I agree that the family at first seems idyllic, but isn't it funny how a tinge of sarcasm is mixed in. For example, "she could read any English book without much spelling....excellent contriver...I could never find that we grew richer with all her contrivances." I enjoy this style of writing, where things are stated matter-of-factly, with an exception thrown in to temper the statement. And the epitaph he writes for his wife, along with his reasoning for displaying over the chimney-piece, really tickled my sense of the absurd. Enjoying it very much so far.