presided as judge, should give the signal. It was in this interval of anguish and expectation that 176 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. Matilda came to take her last farewell of her husband and deliverer, deploring her wretched situation, and the cruelty of fate, that had saved her from perishing by a premature death in the river Volturna, to be the spectator of still greater calamities. The general, who was a young man, was struck with surprise at her beauty, and pity at her distress ; but with still stronger emotions when he heard her mention her former dangers. He was her son, the infant for whom she had encountered so much danger. He acknowledged her at once as his mother, and fell at her feet. The rest may be easily supposed : the cap- tive was set free, and all the happiness that love, friendship, and duty, could confer on each, were united." In this manner I would attempt to amuse my daughter : but she listened with divided attention ; for her own misfortunes engrossed all the pity she once had for those of another, and nothing gave her ease. In company she dreaded contempt; and in solitude she only found anxiety. Such was the color of her wretchedness, w^hen we received certain infor- mation that Mr. Thornhill was going to be married to Miss Wilmot, for whom I always suspected he had a real passion, though lie took every opportunity before me to express his contempt both of her person and fortune. This news only served to increase poor Olivia's affliction : such a flagrant breach of fidelity was more than her courage could support. I was resolved, however, to get more certain information. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 177 and to defeat, if possible, tlie completion of his de- signs, by sending my son to old Mr. Wilmot's with instructions to know the truth of the report, and to deliver Miss Wilmot a letter, intimating Mr. Thorn- hill's conduct in my family. My son went in pur- suance of my directions, and in three days returned assuring us of the truth of the account ; but that he had found it impossible to deliver the letter, which he was therefore obliged to leave, as Mr. Thornhill and Miss Wilmot were visiting round the country. They were to be married, he said, in a few days, having appeared together at church the Sunday before he was there, in great splendor, the bride attended by six young ladies, and he by as many gentlemen. Their approaching nuptials filled the whole country with rejoicing, and they usually rode out together in the grandest equipage that had been seen in the country for many years. All the friends of both families, he said, were there, particularly the Squire's uncle. Sir William Thornhill, who bore so good a character. He added that nothing but mirth and feasting were going forward; that all the country praised the young bride's beauty, and the bride- groom's fine person, and that they were immensely fond of each other : concluding, that he could not help thinking Mr. Thornhill one of the most happy men in the world. " Why, let him live if he can," returned I ; " but, my son, observe this bed of straw, and unsheltering roof ; those mouldering walls, and humid floor ; my 12 178 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. wretched body thus disabled by fire, and my chil- dren weeping round me for bread; you have come home, my child, to all this ; yet here, even here, you see a man that would not for a thousand worlds ex- change situations. O, my children, if you could but learn to commune with your own hearts, and know what noble company you can make them, you will little regard the elegance and splendor of the worth- less. Almost all men have been taught to call life a passage, and themselves the travelers. The simili- tude still may be improved, when we observe that the good are joyful and serene, like travelers that are going towards home : the wicked but by intervals happy, like travelers that are going into exile." My compassion for my poor daughter, overpowered by this new disaster, interrupted what I had farther to observe. I bade her mother support her, and after a short time she recovered. She appeared from that time more calm, and I imagined had gained a new degree of resolution ; but appearances deceived me ; for her tranquillity was the languor of over- wrought resentment. A supply of provisions, charita- bly sent us by my kind parishioners, seemed to diffuse new cheerfulness among the rest of the family, nor was I displeased at seeing them once more sprightly and at ease. It would have been unjust to damp their satisfactions, merely to condole with resolute melan- choly, or to burden them with a sadness they did not feel. Thus once more the tale went round and the song was demanded, and cheerfulness condescended to hover round our little habitation. CHAPTER XXIV. FRESH CALAMITIES. The next morning the sun arose with peculiar warmth for the season, so that we agreed to break- fast together on the honey-suckle bank ; where, while we sat, my youngest daughter at my request joined her voice to the concert on the trees about us. It was in this place that my poor Olivia first met her seducer, and every object served to recall her sadness. But that melancholy which is excited by objects of pleasure, or inspired by sounds of harmony, soothes the heart instead of corroding it. Her mother, too upon this occasion, felt a pleasing distress, and wept, and loved her daughter as before. " Do, my pretty Olivia," cried she, " let us have that little melancholy air your papa was so fond of ; your sister Sophy has already obliged us. Do, child, it will please your old father." She complied in a manner so exquisitely pathetic as moved us. When lovely woman stoops to folly, And finds too late that men betray; What charm can soothe her melancholy, What art can wash her guilt away ? 180 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. The only art lier gnilt to cover, To hide her shame from every eye, To give repentance to her lover. And wring his bosom — is to die. As she was concluding the last stanza, to which an interruption in her voice from sorrow gave peculiar softness, the appearance of Mr. Thornhill's equipage at a distance alarmed us all, but particularly increased the uneasiness of my eldest daughter, who, desirous of shunning her betrayer, returned to the house with her sister. In a few minutes he was alighted from his chariot, and making up to the place where I was still sitting, inquired after my health with his usual air of familiarity. " Sir," replied I, " your present assurance only serves to aggravate the baseness of your character ; and there was a time when I would have chastised your insolence for presuming thus to appear before me. But now you are safe ; for age has cooled my passions, and my calling restrains them." "• I vow, my dear sir," returned he, " I am amazed at all this ; nor can I understand what it means ! I hope you don't think your daughter's late excursion with me had anything criminal in it? " " Go," cried I, " thou art a wretch, a poor pitiful wretch, and every way a liar ; but your meanness se- cures you from my anger ! Yet, sir, I am descended from a family that would not have borne this ! And so, thou vile thing, to gratify a momentary passion, thou hast made one poor creature wretched for life, and polluted a family that had nothing but honor for their portion ! " VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 181 " If she or you," returned he, '' are resolved to be miserable, I cannot help it. But you may still be happy ; and whatever opinion you may have formed of me, you shall ever find me ready to contribute to it. We can marry her to another in a short time, and what is more, she may keep her lover beside ; for I protest I shall ever continue to have a true regard for her." I found all my passions alarmed at this new degrad- ing proposal ; for though the mind may often be calm under great injuries, little villainy can at any time get within the soul, and sting it into rage. " Avoid my sight, thou reptile ! " cried I, " nor continue to insult me with thy presence, Were my brave son at home he would not suffer this ; but I am old and dis- abled, and every way undone." " I find," cried he, " you are bent upon obliging me to talk in a harsher manner than I intended. But as I have shown you what may be hoped from my friendship, it may not be improper to represent what may be the consequences of my resentment. My attorney, to whom your late bond has been trans- ferred, threatens hard, nor do I know how to prevent the course of justice, except by paying the money my- self, which, as I have been at some expenses lately, previous to my intended marriage, is not so easily to be done. And then my steward talks of driving ^ for 1 An Irish term, descriptive of the mode which a landlord in that