  There are an hundred faults in this Thing, and an hundred things might be said to prove them beauties. But it is needless. A book may be amusing with numerous errors, or it may be very dull without a single absurdity. The hero of this piece unites in himself the three greatest characters upon earth; he is a priest, an husbandman, and the father of a family. He is drawn as ready to teach, and ready to obey, as simple in affluence, and majestic in adversity. In this age of opulence and refinement whom can such a character please? Such as are fond of high life, will turn with disdain from the simplicity of his country fire-side. Such as mistake ribaldry for humour, will find no wit in his harmless conversation; and such as have been taught to deride religion, will laugh at one whose chief stores of comfort are drawn from futurity. OLIVER GOLDSMITH DETAILED CONTENTS 1. The description of the family of Wakefield; in which a kindred likeness prevails as well of minds as of persons 2. Family misfortunes. The loss of fortune only serves to increase the pride of the worthy 3. A migration. The fortunate circumstances of our lives are generally found at last to be of our own procuring 4. A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution 5. A new and great acquaintance introduced. What we place most hopes upon generally proves most fatal 6. The happiness of a country fire-side 7. A town wit described. The dullest fellows may learn to be comical for a night or two 8. An amour, which promises little good fortune, yet may be productive of much 9. Two ladies of great distinction introduced. Superior finery ever seems to confer superior breeding 10. The family endeavours to cope with their betters. The miseries of the poor when they attempt to appear above their circumstances 11. The family still resolve to hold up their heads 12. Fortune seems resolved to humble the family of Wakefield. Mortifications are often more painful than real calamities 13. Mr Burchell is found to be an enemy; for he has the confidence to give disagreeable advice 14. Fresh mortifications, or a demonstration that seeming calamities may be real blessings 15. All Mr Burchell’s villainy at once detected. The folly of being-over-wise 16. The Family use art, which is opposed with still greater 17. Scarce any virtue found to resist the power of long and pleasing temptation 18. The pursuit of a father to reclaim a lost child to virtue 19. The description of a Person discontented with the present government, and apprehensive of the loss of our liberties 20. The history of a philosophic vagabond, pursuing novelty, but losing content 21. The short continuance of friendship among the vicious, which is coeval only with mutual satisfaction 22. Offences are easily pardoned where there is love at bottom 23. None but the guilty can be long and completely miserable 24. Fresh calamities 25. No situation, however wretched it seems, but has some sort of comfort attending it 26. A reformation in the gaol. To make laws complete, they should reward as well as punish 27. The same subject continued 28. Happiness and misery rather the result of prudence than of virtue in this life. Temporal evils or felicities being regarded by heaven as things merely in themselves trifling and unworthy its care in the distribution 29. 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 wretched must be repaid the balance of their sufferings in the life hereafter 30. Happier prospects begin to appear. Let us be inflexible, and fortune will at last change in our favour 31. Former benevolence now repaid with unexpected interest 32. The Conclusion |
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