the life of charlotte bronte-1-第19部分

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　plantation　in　which　the　murderers　lay　hidden。　　The　readers　of　〃Shirley〃　will　recognise　these　circumstances；　which　were　related　to　Miss　Bronte　years　after　they　occurred；　but　on　the　very　spots　where　they　took　place；　and　by　persons　who　remembered　full　well　those　terrible　times　of　insecurity　to　life　and　property　on　the　one　hand；　and　of　bitter　starvation　and　blind　ignorant　despair　on　the　other。

Mr。　Bronte　himself　had　been　living　amongst　these　very　people　in　1812；　as　he　was　then　clergyman　at　Hartshead；　not　three　miles　from　Rawfolds；　and；　as　I　have　mentioned；　it　was　in　these　perilous　times　that　he　began　his　custom　of　carrying　a　loaded　pistol　continually　about　with　him。　　For　not　only　his　Tory　politics；　but　his　love　and　regard　for　the　authority　of　the　law；　made　him　despise　the　cowardice　of　the　surrounding　magistrates；　who；　in　their　dread　of　the　Luddites；　refused　to　interfere　so　as　to　prevent　the　destruction　of　property。　　The　clergy　of　the　district　were　the　bravest　men　by　far。

There　was　a　Mr。　Roberson　of　Heald's　Hall；　a　friend　of　Mr。　Bronte's　who　has　left　a　deep　impression　of　himself　on　the　public　mind。　　He　lived　near　Heckmondwike；　a　large；　straggling；　dirty　village；　not　two　miles　from　Roe　Head。　　It　was　principally　inhabited　by　blanket　weavers；　who　worked　in　their　own　cottages；　and　Heald's　Hall　is　the　largest　house　in　the　village；　of　which　Mr。　Roberson　was　the　vicar。　At　his　own　cost；　he　built　a　handsome　church　at　Liversedge；　on　a　hill　opposite　the　one　on　which　his　house　stood；　which　was　the　first　attempt　in　the　West　Riding　to　meet　the　wants　of　the　overgrown　population；　and　made　many　personal　sacrifices　for　his　opinions；　both　religious　and　political；　which　were　of　the　true　old…fashioned　Tory　stamp。　　He　hated　everything　which　he　fancied　had　a　tendency　towards　anarchy。　　He　was　loyal　in　every　fibre　to　Church　and　King；　and　would　have　proudly　laid　down　his　life；　any　day；　for　what　he　believed　to　be　right　and　true。　　But　he　was　a　man　of　an　imperial　will；　and　by　it　he　bore　down　opposition；　till　tradition　represents　him　as　having　something　grimly　demoniac　about　him。　　He　was　intimate　with　Cartwright；　and　aware　of　the　attack　likely　to　be　made　on　his　mill；　accordingly；　it　is　said；　he　armed　himself　and　his　household；　and　was　prepared　to　come　to　the　rescue；　in　the　event　of　a　signal　being　given　that　aid　was　needed。　　Thus　far　is　likely　enough。　　Mr。　Roberson　had　plenty　of　war…like　spirit　in　him；　man　of　peace　though　he　was。

But；　in　consequence　of　his　having　taken　the　unpopular　side；　exaggerations　of　his　character　linger　as　truth　in　the　minds　of　the　people；　and　a　fabulous　story　is　told　of　his　forbidding　any　one　to　give　water　to　the　wounded　Luddites；　left　in　the　mill…yard；　when　he　rode　in　the　next　morning　to　congratulate　his　friend　Cartwright　on　his　successful　defence。　　Moreover；　this　stern；　fearless　clergyman　had　the　soldiers　that　were　sent　to　defend　the　neighbourhood　billeted　at　his　house；　and　this　deeply　displeased　the　work…people；　who　were　to　be　intimidated　by　the　red…coats。　　Although　not　a　magistrate；　he　spared　no　pains　to　track　out　the　Luddites　concerned　in　the　assassination　I　have　mentioned；　and　was　so　successful　in　his　acute　unflinching　energy；　that　it　was　believed　he　had　been　supernaturally　aided；　and　the　country　people；　stealing　into　the　fields　surrounding　Heald's　Hall　on　dusky　winter　evenings；　years　after　this　time；　declared　that　through　the　windows　they　saw　Parson　Roberson　dancing；　in　a　strange　red　light；　with　black　demons　all　whirling　and　eddying　round　him。　　He　kept　a　large　boys'　school；　and　made　himself　both　respected　and　dreaded　by　his　pupils。　　He　added　a　grim　kind　of　humour　to　his　strength　of　will；　and　the　former　quality　suggested　to　his　fancy　strange　out…of…the…way　kinds　of　punishment　for　any　refractory　pupils：　　for　instance；　he　made　them　stand　on　one　leg　in　a　corner　of　the　schoolroom；　holding　a　heavy　book　in　each　hand；　and　once；　when　a　boy　had　run　away　home；　he　followed　him　on　horseback；　reclaimed　him　from　his　parents；　and；　tying　him　by　a　rope　to　the　stirrup　of　his　saddle；　made　him　run　alongside　of　his　horse　for　the　many　miles　they　had　to　traverse　before　reaching　Heald's　Hall。