countr}'- takes to enforce payment from a tenant; and with some others wonld sufficiently indicate the country of the writer, did we not otherwise know it. 182 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. the rent : it is certain he knows his duty ; for I never trouble myself with affairs of that nature. Yet still I could wish to serve you, and even to have you and your daughter present at my marriage, which is shortly to be solemnized with Miss Wilmot; it is even the request of my charming Arabella herself, whom I hope you will not refuse." " Mr. Thorn hill," replied I, " hear me once for all : As to your marriage with (xny but my daughter, that I never will consent to ; and though your friendship could raise me to a throne, or resentment sink me to the grave, yet would I despise both. Thou hast once wofully, irreparably deceived me. I reposed my heart upon thine honor, and have found its baseness. Never more therefore expect friendship from me. Go and possess what fortune has given thee, beauty, riches, health, and pleasure. Go, and leave me to want, infamy, disease, and sorrow. Yet, humbled as T am, shall my heart still vindicate its dignity ; and though thou hast my forgiveness, thou shalt ever have my contempt." " If so," returned he, " depend upon it you shall feel the effects of tliis insolence ; and we shall shortly see which is the fittest object of scorn, you or me." Upon which he departed abruptly. My wife and son, who were present at this inter- view, seemed terrified with the apprehension. My daughters, also finding that he was gone, came out to be informed of the result of our conference, which, when known, alarmed them not less than the rest. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 183 But as to myself, I disregarded the utmost stretch of his malevolence : he had already struck the blow, and now I stood prepared to repel every new effort ; like one of those instruments used in the art of war, which, however thrown, still presents a point to re- ceive the enemy. We soon, however, found that he had not threat- ened in vain ; for the very next morning his steward came to demand my annual rent, which, by the train of accidents already related, I was unable to pay. The consequence of my incapacity was his driving my cattle that evening, and their being appraised and sold the next day for less than half their value. My wife and children now therefore entreated me to comply upon any terms, rather than incur certain destruction. They even begged of me to admit his visits once more, and used all their little eloquence to paint the calamities I was going to endure ; the terrors of a prison in so rigorous a season as the present, with the danger that threatened my health from the late acci- dent that happened by the fire. But I continued in- flexible. " Why, my treasures," cried I, " why will you thus attempt to persuade me to the thing that is not right ? My duty has taught me to forgive him ; but my con- science will not permit me to approve. Would you have me applaud to the world, what my heart must internally condemn ? Would you have me tamely sit down and flatter our infamous betrayer ; and, to avoid a prison, continually suffer the more galling bonds of 184 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. mental confinement ? No, never. If we are to be taken from this abode, only let us hold to the right ; and wherever we are thrown, we can still retire to a charming apartment, when we can look round our own hearts with intrepidity and with pleasure ! " In this manner we spent that evening. Early the next morning, as the snow had fallen in great abun- dance in the night, my son was employed in clearing it away, and opening a passage before the door. He had not been thus engaged long, w^hen he came running in, with looks all pale, to tell us that two strangers, whom he knew to be officers of justice, were making towards the house. Just as he spake they came in, and approaching the bed where I lay, after previously informing me of their employment and business, made me their prisoner, bidding me prepare to go with them to the county jail, which was eleven miles off. " My friends," said I, " this is severe weather in which you have come to take me to a prison ; and it is particularly unfortunate at this time, as one of my arms has lately been burnt in a terrible manner, and it has thrown me into a slight fever, and I want clothes to cover me ; and I am now too weak and old to walk far in such deep snow ; but if it must be so" — I then turned to my wife and children, and directed them to get together what few things were left us, and to prepare immediately for leaving this place. I entreated them to be expeditious, and desired my son VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 185 to assist his eldest sister, who, from a consciousness that she was the cause of all our calamities, was fallen, and had lost anguish in. insensibility. I encouraged my wife, who, pale and trembling, clasped our af- frighted little ones in her arms, that clung to her bosom in silence, dreading to look round at the strangers. In the mean time my youngest daughter prepared for our departure, and as she received sev- eral hints to use dispatch, in about an hour we were ready to depart. CHAPTER XXV. NO SITUATION, HOWEVER WRETCHED IT SEEMS, BUT HAS SOME SORT OF COMFORT ATTENDING IT. We set forward from this peaceful neighborhood, and walked on slowly. My eldest daughter being enfeebled by a slow fever, which had begun for some days to undermine her constitution, one of the officers, who had a horse, kindly took her behind him ; for even these men cannot entirely divest themselves of humanity. My son led one of the little ones by the hand, and my wife the other, while I leaned upon my youngest girl, whose tears fell not for her own but my distresses. AVe were now got from my late dwelling about two miles, when we saw a crowd running and shout- ing behind us, consisting of about fifty of my poorest parishioners. These, with dreadful imprecations, soon seized upon the two officers of justice, and swearing they would never see their minister go to jail while they had a drop of blood to shed in his de- fence, were going to use them with the greatest severity. The consequence might have been fatal had I not immediately interposed, and with some difficulty rescued the officers from the hands of the VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 187 enraged multitude. My children who looked upon my delivery now as certain, appeared transported with joy, and were incapable of containing their rap- tures. But they were soon undeceived, upon hearing me address the poor deluded people, who came, as they imagined to do me service. " What ! my friends," cried I, " and is this the way you love me ? Is this the manner you obey the in- structions I have given you from the pulpit ? Thus to fly in the face of justice, and bring down ruin on yourselves and me ? Which is your ringleader ? Show me the man that has thus seduced you. As sure as he lives he shall feel my resentment. Alas ! my dear deluded flock, return back to the duty you owe to God, to your country and to me. I shall yet per- haps one day see you in greater felicity here, and contribute to make your lives more happy. But let it at least be my comfort when I pen my fold for immortality, that not one here shall be wanting." They now seemed all repentance, and melting into tears, came one after the other to bid me farewell. I shook each tenderly by the hand, and leaving them my blessing, proceeded forward without meeting any farther interruption. Some hours before night we reached the town or rather village, for it consisted but of a few mean houses, having lost all its former opulence, and retaining no marks of its ancient supe- riority but the jail. Upon entering we put up at the inn, where we had such refreshments as could most readily be procured, 188 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. and I supped with my family with my usual cheerful- ness. After seeing them properly accommodated for that night, I next attended the sheriff's officers to the prison, which had formerly been built for the pur- poses of war, and consisted of one large apartment, strongly grated and paved with stone, common to both felons and debtors at certain hours in the four- -and-twenty. Besides this, every prisoner had a sep- arate cell, where he was locked in for the night. I expected upon my entrance to find nothing but lamentations and various sounds of misery; but it was very different. The prisoners seemed all em- ployed in one common design, that of forgetting thought in merriment or clamor. I was apprised of the usual perquisite required upon these occasions, and immediately complied with the demand, though the little money I had was very near being all