The Vicar of Wakefield

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.

From this motive, I had scarce taken orders a year before I began to think seriously of matrimony, and chose my wife as she did her wedding gown, not for a fine glossy surfaces but such qualities as would wear well.

To do her justice, she was a good-natured notable woman; and as for breeding, there were few country ladies who could shew more.

She could read any English book without much spelling, but for pickling, preserving, and cookery, none could excel her.

She prided herself also upon being an excellent contriver in house-keeping; tho' I could never find that we grew richer with all her contrivances.

However, we loved each other tenderly, and our fondness encreased as we grew old.

There was in fact nothing that could make us angry with the world or each other.

We had an elegant house, situated in a fine country, and a good neighbourhood.

The year was spent in moral or rural amusements; in visiting our rich neighbours, and relieving such as were poor.

We had no revolutions to fear, nor fatigues to undergo; all our adventures were by the fire-side, and all our migrations from the blue bed to the brown.