00000070.htm

CHAPTER II.

COLLEG-E.
1745—1749,

BUT the school-days of Oliver Goldsmith are now to close.
Within the last year there had been some changes at Lissoy, roT
which not a little affected the family fortunes. Catherine,
the elder sister, had privately married a Mr. Daniel Hodson,
" the son of a gentleman of good property, residing at
" St. John's, near Athlone." The young man was at the
time availing himself of Henry Goldsmith's services as
private tutor; Henry having obtained a scholarship two years
before, and assisting the family resources with such, employ-
ment of his college distinction. The good Charles Goldsmith
was greatly indignant at the marriage, and on reproaches
from the elder Hodson "made a sacrifice detrimental to the
" interests of his family." He entered into a legal engagement,
still registered in the Dublin Four Courts, and bearing date
the 7th of September, 1744, " to pay to Daniel Hodson, Esq.,
" of St. John's, Eosconimon, .£400 as the marriage portion of
"his daughter Catherine, then the wife of the said Daniel
" Hodson." But it could not be effected without sacrifice of
his tithes and rented land; and it was a sacrifice, as it seems
to me, made in a spirit of very simple and very false pride.



	CHAPTER II. COLLEG-E. 1745—1749, BUT the school-days of Oliver Goldsmith are now to close. Within the last year there had been some changes at Lissoy, roT which not a little affected the family fortunes. Catherine, the elder sister, had privately married a Mr. Daniel Hodson, " the son of a gentleman of good property, residing at " St. John's, near Athlone." The young man was at the time availing himself of Henry Goldsmith's services as private tutor; Henry having obtained a scholarship two years before, and assisting the family resources with such, employ- ment of his college distinction. The good Charles Goldsmith was greatly indignant at the marriage, and on reproaches from the elder Hodson "made a sacrifice detrimental to the " interests of his family." He entered into a legal engagement, still registered in the Dublin Four Courts, and bearing date the 7th of September, 1744, " to pay to Daniel Hodson, Esq., " of St. John's, Eosconimon, .£400 as the marriage portion of "his daughter Catherine, then the wife of the said Daniel " Hodson." But it could not be effected without sacrifice of his tithes and rented land; and it was a sacrifice, as it seems to me, made in a spirit of very simple and very false pride.