ex- hausted. This was immediately sent away for liquor, and the whole prison soon was filled with riot, laugh- ter, and profaneness. " How," cried I to myself, " shall men so very wicked be cheerful, and shall I be melancholy ; I feel only the same confinement with them, and I think I have more reason to be happy." With such reflections I labored to become cheer- ful ; but cheerfulness was never yet produced by effort which is itself painful. As I was sitting there- fore in a corner of the jail, in a pensive posture, one of my fellow-prisoners came up, and sitting by me, entered into conversation. It was my constant rule VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 189 in life never to avoid the conversation of any man who seemed to desire it : for if good I might profit by his instruction ; if bad, he might be assisted by mine. I found this to be a knowing man, of strong unlettered sense, but a thorough knowledge of the world, as it was called, or more properly speaking, of human nature on the wrong side. He asked me if I had taken care to provide myself with a bed, which was a circumstance I had never once attended to. " That 's unfortunate," cried he, " as you are allowed here nothing but straw, and your apartment is very large and cold. However, you seem to be something of a gentleman, and as I have been one myself in my time, part of my bed-clothes are heartily at your ser- vice." I thanked him, professing my surjDrise at finding such humanity in a jail in misfortunes ; adding, to let him see that I was a scholar, " That the sage an- cient seemed to understand the value of company in affliction, when he said. Ton kosmon aire, ei dos ton etairon ; and in fact," continued I, " >yhat is the world if it affords only solitude ? " " You talk of the world, sir," returned my fellow- prisoner : " the world is in its dotage ; and yet the cos- mogony or creation of the world has puzzled the philos- ophers of every age. What a medley of opinions have they not broached upon the creation of the world! San- choniathon, 3Ianetho, Berosiis, and Ocellus Lucanus, have all attempted it in vain. T/ie latter has these 190 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. words, Anarchon ara kai atelutaion to pan, winch im- plies " — "I ask pardon, sir," cried I, " for interrupt- ing so much learning ; but I think I have heard all this before. Have I not had the pleasure of once seeing you at Welbridge fair, and is not your name Ephraim Jenkinson ? " At this demand he only sighed. " I suppose you must recollect," resumed I, " one Doctor Primrose, from whom you bought a horse ?" He now at once recollected me ; for the gloominess of the place and the approaching night had prevented his distinguishing my features before. "Yes, sir," returned Mr. Jenkinson, " I remember you perfectly well ; I bought a horse, but forgot to pay for him. Your neighbor Flamborough is the only prosecutor I am any way afraid of at the next assizes : for he in- tends to swear positively against me as a coiner. I am heartily sorry, sir, I ever deceived you, or indeed any man ; for you see," continued he, showing his shackles, " what my tricks have brought me to." " Well, sir," replied I, " your kindness in offering me assistance when you could expect no return, shall be repaid with my endeavors to soften or totally sup- press Mr. Flamborough's evidence, and I will send my son to him for that purpose the first opportunity ; nor do I in the least doubt but he will comply with my request ; and as to my own evidence, you need be under no uneasiness about that." " Well, sir," cried he, " all the return I can make shall be yours. You shall have more than half my bed-clothes to-night, and I '11 take care to stand your VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 191 friend in tlie prison, where I think I have some in- fluence." I thanked him, and could not avoid being surprised at the present youthful change in his aspect ; for at the time I had seen him before, he appeared at least sixty. " Sir," answered he, " you are little acquainted with the world ; I had at that time false hair, and have learned the art of counterfeiting every age from seventeen to seventy. Ah ! sir, had I but bestowed half the pains in learning a trade, that I have in learn- ing to be a scoundrel, I might have been a rich man at this day. But rogue as I am, still I may be your friend, and that perhaps when you least expect it." We were now prevented from further conversation by the arrival of the jailer's servants, who came to call over the prisoners' names, and lock up for the night. A fellow also with a bundle of straw for my bed attended, who led me along a dark narrow pas- sage into a room paved like the common prison, and in one corner of this I spread my bed, and the clothes given me by my fellow-prisoner; which done, my conductor, who was civil enough, bade me a good night. After my usual meditations, and having praised my Heavenly Corrector, I laid myself down, and slept with the utmost tranquillity till morning. ^ mmmmi ^SM Mm '51U^ j/U'S H^fi^^^l^ >W'My^mKm h ^i^l a|m\|\ wP^ jMff^^m ^'tm f(\\^^ ^^^^^ ^ ^rlll CHAPTER XXVI. A REFORMATION IN THE JAIL. TO MAKE LAWS COMPLETE, THEY SHOULD REWARD AS WELL AS PUNISH. The next morning early I was awakened by my family, whom I found in tears at my bedside. The gloomy strength of everything about us, it seems, had daunted them. I gently rebuked their sorrow, as- suring them I had never slept with greater tran- quillity, and next inquired after my eldest daughter, who was not among them. They informed me that yesterday's uneasiness and fatigue had increased her fever, and it was judged proper to leave her behind. My next care was to send my son to procure a room or two to lodge the family in, as near the prison as conveniently could be found. He obeyed ; but could only find one apartment, which was hired at a small expense for his mother and sisters, the jailer with humanity consenting to let him and his two brothers lie in the prison with me. A bed was therefore pre- pared for them in a corner of the room, which I thought answered very conveniently. I was willing, however, previously to know whether my little chil- VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 193 dren chose to lie in a place which seemed to fright ■ them upon entrance. " Well," cried I, " my good boys, how do you like your bed? I hope you are not afraid to lie in this room, dark as it appears ? " " No, papa," says Dick, " I am not afraid to lie anywhere where you are." " And I," says Bill, who was yet but four years old, " love every place best that my papa is in." After this I allotted to each of the family what they were to do. My daughter was particularly di- rected to watch her declining sister's health; my wife was to attend to me ; my little boys were to read to me. " And as for you, my son," continued I, " it is by the labor of your hands we must all hope to be supported. Your wages as a day -laborer will be fully sufficient, with proper frugality, to maintain us all, and comfortably too. Thou art now sixteen years old, and hast strength ; and it was given thee, my son, for very useful purposes ; for it must save from fam- ine your helpless parents and family. Prepare, then, this evening to look out for work against to-morrow, and bring home every night what money you earn for our support." Having thus instructed him, and settled the rest, I walked down to the common prison, where I could enjoy more air and room. But I was not long there when the execrations, lewdness, and brutality, that invaded me on every side, drove me back to my apartment again. Here I sat for some time ponder- 13 194: VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. ing upon the strange infatuation of wretches, who, finding all mankind in open arms against them, were laboring to make themselves a future and a tremend- ous enemy. Their insensibility excited my highest compassion, and blotted my own uneasiness from my mind. It even appeared a duty incumbent upon me to attempt to reclaim them. I resolved, therefore, once more to return, and, in spite of their contempt, to give them my advice, and conquer them by perseverance. Go- ing, therefore, among them again, I informed INIr. Jenkinson of my design, at which he laughed, but communicated it to the rest. The proposal was re- ceived with the greatest good humor, as it promised to afford a new fijnd of entertainment to persons who had now no other resource for mirth, but what could be derived from ridicule or debauchery. I therefore read them a portion of the service with a loud unaffected voice, and found my audience per- fectly merry upon the occasion. Lewd whispers, groans of contrition burlesqued, winking and cough- ing, alternately excited laughter. However, I con- tinued with my natural solemnity to read on, sensible