One　other　illustration　of　his　character　may　be　given。　　He　discovered　that　his　servant　Betty　had　〃a　follower；〃　and；　watching　his　time　till　Richard　was　found　in　the　kitchen；　he　ordered　him　into　the　dining…room；　where　the　pupils　were　all　assembled。　　He　then　questioned　Richard　whether　he　had　come　after　Betty；　and　on　his　confessing　the　truth；　Mr。　Roberson　gave　the　word；　〃Off　with　him；　lads；　to　the　pump！〃　　The　poor　lover　was　dragged　to　the　court…　yard；　and　the　pump　set　to　play　upon　him；　and；　between　every　drenching；　the　question　was　put　to　him；　〃Will　you　promise　not　to　come　after　Betty　again？〃　　For　a　long　time　Richard　bravely　refused　to　give　in；　when　〃Pump　again；　lads！〃　was　the　order。　　But；　at　last；　the　poor　soaked　〃follower〃　was　forced　to　yield；　and　renounce　his　Betty。

The　Yorkshire　character　of　Mr。　Roberson　would　be　incomplete　if　I　did　not　mention　his　fondness　for　horses。　　He　lived　to　be　a　very　old　man；　dying　some　time　nearer　to　1840　than　1830；　and　even　after　he　was　eighty　years　of　age；　he　took　great　delight　in　breaking　refractory　steeds；　if　necessary；　he　would　sit　motionless　on　their　backs　for　half…an…hour　or　more　to　bring　them　to。　　There　is　a　story　current　that　once；　in　a　passion；　he　shot　his　wife's　favourite　horse；　and　buried　it　near　a　quarry；　where　the　ground；　some　years　after；　miraculously　opened　and　displayed　the　skeleton；　but　the　real　fact　is；　that　it　was　an　act　of　humanity　to　put　a　poor　old　horse　out　of　misery；　and　that；　to　spare　it　pain；　he　shot　it　with　his　own　hands；　and　buried　it　where；　the　ground　sinking　afterwards　by　the　working　of　a　coal…pit；　the　bones　came　to　light。　　The　traditional　colouring　shows　the　animus　with　which　his　memory　is　regarded　by　one　set　of　people。　　By　another；　the　neighbouring　clergy；　who　remember　him　riding；　in　his　old　age；　down　the　hill　on　which　his　house　stood；　upon　his　strong　white　horsehis　bearing　proud　and　dignified；　his　shovel　hat　bent　over　and　shadowing　his　keen　eagle　eyesgoing　to　his　Sunday　duty　like　a　faithful　soldier　that　dies　in　harnesswho　can　appreciate　his　loyalty　to　conscience；　his　sacrifices　to　duty；　and　his　stand　by　his　religion…　…his　memory　is　venerated。　　In　his　extreme　old　age；　a　rubric　meeting　was　held；　at　which　his　clerical　brethren　gladly　subscribed　to　present　him　with　a　testimonial　of　their　deep　respect　and　regard。

This　is　a　specimen　of　the　strong　character　not　seldom　manifested　by　the　Yorkshire　clergy　of　the　Established　Church。　　Mr。　Roberson　was　a　friend　of　Charlotte　Bronte's　father；　lived　within　a　couple　of　miles　of　Roe　Head　while　she　was　at　school　there；　and　was　deeply　engaged　in　transactions；　the　memory　of　which　was　yet　recent　when　she　heard　of　them；　and　of　the　part　which　he　had　had　in　them。

