The loss of fortune to myself alone would have been trifling; the
only uneasiness I felt was for my family, who were to be humble
without an education to render them callous to contempt.

Near a fortnight had passed before I attempted to restrain their
affliction; for premature consolation is but the remembrancer of
sorrow. During this interval, my thoughts were employed on some
future means of supporting them; and at last a small Cure of
fifteen pounds a year was offered me in a distant neighbourhood,
where I could still enjoy my principles without molestation. With
this proposal I joyfully closed, having determined to encrease my
salary by managing a little farm.

Having taken this resolution, my next care was to get together
the wrecks of my fortune; and all debts collected and paid, out
of fourteen thousand pounds we had but four hundred remaining. My
chief attention therefore was now to bring down the pride of my
family to their circumstances; for I well knew that aspiring
beggary is wretchedness itself. 'You cannot be ignorant, my
children,' cried I, 'that no prudence of ours could have
prevented our late misfortune; but prudence may do much in
disappointing its effects. We are now poor, my fondlings, and
wisdom bids us conform to our humble situation. Let us then,
without repining, give up those splendours with which numbers are
wretched, and seek in humbler circumstances that peace with which
all may be happy. The poor live pleasantly without our help, why
then should not we learn to live without theirs. No, my children,
let us from this moment give up all pretensions to gentility; we
have still enough left for happiness if we are wise, and let us
draw upon content for the deficiencies of fortune.' As my eldest