that what I did might mend some, but could itself re- ceive no contamination from any. After reading I entered upon my exhortation, \^hich was rather calculated at first to amuse than to reprove. I previously observed, that no other mo- tive but their welfare could induce me to this ; that I was their fellow-prisoner, and now got nothing by VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 195 preaching. I was sorry, I said, to hear them so very profane ; because they got nothing by it, but might lose a great deal : '' for be assured, my friends," cried I, " for you are my friends, however the world may disclaim your friendship, though you swore a thou- sand oaths in a day, it would not put one penny in your purse. Then what signifies calling every mo- ment upon the devil, and courting his friendship, since you find how scurvily he uses you ? He has given you nothing here, you find, but a mouthful of oaths and an empty belly ; and by the best accounts I have of him, he will give you nothing that 's good hereafter. "If used ill in our dealings with one. man, we naturally go elsewhere. Were -it not worth your while, then, just to try how you may like the usage of another master, who gives you fair promises at least to come to him ? Surely, my friends, of all stu- pidity in the world, his must be the greatest, who, after robbing a house, runs to the thief-takers for pro- tection. And yet how are you more wise ? You are all seeking comfort from one that has already be- trayed you, applying to a more malicious being than any thief-taker of them all ; for they only decoy, and then hang you ; but he decoys and hangs, and, what is worst of all, will not let you loose after the hang- man is done." When I had concluded, I received the compliments of my audience, some of whom came and shook me by the hand, swearing that I was a very honest fel- 196 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. low, and that they desired my further acquaintance. I therefore promised to repeat my lecture next day, and actually conceived some hopes of making a refor- mation here ; for it had ever been my opinion, that no man was past the hour of amendment, every heart lying open to the shafts of reproof, if the archer could but take a proper aim. When I had thus satisfied my mind, I went back to my apartment, where my wife prejDared a frugal meal, while Mr. Jenkinson begged leave to add his dinner to ours, and partake of the pleasure, as he was kind enough to express it, of my conversation. He had not yet seen my family ; for as they came to my apartment by a door in the nar- row passage already described, by this means they avoided the common prison. Jenkinson, at the first interview, therefore, seemed not a little struck with the beauty of my youngest daughter, which her pen- sive air contributed to heighten : and my little ones did not pass unnoticed. " Alas, doctor," cried he, " these children are too handsome and too good for such a place as this ! " " Why, Mr. Jenkinson," replied I, " thank Heaven, my children are pretty tolerable in morals ; and if they be good, it matters little for the rest." " I fancy, sir," returned my fellow prisoner, " that it must give you great comfort to have all this little family about you." " A comfort, Mr. Jenkinson ! " replied I ; " yes, it is indeed a comfort, and I would not be without them for all the world ; for they can make a dungeon seem VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 197 a palace. There is but one way in this life of wound- ing my happiness, and that is by injuring them." " I am afraid, then, sir," cried he, " that I am in some measure culpable ; for I think I see here (look- ing at my son Moses), one that I have injured, and by whom I wish to be forgiven." My son immediately recollected his voice and feat- ures, though he had before seen him in disguise, and taking him by the hand, with a smile forgave him. " Yet," continued he, " I can't help wondering at what you could see in my face, to think me a proper mark for deception." " My dear sir," returned the other, " it was not your face, but your white stockings, and the black riband in your hair, that allured me. But no dispar- agement to your parts, I have deceived wiser men than you in my time ; and yet, with all my tricks, the blockheads have been too many for me at last." " I suppose," cried my son, " that the narrative of such a life as yours must be extremely instructive and amusing." "Not much of either," returned Mr. Jenkinson. " Those relations which describe the tricks and vices only of mankind, by increasing our suspicion in life, retard our success. The traveler that distrusts every person he meets, and turns back upon the appearance o^ every man that looks like a robber, seldom arrives in time at his journey's end. " Indeed I think, from my own experience, that the knowing one is the silliest fellow under the sun. I 198 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. was thought cunning from my very childhood : when but seven years old the ladies would sa}'' that I was a perfect little man ; at fourteen I knew the world, cocked my hat, and loved the ladies ; at twenty, though I was perfectly honest, yet every one thought me so cunning, that not one would trust me. Thus at last I was obliged to turn sharper in my own de- fence, and have lived ever since, my head throbbing with schemes to deceive, and my heart palpitating with fears of detection. I used often to laugh at your honest simple neighbor Flamborough, and one way or another generally cheated him once a year. Yet still the honest man went forward without suspicion, and grew rich, while I still continued tricksy and cunning, and was poor without the consolation of be- ing honest. However," continued he, "let me know your case, and what has brought you here ; perhaps, though I have not skill to avoid a jail myself, I may extricate my friends." In compliance with his curiosity, I informed him of the whole train of accidents and follies that had jjlunged me into my present troubles, and my utter inability to get free. After hearing my story, and pausing some minutes, he slapt his forehead, as if he had hit upon something material, and took his leave, saying he would try what could be done. CHAPTER XXVII. THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. The next morning, T communicated to my wife and children the scheme I had planned of reforming the prisoners, which they received with universal disapprobation, alleging the impossibility and impro- priety of it ; adding that my endeavors would no way contribute to their amendment, but might probably disgrace my calling. • " Excuse me," returned I ; "these people, however fallen, are still men ; and that is a very good title to my affections. Good counsel rejected, returns to en- rich the giver's bosom ; and though the instruction I communicate may not mend them, yet it will as- suredly mend myself. If these wretches, my children, were princes, there would be thousands ready to offer their ministry ; but, in my opinion, the heart that is buried in a dungeon is as precious as that seated u^Don the throne. Yes, my treasures, if I can mend them, I will : perhaps they will not all despise me. Per- haps I may catch up even one from the gulf, and that will be great gain : for is there upon earth a gem so precious as the human soul ? " Thus saying, I left them, and descended to the com- 200 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. mon prison, where I found the prisoners very merry, expecting my arrival ; and each prepared with some jail trick to play upon the doctor. Thus, as I was going to begin, one turned my wig awry, as if by accident, and then asked my pardon. A second who stood at some distance, had a knack of spitting through his teeth, which fell in showers upon my book. A third would cry amen with such an affected tone, as gave the rest great delight. A fourth had slily picked my pocket of my spectacles. But there was one whose trick gave more universal pleasure than all the rest ; for observing the manner in which I had disposed of my books on the table before me, he very dexterously displaced one of them, and put an obscene jest book of his own in the place. How- ever, I took no notice of all that this mischievous group of little beings could do, but went on, perfectly sensible that what was ridiculous in my attempt would excite mirth only the first or second time, while what was serious would be permanent. My design succeeded, and in less than six days some were penitent, and all attentive. It was now that I applauded my perseverance and address, at thus giving sensibility to wretches divested of every moral feeling ; and now began to think of doing them temporal services also, by rendering their situation somewhat more comfortable. Their time had hitherto been divided