280 THE VICARAGE. 



" sweet link of harmony," which appeared to con- 

 nect its Vicar with all his parishioners. In the 

 pulpit he rivetted attention by the simplicity of 

 his sermons, and the benevolence which he incul- 

 cated ; 



Mild were his doctrines, and not one discourse 

 But gain'd in softness what it lost in force. 



But it is time to say something of the Vicar's 

 family. It consisted of his excellent wife, two 

 daughters, both differing in character and beauty, 

 .and his only son Henry, who had been educated 

 on the foundation of a public school, and whose 

 talents and good conduct had gained him a scho- 

 larship in one of the universities. 



(< What a charming day for trout fishing/' said 

 the Vicar to his youngest daughter, Lucy, as she 

 gaily tripped by his side towards the river, with 

 his fly-rod in her hand. " The trout will rise well 

 with this southerly wind, and we shall have a dish 

 of fish for your brother when he arrives to-day/' 

 Lucy's dark eyes sparkled with animation. A 

 gentle breeze had blown back her little straw bon- 

 net, and discovered a profusion of deep brown hair 

 which fell in ringlets on her shoulders, shewing at 

 the same time the outlines of her beautiful and elas- 

 tic form. She stopped to gather a honey-suckle, and 

 while putting it into the button-hole of her father's 

 coat, she enquired, with an arch look, how many 



