The Vicar Of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith
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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.