between famine and excess, tumultuous riot and bitter repining. Their only em- ployment was quarrelling among each other, playing VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 201 at cribbage, and cutting tobacco-stoppers. From this last mode of idle industry, I took the hint of setting such as chose to work at cutting pegs for tobacconists and shoemakers, the proper wood being bought by a general subscription, and when manufactured sold by my appointment; so that each earned something every day — a trifle indeed, but sufficient to maintain him. I did not stop here, but instituted fines for the punishment of immorality, and rewards for peculiar industry. Thus in less than a fortnight I had formed them into something social and humane, and had the pleasure of regarding myself as a legislator, who had brouo-htmen from their native ferocity into friendship and obedience. And it were highly to be wished, that legislative power would thus direct the law rather to reforma- tion than severity : that it would seem convinced, that the work of eradicating crimes is not by making punishments familiar, but formidable. Then, instead of our present prisons, which find or make men guility, which inclose wretches for the commission of one crime, and return them, if returned alive, fitted for the perpetration of thousands ; we should see, as in other parts of Europe, places of penitence and solitude, where the accused might be attended by such as could give them repentance, if guilty, or new mo- tives to virtue, if innocent. And this, but not the increasing punishment, is the way to mend a state. Nor can I avoid even questioning the validity of that 202 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. right which social combinations have assumed, of capitally punishing offences of a slight nature. In cases of murder, their right is obvious, as it is the duty of us all, from the law of self-defence, to cut off that man who has shown a disregard for the life of another. Against such all nature rises in arms : but it is not so against him who steals my property. Natural law gives me no right to take away his life, as, by that, the horse he steals is as much his prop- erty as mine. If then I have any right, it must be from a compact made between us, that he who de- prives the other of his horse shall die. But this is a false compact, because no man has a right to barter his life any more than to take it away, as it is not his own. And beside, the compact is inadequate, and would be set aside even in a court of modern equity, as there is a great penalty for a very trifling con- venience, since it is far better that two men should live, than that one man should ride. But a compact that is false between two men, is equally so between a hundred, or a hundred thousand ; for as ten millions of circles can never make a square, so the united voice of myriads cannot lend the smallest foundation to falsehood. It is thus that reason speaks, and un- tutored nature says the same thing. Savages that are directed by natural law alone, are very tender of the lives of each other ; they seldom shed blood but to retaliate former cruelty. Our Saxon ancestors, fierce as they were in war, had but few executions in times of peace : and in all VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 203 commencing governments that have the print of nat- ure still strong upon them, scarcely any crime is held capijtal. It is among the citizens of a refined community that penal laws, which are in the hands of the rich, are laid upon the poor. Government, while it grows older, seems to acquire the moroseness of age ; and as if our property were become dearer in proportion as it increased ; as if the more enormous our wealth, the more extensive our fears, all our possessions are paled up with new edicts every day, and hung round with gibbets to scare every invader. I cannot tell whether it is from the number of our penal laws or the licentiousness of our people, that this country should show more convicts in a year than half the dominions of Europe united. Perhaps it is owing to both ; for they mutually produce each other. "When, by indiscriminate penal laws, a nation beholds the same punishment affixed to dissimilar degrees of guilt, from perceiving no distinction in the penalty, the people are led to lose all sense of distinction in the crime, and this distinction is the bulwark of all morality. Thus the multitude of the laws produce new vices, and new vices call for fresh restraints. It were to be wished, then, that power, instead of contriving new laws to punish vice ; instead of draw- ing hard the cords of society till a convulsion come to burst them ; instead of cutting away wretches as use- less before we have tried their utility ; instead of con- verting correction into vengeance, — it were to be 204 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. wished that we tried the restrictive arts of govern- meut, and make law the protector, but not the tyrant of the peoiDle. We should then find that creatures, whose souls are held as dross, only wanted the hand of a refiner. We should then find that creatures, now stuck up for long tortures, lest luxury should feel a momentary pang, might, if properly treated, serve to sinew the state in times of danger ; that as their faces are like ours, their hearts are so too ; that few minds are so base as that perseverance cannot amend ; that a man may see his last crime without dying for it ; and that very little blood will serve to cement our security.-^ 1 This just and philosophical view of our penal code has at length, aftei* the lapse of many j-ears, made some way in public opinion, and mitigated the rigor of several former enactments. s ft ^ S Ss ^"^Wm B S w p CHAPTER XXVIII. HAPPINESS AND MISERY RATHER THE RESULT OF PRUDENCE THAN OP VIRTUE, IN THIS LIFE ; TEMPORAL EVILS OR FELICITIES BEING RE- GARDED BY HEAVEN AS THINGS MERELY IN THEMSELVES TRIFLING, AND UNWORTHY ITS CARE IN THE DISTRIBUTION. I HAD now been confined more than a fortnight, but had not since my arrival been visited by my dear Olivia, and I greatly longed to see her. Having communicated my wishes to my wife, the next morn- ing the poor girl entered my apartment leaning on her sister's arm. The change which I saw on her countenance struck me. The numberless graces that once resided there were now fled, and the hand of death seemed to have moulded every feature to alarm me. Her temples were sunk, her forehead was tense, and a fatal paleness sat upon her cheek. " I am glad to see thee, my dear," cried I, " but why this dejection, Livy ? I hope, my love, you have too great a regard for me to permit disappointment thus to undermine a life which I prize as my own. Be cheerful, child, and we may yet see happier days." " You have ever, sir," replied she, " been kind to 206 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. me, and it adds to my pain that I shall never have an oi3portunity of sharing that happiness you prom- ise. Happiness, I fear, is no longer reserved for me here ; and I long to be rid of a place where I have only found distress. Indeed, sir, I wish you would make a proper submission to Mr. Thornhill : it may in some measure induce him to pity you, and it will give me relief in dying." " Never, child," replied I ; " never will I be brought to acknowledge my daughter a prostitute ; for though the world may look upon your offence with scorn, let it be mine to regard it as a mark of credulity, not of guilt. My dear, I am no way miserable in this place, however dismal it may seem ; and be assured, that while you continue to bless me by living, he shall never have my consent to make you more wretched by marrying another." After the departure of my daughter, my fellow- prisoner, who was by at this interview, sensibly enough expostulated on my obstinacy in refusing a submission which promised to give me freedom. He observed, that the rest of my family was not to be sacrificed to the peace of one child alone, and she the only one who had offended me. " Besides," added he, " I don't know if it be just thus to obstruct the union of man and wife, which you do at present, by refusing to consent to a match you cannot hinder, but may render unhappy." " Sir," replied I, " you are unacquainted with the man that oppresses us. I am very sensible that no sub- VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 207 mission I can make could procure me liberty even for an hour. I am told that even in this very room a debtor of his, no later than last year, died for want. But though my submission and approbation could transfer me from hence to the most beautiful apartment he is possessed of, yet I would grant neither, as some- thing whispers me that it would be giving a sanction to adultery. While my daughter lives, no other mar- riage of his shall