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then she would bid the 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 scarce 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 certain execution; for they were soft; modest; and alluring。 The one vanquished by a single blow; the other by efforts successfully 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 represt 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 together。 A suit of mourning has transformed my coquet into a prude; and a new set of ribbands has given her younger sister more than natural vivacity。 My eldest son George was bred at Oxford; as I intended him for one of the learned professions。 My second boy Moses; whom I designed for business; received a sort of a miscellaneous education at home。 But it is needless to attempt describing the particular characters of young people that had seen but very little of the world。 In short; a family likeness prevailed through all; and properly speaking; they had but one character; that of being all equally generous; credulous; simple; and inoffensive。
CHAPTER 2
Family misfortunes。 The loss of fortune only serves to encrease the pride of the worthy
The temporal concerns of our family were chiefly committed to my wife's management; as to the spiritual 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 a sufficient fortune of my own; I was careless of temporalities; 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 temperance 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 favourite 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 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 innitiated into this important dispute; on which so many laborious volumes have been written。 I published some tracts upon the subject myself; which; as they never sold; I have the consolation of thinking are read only by the happy 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 beyond Whiston in displaying my principles: as 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; oeconomy; 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 admonished my wife of her duty to me; and my fidelity to her; it inspired her with a passion for fame; and constantly 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 neighbouring clergyman; who was a dignitary in the church; and in circumstances to give her a large fortune: but fortune was her smallest accomplishment。 Miss Arabella Wilmot was allowed by all; except my two daughters; to be completely pretty。 Her youth; health; and innocence; were still heightened by a complexion so transparent; and such an 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 couple every day shared in each other's company; seemed to encrease their passion。 We were generally awaked in the morning by music; and on fine days rode a hunting。 The hours between breakfast and dinner the ladies devoted to dress and study: they usually read a page; and then 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 every thing herself; it being her mother'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 the assistance of cards; as I hated all manner of gaming; 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 running。 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 wedding; 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 defence of my favourite principle。 As I looked upon this as a master…piece both for argument and style; I could not in the pride of my heart avoid shewing it to my old friend Mr Wilmot; as I made no doubt of receiving 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 that I was heterodox; I retorted the charge: he replied; and I rejoined。 In the mean time; 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 wedding was over。 'How;' cried I; 'relinquish the cause of truth; and let him be an husband; already driven to the very verge of absurdity。 You might as well advise me to give up my fortune as my argument。' '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 disavow my principles。 I'll 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 favour; nor will I allow him now to be an husband in any sense of the expression。'
It would be endless to describe the different sensations of both families when I divulged the news of our misfortune; but what others felt was slight to 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 3
A migration。 The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found at last to be of our own procuring
The only hope of our family now was; that the report of our misfortunes mig