THE HOME OF THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.

THE HOME OF THE VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.

'At the foot of a sloping hill, and sheltered with a beautiful underwood behind and a prattling river before," stands a little low English cottage, with thatched roof and vine-covered porch. Adjoining the house, is a neat garden with sweet old-fashioned flowers and a long row of gooseberry bushes; and near by, a rustic seat shaded by a hedge of hawthorn and honeysuckle.

A simple little picture, is it not? Yet it is beautiful to me, because it represents the home of the Vicar of Wakefield, one of the best men that I ever knew.

If you are not acquainted with this good man and his family, let me introduce them to you, for I know that a knowledge of their simple virtues cannot fail to interest you.

Dr. Primrose, the Vicar, is an unworldly, peaceloving man.

"E'en his failings lean

To virtue's side."

is

Of a generous and hospitable nature, his house. open to all. The blind, the halt, and the maimed find there a safe asylum, and a sympathetic ear into which to pour their tale of woe.

"The long remembered beggar is his guest,

Whose beard, descending, sweeps his aged breast;
The ruined spendthrift, now no longer proud,
Claims kindred there, and has his claim allowed;
The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay,

Sits by his fire, and talks the night away;

Weeps o'er his wounds, or, tales of sorrow done,
Shoulders his crutch, and shows how fields were won.
Pleased with his guests, the good man learns to glow,
And quite forgets their vices in their woe."

But the Vicar has one hobby; namely, matrimony. He maintains that it is unlawful for a minister of the Church of England to marry the second time; or, as he expresses it, he is a monogamist1. He has published several tracts on this important subject ; and, as they have never sold very well, he has the satisfaction of thinking that they are read only by the "happy few."

'Monogamist: one who does not believe in second marriages.

Mrs. Primrose is a most devoted wife and mother. The Vicar says that he chose her as she chose her wedding gown, "not for a fine glossy surface, but for such qualities as would wear well." She is certainly an excellent housewife, and is specially noted for her gooseberry-wine, which she most generously presses upon every chance visitor. Fond of keeping up appearances, impulsive and credulous, she often thwarts her husband's wishes; but he loves her too tenderly not to overlook her little womanly vanities and contrivances.

Both Dr. Primrose and his wife are proud of their healthy and blooming family, and believe that they could have given to their country no more valuable present than their six children. George, their oldest son, not having won the lady of his love, has gone out into the world to seek his fortune.

The two daughters, Olivia and Sophia, are the pride of their mother's heart, for in them she sees a second self. Her vanity and satisfaction are sometimes laughable to see. "Hold up your heads, girls," she will often say, "hold up your heads! Handsome is that handsome does." And indeed they are beautiful girls, as you will find in all the country