ever be legal in my eye. Were she removed, indeed, I should be the basest of men, from any resentment of my own, to attempt putting asun- der those who wish for a union. No ; villain as he is, I should then wish him married, to prevent the con- sequences of his future debaucheries. But now, should I not be the most cruel of all fathers to sign an instrument which must send my child to the grave, merely to avoid a prison myself ; and thus, to escape one pang, break my child's heart with a thousand ? " He acquiesced in the justice of this answer, but could not avoid observing, that he feared my daugh- ter's life was already too much wasted to keep me long a prisoner. " However," continued he, " though you refuse to submit to the nephew, I hope you have no objection to laying your case before the uncle, who has the first character in the kingdom for every- thing that is just and good. I would advise you to send him a letter by the post, intimating all his nephew's *ill usage, and my life for it, that in three days you shall have an answer." I thanked him for the hint, and instantly set about complying ; but I 208 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. wanted paper, and unluckily all our money had been laid out that morning in provisions ; however, he sup- plied me. For the three ensuing days I was in a state of anxiety to know what reception my letter might meet with ; but in the mean time was frequently solicited by my wife to submit to any conditions rather than remain here, and every hour received repeated ac- counts of the decline of my daughter's health. The third day and the fourth arrived, but I received no answer to my letter ; the complaints of a stranger against a favorite nephew were no way likely to suc- ceed ; so that these hopes soon vanished like all my former. My mind, however, still supported itself, though confinement and bad air began to make a visi- ble alteration in my health, and my arm that had suf- fered in the fire grew worse. My children, however, sat by me, and while I was stretched on my straw, read to me by turns, or listened and wept at my in- structions. But my daughter's health declined faster than mine ; every message from her contributed to -increase my apprehension and pain. The fifth jnorn- ing after I had written the letter which was sent to Sir William Thornhill, I was alarmed with an ac- count that she was speechless. Now it was that con- finement was truly painful to me ; my soul was burst- ing from its prison to be near the pillow of my child, to comfort, to strengthen her, to receive her last wishes, and teach her soul the way to Heaven ! An- other account came : She was expiring, and yet I VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 209 was debarred the small comfort of weeping by her. My fellow-prisoner, some time after, came with the last account. He bade me be patient ; She was dead ! — The next morning he returned, and found me with my two little ones, now my only companions, who were using all their innocent efforts to comfort me. They entreated, to read to me, and bade me not cry, for I was now too old to weep. " And is not my sister an angel now, papa ? " cried the eldest ; " and why then are you sorry for her ? I wish I were an angel out of this frightful place, if my papa were with me." " Yes," added my youngest darling, " Heaven, where my sister is, is a finer place than this, and there is none but good people there, and the people here are very bad." Mr. Jenkinson interrupted their harmless prattle by observing, that, now my daughter was no more, I should seriously think of the rest of my family, and attempt to save my own life which was every day declining for want of necessaries and wholesome air. He added, that it was now incumbent on me to sacri- fice any pride or resentment of my own to the welfare of those who depended on me for support ; and that I was now, both by reason and justice, obliged to try to reconcile my landlord. " Heaven be praised," replied I, " there is no pride left me now : I should detest my own heart if I saw either pride or resentment lurking there. On the contrary, as my oppressor has been once my parish- ioner, I hope one day to present him up an unpol- 14 210 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. luted soul at the eternal tribunal. No, sir, I have no resentment now ; and though he has taken from me what I held dearer than all his treasures, though he has wrung my heart, — for I am sick almost to faint- ing, very sick, my fellow-prisoner, — yet that shall never inspire me with vengeance. I am now willing to approve his marriage ; and if this submission can do him any pleasure, let him know that if I have done him any injury I am sorry for it." Mr. Jenkinson took pen and ink, and wrote down my submission nearly as I had expressed it, to which I signed my name. My son was employed to carry the letter to Mr. Thornhill, who was then at his seat in the country. He went, and in about six hours re- turned with a verbal answer. He had some difficulty, he said, to get a sight of his landlord, as the servants were insolent and suspicious : but he accidentally saw him as he was going out upon business, preparing for his marriage, which was to be in three days. He continued to inform ns, that he stept up in the hum- blest manner, and delivered the letter, which when Mr. Thornhill had read, he said that all submission was now too late and unnecessary ; that he had heard of our application to his uncle, which met with the contempt it deserved ; and as for the rest, that all future application should be directed to his attorney, not to him. He observed, however, that as he had a very good opinion of the discretion of the two young ladies, they might have been the most agree- able intercessors. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 211 " Well, sir," said I to my fellow-prisoner, " you now discover the temper of the man that oppresses me. He can at once be facetious and cruel ; but let him use me as he will, I shall soon be free, in spite of all his bolts to restrain me. I am now drawing towards an abode that looks brighter as I approach it ; this expectation cheers my afflictions, and though I leave a helpless family of orphans behind me, yet they will not be utterly forsaken ; some friend will be found to assist them for the sake of their poor father, and some may charitably relieve them for the sake of their heavenly Father." Just as I had spoke, my wife, whom I had not seen that day before, appeared with looks of terror, and making efforts, but unable to speak. " Why, my love," cried I, " why will you increase my afflictions by your own ? What though no submissions can turn our severe master, though he has doomed me to die in this place of wretchedness, and though we have lost a darling child, yet still you will find comfort in your other children when I shall be no more." " We have indeed lost," returned she, " a darling child. My Sophia, my dearest is gone ; snatched from us, carried off by ruffians ! " " How, madam," cried my fellow-prisoner, " Miss Sophia carried off by villains ! sure it cannot be." She could only answer with a fixed look and a flood of tears. But one of the prisoner's wives who was present, and came in with her, gave us a more distinct account ; she informed us, that as my wife, 212 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. my daughter, and herself were taking a walk together ou the great road, a little way out of the village, a 230st-chaise and pair drove up to them, and instantly stopped. Upon which a well-dressed man, but not Mr. Thornhill, stepping out, clasped my daughter round the waist, and forcing, her in, bid the postillion drive on, so that they were out of sight in a moment. " Now," cried I, " the sum of my miseries is made up, nor is it in the power of anything on earth to give me another pang. What ! not one left ! not to leave me one ! The monster ! The child that was next to my heart ! she has the beauty of an angel, and almost the wisdom of an angel. But support that woman, nor let her fall. Not to leave me one ! " " Alas ! my husband," said my wife, " you seem to want comfort even more than I. Our distresses are great ; but I could bear this and more, if I saw you but easy. They may take away my children, and all the world, if they leave me but you." My son, who was present, endeavored to moderate her grief ; he bade us take comfort, for he hoped that we might still have reason to be thankful. " My child," cried T, " look round the world, and see if there be any happiness left me now. Is not every ray of comfort shut out, while all our bright prospects only lie beyond the grave ! " " My dear father," re- turned he, " I hope there is still something that will give you. an interval of satisfaction; for I have a letter from my brother George." " What