CONTENT S. The family endeavour to cope with their betters. The Fortune seems resolved to humble the family of Wake. CHAP. XIIL Happiness and misery rather the result of prudence than of virtue in this life; temporal evils or felicities 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 THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD. CHAP. I. 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 service than he who continued single, and only talked of population. From this motive, I had scarce taken orders a year, before I began to think seriously of matrimony; and chose my wife as she did her wedding-gown-not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well. To do her justice, she was a good-natured, notable woman; and as for breeding, there were few country ladies who could shew more. She could read an English book without much spelling: but for pickling, preserving, and cookery, none could excel her. She prided herself, also, upon being an excellent contriver in house-keeping; though I could never find that we grew richer with all her contrivances. However we loved each other 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, situated in a fine country, and a good neighbour |