The Vicar of Wakefield Read Online Free PDF Page A

variety to our amusements, 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 situation in life
might bring its own peculiar pleasures: every morning waked us to a
repetition of toil; but the evening repaid it with vacant
hilarity.
    It was about the beginning of autumn, on a holiday, for I kept
such as intervals of relaxation from labour, 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 prest 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
surprize, or some more hidden motive, held my wife and daughters to
their seats. The huntsman, who rode foremost, past 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 chace, stopt short, and giving 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 daughters as one certain of a kind reception; but they
had early learnt the lesson of looking presumption out of
countenance. Upon which he let us know that his name was Thornhill,
and that he was owner of the estate that lay for some extent round
us. He again, therefore, offered to salute the female part of the
family, and such was the power of fortune and fine cloaths, that he
found no second repulse. As his address, though confident, was
easy, we soon became more familiar; and perceiving musical
instruments lying near, he begged to be favoured with a song. As I
did not approve of such disproportioned acquaintances, I winked
upon my daughters in order to prevent their compliance; but my hint
was counteracted by one from their mother; so that with a chearful
air they gave us, a favourite song of Dryden's. Mr Thornhill seemed
highly delighted with their performance and choice, and then took
up the guitar himself. He played but very indifferently; 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
curtesy. He praised her taste, and she commended his understanding:
an age could not have made them better acquainted. While the fond
mother too, equally happy, insisted upon her landlord's stepping
in, and tasting a glass of her gooseberry. The whole family seemed
earnest 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 fondly stuck close to the stranger. All my endeavours could
scarce keep their dirty fingers from handling and tarnishing the
lace on his cloaths, 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