of him, child ? " interrupted I, " does he know our misery ? VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 213 I hope my boy is exempt from any part of what his wretched family suffers ? " " Yes, sir," returned he, " he is perfectly gay, cheerful, and happy. His letter brings nothing but good news : he is the favorite of his colonel, who promises to procure him the very next lieutenancy that becomes vacant." " And are you sure of all this ? " cried my wife : " Are you sure that nothing ill has befallen my boy ? " " Nothing, indeed, madam," returned my son ; " you shall see the letter, which will give you the highest pleasure ; and if anything can procure you comfort, I am sure that will." " But are you sure," still repeated she, " that the letter is from him- self, and that he is really so happy ? " " Yes, madam," replied he, " it is certainly his, and he will one day be the credit and support of our family." " Then I thank Providence," cried she, " that my last letter to him has miscarried. Yes, my dear," continued she, turning to me, " I will now confess, that though the hand of Heaven is sore upon us in other instances, it has been favorable here. By the last letter I wrote my son, which was in the bitter- ness of anger, I desired him upon his mother's bless- ing, and if he had the heart of a man, to see justice done his father and sister, and avenge our cause. But thanks be to Him that directs all things, it has miscarried, and I am at rest." " Woman," cried I, " thou hast done very ill, and at another time my reproaches might have been more severe. Oh ! what a tremendous gulf hast thou escaped, that would have 214 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. buried both thee and him in endless ruin ! Provi- dence indeed has here been kinder to us than we to ourselves. It has reserved that son to be the father and protector of my children when I shall be away. How unjustly did I complain of being stripped of every comfort, when still I hear that he is happy, and insensible of our afflictions ; still kept in reserve to support his widowed mother, and to protect his brothers and sisters. But what sisters has he left ? he has no sisters now ; they are all gone, robbed from me, and I am undone." " Father," interrupted my son, " I beg you will give me leave to read this letter, I know it will please you." Upon which, with my permission, he read as follows : — Honored Sir, — I have called off my imagina- tion a few moments from the pleasures that surround me, to fix it upon objects that are still more pleasing, the dear little fire-side at home. My fancy draws that harmless group as listening to every line of this with great composure. I view those faces with de- light which never felt the deforming hand of ambition or distress ! But whatever your happiness may be at home, T am sure it will be some addition to it to hear, that I am perfectly pleased with my situation, and every way happy here. Our regiment is countermanded, and is not to leave the kingdom. The colonel, who professes himself my friend, takes me with him to all companies where he is acquainted, and after my first visit I generally VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 215 find myself received witli increased respect upon re- peating it. I danced last night with Lady G , and could I forget you know whom, I might be per- haps successful. But it is my fate still to remember others, while I am myself forgotten by most of my absent friends ; and in this number, I fear, sir, that I must consider you ; for I have long expected the pleasure of a letter from home, to no purpose. Olivia and Sophia too promised to write, but seem to have forgotten me. Tell them they are two arrant little baggages, and that I am at this moment in a most violent passion with them ; yet still, I know not how, though I want to bluster a little, my heart is respondent only to softer emotions. Then tell them, sir, that after all I love them affectionately, and be assured of my ever remaining, Your dutiful Son. " In all our miseries," cried I, " what thanks have we not to return, that one at least of our family is exempted from what we suffer ! Heaven be his guard, and keep my boy thus happy, to be the sup- porter of his widowed mother, and the father of these two babes, which is all the patrimony I can now be- queath him ! May he keep their innocence from the temptations of want, and be their conductor in the paths of honor ! " I had scarcely said these words, when a noise like that of a tumult seemed to proceed from the prison below; it died away soon after, and a clanking of fetters was heard along the passage that 216 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. led to my apartment. The keeper of the prison en- tered, holding a man all bloody, wounded, and fet- tered with the heaviest irons. I looked with compas- sion on the wretch as he apjoroached me, but with horror when I found it was my own son. "My George ! my George ! and do I behold thee thus ? Wounded — fettered ! Is this thy happiness ? is this the manner you return to me ? O that this sight could break my heart at once, and let me die ! " " Where, sir, is your fortitude ? " returned my son with an intrepid voice. " I must suffer ; my life is forfeited and let them take it." ^ I tried to restrain my passions for a few minutes in silence, but I thought I should have died w^ith the effort. " my boy, my heart weeps to behold thee thus, and I cannot, cannot help it. In the moment when I thought thee blest, and prayed for thy safety, to behold thee thus again ! Chained, wounded ! And yet the death of the youthful is happy. But I am old, a very old man, and have lived to see this day ! To see my children all untimely falling about me, while I continue a wretched survivor in the midst of ruin ! May all the curses that ever sunk a soul fall heavy upon the murderer of my children ! May he live, like me, to see " — " Hold, sir," replied my son, " or I shall blush for thee. How, sir, forgetful of your age, your holy call- ing, thus to arrogate the justice of Heaven, and fling 1 "It is my last happiness, that I have committed no murder, though I have lost all hopes of pardon." — First Edit. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 217 those curses upward that must soon descend to crush thy own gray head with destruction ! No, sir, let it be your care now to fit me for that vile death I must shortly suffer ; to arm me with hope and resolution ; to give me courage to drink of that bitterness which must shortly be my portion." " My child, you must not die : I am sure no offence of thine can deserve so vile a punishment. My George could never be guilty of any crime to make his ancestors ashamed of him." " Mine, sir," returned my son, " is, I fear, an un- pardonable one.-^ When I received my mother's letter from home, I immediately came down, deter- mined to punish the betrayer of our honor, and sent him an order to meet me, which he answered, not in person, but by dispatching four of his domestics to seize me. I wounded one who first assaulted me, and I fear desperately ; but the rest made me their prisoner. The coward is determined to put the law in execution against me ; the proofs are undeniable ; I have sent a challenge, and as I am the first trans- gressor upon the statute, I see no hopes of pardon. But 3^ou have often charmed me with your lessons of fortitude ; let me now, sir, find them in your ex- ample." " And, my son, you shall find them. I am now raised above this world, and all the pleasures it can produce. From this moment I break from my heart 1 '* I have sent a challenge, and that is death bj a late Act of Parliament." — First Edit. 218 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. all the ties that held it down to earth, and will pre- pare to fit us both for eternity. Yes, my son, I will point out the way, and ray soul shall guide yours in the ascent, for we will take our flight together. I now see and am convinced you can expect no pardon here ; and I can only exhort you to seek it at that greatest tribunal where we both shall shortly answer. But let us not be niggardly in our exhortation, but let all our fellow-prisoners have a share : Good jailer, let them be permitted to stand here while I attempt to improve them." Thus saying, I made an effort to rise from my straw, but wanted strength, and was able only to recline against the wall. The pris- oners assembled themselves according to my direc- tions, for they loved to hear my counsel ; my son and his mother supported me on either side ; I looked and saw that none were wanting, and then addressed them with the following exhortation. CHAPTER XXIX. THE EQUAL DEALINGS OF PROVIDENCE DEMON- STRATED WITH REGARD TO THE HAPPY AND THE MISERABLE HERE BELOW. THAT FROM THE NA- TURE OF PLEASURE AND PAIN, THE WRETCHED MUST