The Vicar of Wakefield: A Tale by Oliver Goldsmith

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W. Engelmann, 1847 - English language - 335 pages

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Page 85 - 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...
Page 84 - 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.
Page 3 - 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.
Page 38 - No flocks that range the valley free, To slaughter I condemn ; Taught by that Power that pities me, I learn to pity them : " 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.
Page 42 - ... Turn, Angelina, ever dear, My charmer, turn to see .Thy own, thy long-lost Edwin here, Restored 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'll live and love so true, The sigh that rends thy constant heart, Shall break thy Edwin's too.
Page 58 - As I had some opinion of my son's prudence, I was willing enough to entrust him with this commission; and the next morning I perceived his sisters mighty busy in fitting out Moses for the fair; trimming 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.
Page 61 - 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...
Page 41 - 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.
Page 14 - Jewel, this staff, and take this book too, it will be your comfort on the way : these two lines in it are worth a million, ' I 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.
Page 20 - 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 enclosures ; 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 snugness...

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