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The Vicar of Wakefield.
61

neighbour, and his children, were not the least assiduous in providing us with every thing necessary, and offering what ever consolation untutored benevolence could suggest.

When the fears of my family had sub­sided, curiosity to know the cause of my long stay began to take place; having therefore informed them of every particular, I proceeded to prepare them for the recep­tion of our lost one, and tho' we had no­thing but wretchedness now to impart, yet to procure her a welcome to what we had. This task would have been more difficult but for our recent calamity, which had humbled my wife's pride, and blunted it by more poignant afflictions. Being una­able to go for my poor child myself, as my arm now grew very painful, I sent my son and daughter, who soon returned, support­ing the wretched delinquent, who had not courage to look up at her mother, whomno