I　may　now　say　a　little　on　the　character　of　the　Dissenting　population　immediately　surrounding　Roe　Head；　for　the　〃Tory　and　clergyman's　daughter；〃　〃taking　interest　in　politics　ever　since　she　was　five　years　old；〃　and　holding　frequent　discussions　with　such　of　the　girls　as　were　Dissenters　and　Radicals；　was　sure　to　have　made　herself　as　much　acquainted　as　she　could　with　the　condition　of　those　to　whom　she　was　opposed　in　opinion。

The　bulk　of　the　population　were　Dissenters；　principally　Independents。　　In　the　village　of　Heckmondwike；　at　one　end　of　which　Roe　Head　is　situated；　there　were　two　large　chapels　belonging　to　that　denomination；　and　one　to　the　Methodists；　all　of　which　were　well　filled　two　or　three　times　on　a　Sunday；　besides　having　various　prayer…meetings；　fully　attended；　on　week…days。　　The　inhabitants　were　a　chapel…going　people；　very　critical　about　the　doctrine　of　their　sermons；　tyrannical　to　their　ministers；　and　violent　Radicals　in　politics。　　A　friend；　well　acquainted　with　the　place　when　Charlotte　Bronte　was　at　school；　has　described　some　events　which　occurred　then　among　them：…

〃A　scene；　which　took　place　at　the　Lower　Chapel　at　Heckmondwike；　will　give　you　some　idea　of　the　people　at　that　time。　　When　a　newly…　married　couple　made　their　appearance　at　chapel；　it　was　the　custom　to　sing　the　Wedding　Anthem；　just　after　the　last　prayer；　and　as　the　congregation　was　quitting　the　chapel。　　The　band　of　singers　who　performed　this　ceremony　expected　to　have　money　given　them；　and　often　passed　the　following　night　in　drinking；　at　least；　so　said　the　minister　of　the　place；　and　he　determined　to　put　an　end　to　this　custom。　　In　this　he　was　supported　by　many　members　of　the　chapel　and　congregation；　but　so　strong　was　the　democratic　element；　that　he　met　with　the　most　violent　opposition；　and　was　often　insulted　when　he　went　into　the　street。　　A　bride　was　expected　to　make　her　first　appearance；　and　the　minister　told　the　singers　not　to　perform　the　anthem。　　On　their　declaring　they　would；　he　had　the　large　pew　which　they　usually　occupied　locked；　they　broke　it　open：　　from　the　pulpit　he　told　the　congregation　that；　instead　of　their　singing　a　hymn；　he　would　read　a　chapter；　hardly　had　he　uttered　the　first　word；　before　up　rose　the　singers；　headed　by　a　tall；　fierce…looking　weaver；　who　gave　out　a　hymn；　and　all　sang　it　at　the　very　top　of　their　voices；　aided　by　those　of　their　friends　who　were　in　the　chapel。　　Those　who　disapproved　of　the　conduct　of　the　singers；　and　sided　with　the　minister；　remained　seated　till　the　hymn　was　finished。　　Then　he　gave　out　the　chapter　again；　read　it；　and　preached。　　He　was　just　about　to　conclude　with　prayer；　when　up　started　the　singers　and　screamed　forth　another　hymn。　　These　disgraceful　scenes　were　continued　for　many　weeks；　and　so　violent　was　the　feeling；　that　the　different　parties　could　hardly　keep　from　blows　as　they　came　through　the　chapel…yard。　　The　minister；　at　last；　left　the　place；　and　along　with　him　went　many　of　the　most　temperate　and　respectable　part　of　the　congregation；　and　the　singers　remained　triumphant。

〃I　believe　that　there　was　such　a　violent　contest　respecting　the　choice　of　a　pastor；　about　this　time；　in　the　Upper　Chapel　at　Heckmondwike；　that　the　Riot　Act　had　to　be　read　at　a　church…　meeting。〃

Certainly；　the　SOI…DISANT　Christians　who　forcibly　ejected　Mr。　Redhead　at　Haworth；　ten　or　twelve　years　before；　held　a　very　heathen　brotherhood　with　the　SOI…DISANT　Christians　of　Heckmondwike；　though　the　one　set　might　be　called　members　of　the