BE REPAID THE BALANCE OF THEIR SUFFER- INGS IN THE LIFE HEREAFTER. My friends, my children, and fellow-sufferers, wlien I reflect on the distribution of good and evil here be- low, I find that much has been given man to enjoy, yet still more to suffer. Though we should examine the whole world, we shall not find one man so haj^py as to have nothing left to wish for ; but we daily see thousands, who, by suicide, show us they have noth- ing left to hope. In this life, then, it appears that we cannot be entirely blest, but yet we may be com- pletely miserable. Why man should thus feel pain ; why our wretch- edness should be requisite in the formation of uni- versal felicity ; why, when all other systems are made perfect by the perfection of their subordinate parts, the great system should require for its perfection parts that are not only subordinate to others, but im- perfect in themselves, — these are questions that 220 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. never can be explained, and might be useless if known. On this subject, Providence has thought fit to elude our curiosity, satisfied with granting us motives to consolation. In this situation man has called in the friendly as- sistance of philosophy, and Heaven, seeing the inca- pacity of that to console him, has given him the aid of religion. The consolations of philosophy are very amusing, but often fallacious. It tells us that life is filled with comforts, if we will but enjoy them ; and on the other hand, that though we unavoidably have miseries here, life is short, and they will soon be over. Thus do these consolations destroy each other ; for, if life is a place of comfort, its shortness must be mis- ery, and if it be long, our griefs are protracted. Thus philosophy is weak ; but religion comforts in a higher strain. Man is here, it tells us, fitting up his mind, and preparing it for another abode. When the good man leaves the body and is all a glorious mind, he w^ill find he has been making himself a heaven of hap- piness here ; while the wretch that has been maimed and contaminated by his vices, shrinks from his body with terror, and finds that he has anticipated the ven- geance of heaven. To religion then we must hold in every circumstance of life for our truest comfort ; for if already we are happy, it is a pleasure to think that we can make that happiness unending ; and if we are miserable, it is very consoling to think that there is a place of rest. Thus, to the fortunate, religion holds out a continuance of bliss ; to the wretched, a change from pain. VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. 221 But though religion is very kind to all men, it has promised peculiar rewards to the unhappy : the sick, the naked, the houseless, the heavy-laden, and the prisoner, have ever most frequent promises in our sacred law. The author of our religion everywhere professes himself the wretch's friend, and, unlike the false ones of this world, bestows all his caresses upon the forlorn. The unthinking have censured this as partiality, as a preference without merit to deserve it. But they never reflect, that it is not in the power even of Heaven itself to make the oiFer of unceasing felicity as great a gift to the happy as to the misera- ble. To the first, eternity is but a single blessing, since at most it but increases what they already pos- sess. To the latter, it is a double advantage • for it diminishes their pain here, and rewards them with heavenly bliss hereafter. But Providence is in another respect kinder to the poor than the rich ; for as it thus makes the life after death more desirable, so it smooths the passage there. The wretched have had a long familiarity with every face of terror. The man of sorrows lays himself quietly down, without possessions to regret, and but few ties to stop his departure : he feels only nature's pang in the final separation, and this is no way greater than he has often fainted under before : for after a certain degree of pain, every new breach that death opens in the constitution, nature kindly covers with insensibility. Thus Providence has given the wretched two advan- 222 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. tages over the happy in this life — greater felicity in dying, and in heaven all that superiority of pleasure which arises from contrasted enjoyment. And this superiority, my friends, is no small advantage, and seems to be one of the pleasures of the poor man in the parable ; for though he was already in heaven, and felt all the raptures it could give, yet it was men- tioned as an addition to his happiness, that he had once been wretched, and now was comforted ; that he had known what it was to be miserable, and now felt what it was to be happy. Thus, my friends, you see religion does what phi- losophy could never do : it shows the equal dealings of Heaven to the happy and the unhappy, and levels all human enjoyments to nearly the same standard. It gives to both rich and poor the same happiness hereafter, and equal hopes to aspire after it ; but if the rich have the advantage of enjoyiug pleasure here, the poor have the endless satisfaction of knowing what it was once to be miserable, when crowned with endless felicity hereafter ; and even though this should be called a small advantage, yet being an eternal one, it must make up by duration what the temporal hap- piness of the great may have exceeded by intense- ness. These are, therefore, the consolations which the wretched have peculiar to themselves, and in which they are above the rest of mankind ; in other respects, they are below them. They who would know the miseries of the poor, must see life and endure it. To VICAE OF WAKEFIELD. 223 declaim on the temporal advantages they enjoy, is only repeating what none either believe or practise. The men who have the necessaries of living are not poor, and they who want them must be miserable. Yes, my friends, we must be miserable. No vain efforts of a refined imagination can soothe the wants of nature, can give elastic sweetness to the dank vapor of a dungeon, or ease to the throbbings of a broken heart. Let the philosopher from his couch of softness tell us that we can resist all these : Alas ! the effort by which we resist them is still the greatest pain. Death is slight, and any man may sustain it : but torments are dreadful, and these no man can en- dure. To us, then, my friends, the promises of happiness in heaven should be peculiarly dear ; for if our re- ward be in this life alone, we are then indeed of all men the most miserable. When I look round these gloomy walls, made to terrify as well as to - confine us ; this light, that only serves to show the horrors of the place ; those shackles, that tyranny has im- posed, or crime made necessary ; when I survey these emaciated looks, and hear those groans, ! my friends, what a glorious exchange would Heaven be for these. To fly through regions unconfined as air, to bask in the sunshine of eternal bliss, to carol over endless hymns of praise, to have no master to threaten or insult us, but the form of Goodness himself for- ever in our eyes ! when I think of these things death becomes the messenger of very glad tidings ; when I 224 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. thiuk of these things, his sharpest arrow becomes the staff of my support ; when I think of these things, what is there in life worth having ? when I think of these things, what is there that should not be spurned away ? Kings in their palaces should groan for such advantages ; but we, humbled as we are, should yearn for them. And shall these things be ours ? Ours they will certainly be if we but try for them ; and what is a comfort, we are shut out from many temptations that would retard our pursuit. Only let us try for them, and they will certainly be ours ; and what is still a comfort, shortly too ; for if we look back on a past life, it appears but a very short span, and whatever we may think of the rest of life, it will yet be found of less duration ; as we grow older, the days seem to grow shorter, and our intimacy with time ever lessens the perception of his stay. Then let us take comfort now, for we shall soon be at our journey's end ; we shall soon lay down the heavy burden laid by Heaven upon us ; and though death, the only friend of the wretched, for a little while mocks the weary traveler with the view, and like his horizon still flies before him ; yet the time will certainly and shortly come, when we shall cease from our toil ; when the luxuri- ous great ones of the world shall no more tread us to the earth ; when we shall think with pleasure of our sufferings below ; when we shall be surrounded with our friends, or such as deserved our friendship ; when our bliss shall be unutterable, and still, to crown all, unending. M p M P ^^ |i^«^^^7