the life of charlotte bronte-1-第3部分
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orkshire and Lancashire； the inhabitants of which are of the same race and possess the same quality of character。
The descendants of many who served under Cromwell at Dunbar； live on the same lands as their ancestors occupied then； and perhaps there is no part of England where the traditional and fond recollections of the Commonwealth have lingered so long as in that inhabited by the woollen manufacturing population of the West Riding； who had the restrictions taken off their trade by the Protector's admirable commercial policy。 I have it on good authority that； not thirty years ago； the phrase； 〃in Oliver's days；〃 was in common use to denote a time of unusual prosperity。 The class of Christian names prevalent in a district is one indication of the direction in which its tide of hero…worship sets。 Grave enthusiasts in politics or religion perceive not the ludicrous side of those which they give to their children； and some are to be found； still in their infancy； not a dozen miles from Haworth； that will have to go through life as Lamartine； Kossuth； and Dembinsky。 And so there is a testimony to what I have said； of the traditional feeling of the district； in the fact that the Old Testament names in general use among the Puritans are yet the prevalent appellations in most Yorkshire families of middle or humble rank； whatever their religious persuasion may be。 There are numerous records； too； that show the kindly way in which the ejected ministers were received by the gentry； as well as by the poorer part of the inhabitants； during the persecuting days of Charles II。 These little facts all testify to the old hereditary spirit of independence； ready ever to resist authority which was conceived to be unjustly exercised； that distinguishes the people of the West Riding to the present day。
The parish of Halifax touches that of Bradford； in which the chapelry of Haworth is included； and the nature of the ground in the two parishes is much the of the same wild and hilly description。 The abundance of coal； and the number of mountain streams in the district； make it highly favourable to manufactures； and accordingly； as I stated； the inhabitants have for centuries been engaged in making cloth； as well as in agricultural pursuits。 But the intercourse of trade failed； for a long time； to bring amenity and civilization into these outlying hamlets； or widely scattered dwellings。 Mr。 Hunter； in his 〃Life of Oliver Heywood；〃 quotes a sentence out of a memorial of one James Rither； living in the reign of Elizabeth； which is partially true to this day：…
〃They have no superior to court； no civilities to practise： a sour and sturdy humour is the consequence； so that a stranger is shocked by a tone of defiance in every voice； and an air of fierceness in every countenance。〃
Even now； a stranger can hardly ask a question without receiving some crusty reply； if； indeed； he receive any at all。 Sometimes the sour rudeness amounts to positive insult。 Yet； if the 〃foreigner〃 takes all this churlishness good…humouredly； or as a matter of course； and makes good any claim upon their latent kindliness and hospitality； they are faithful and generous； and thoroughly to be relied upon。 As a slight illustration of the roughness that pervades all classes in these out…of…the…way villages； I may relate a little adventure which happened to my husband and myself； three years ago； at Addingham …
From Penigent to Pendle Hill； From Linton to Long…ADDINGHAM And all that Craven coasts did tell； &c。 …
one of the places that sent forth its fighting men to the famous old battle of Flodden Field； and a village not many miles from Haworth。
We were driving along the street； when one of those ne'er…do…weel lads who seem to have a kind of magnetic power for misfortunes； having jumped into the stream that runs through the place； just where all the broken glass and bottles are thrown； staggered naked and nearly covered with blood into a cottage before us。 Besides receiving another bad cut in the arm； he had completely laid open the artery； and was in a fair way of bleeding to deathwhich； one of his relations comforted him by saying； would be likely to 〃save a deal o' trouble。〃
When my husband had checked the effusion of blood with a strap that one of the bystanders unbuckled from his leg； he asked if a surgeon had been sent for。
〃Yoi；〃 was the answer； 〃but we dunna think he'll come。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃He's owd； yo seen； and asthmatic； and it's up…hill。〃
My husband taking a boy for his guide； drove as fast as he could to the surgeon's house； which was about three…quarters of a mile off； and met the aunt of the wounded lad leaving it。
〃Is he coming？〃 inquired my husband。
〃Well； he didna' say he wouldna' come。〃
〃But； tell him the lad may bleed to death。〃
〃I did。〃
〃And what did he say？〃
〃Why； only； 'D…n him； what do I care？'〃
It ended； however； in his sending one of his sons； who； though not brought up to 〃the surgering trade；〃 was able to do what was necessary in the way of bandages and plasters。 The excuse made for the surgeon was； that 〃he was near eighty； and getting a bit doited； and had had a matter o' twenty childer。〃
Among the most unmoved of the lookers…on was the brother of the boy so badly hurt； and while he was lying in a pool of blood on the flag floor； and crying out how much his arm was 〃warching；〃 his stoical relation stood coolly smoking his bit of black pipe； and uttered not a single word of either sympathy or sorrow。
Forest customs； existing in the fringes of dark wood； which clothed the declivity of the hills on either side； tended to brutalize the population until the middle of the seventeenth century。 Execution by beheading was performed in a summary way upon either men or women who were guilty of but very slight crimes； and a dogged； yet in some cases fine； indifference to human life was thus generated。 The roads were so notoriously bad； even up to the last thirty years； that there was little communication between one village and another； if the produce of industry could be conveyed at stated times to the cloth market of the district； it was all that could be done； and； in lonely houses on the distant hill…side； or by the small magnates of secluded hamlets； crimes might be committed almost unknown； certainly without any great uprising of popular indignation calculated to bring down the strong arm of the law。 It must be remembered that in those days there was no rural constabulary； and the few magistrates left to themselves； and generally related to one another； were most of them inclined to tolerate eccentricity； and to wink at faults too much like their own。
Men hardly past middle life talk of the days of their youth； spent in this part of the country； when； during the winter months； they rode up to the saddle…girths in mud； when absolute business was the only reason for stirring beyond the precincts of home； and when that business was conducted under a pressure of difficulties which they themselves； borne along to Bradford market in a swift first…class carriage； can hardly believe to have been possible。 For instance； one woollen manufacturer says that； not five and twenty years ago； he had to rise betimes to set off on a winter's… morning in order to be at Bradford with the great waggon…load of goods manufactured by his father； this load was packed over…night； but in the morning there was a great gathering around it； and flashing of lanterns； and examination of horses' feet； before the ponderous waggon got under way； and then some one had to go groping here and there； on hands and knees； and always sounding with a staff down the long； steep； slippery brow； to find where the horses might tread safely； until they reached the comparative easy…going of the deep…rutted main road。 People went on horseback over the upland moors； following the tracks of the pack…horses that carried the parcels； baggage； or goods from one town to another； between which there did not happen to be a highway。
But in winter； all such communication was impossible； by reason of the snow which lay long and late on the bleak high ground。 I have known people who； travelling by the mail…coach over Blackstone Edge； had been snowed up for a week or ten days at the little inn near the summit； and obliged to spend both Christmas and New Year's Day there； till the store of provisions laid in for the use of the landlord and his family falling short before the inroads of the unexpected visitors； they had recourse to the turkeys； geese； and Yorkshire pies with which the coach was laden； and even these were beginning to fail； when a fortunate thaw released them from their prison。
Isolated as the hill villages may be； they are in the world； compared with the loneliness of the grey ancestral houses to be seen here and there in the dense hollows of the moors。 These dwellings are not large； yet they are solid and roomy enough for the accommodation of those who live in them； and to whom the surrounding estates belong。 The land has often been held by one family since the days of the Tudors； the owners are； in fact； the remains of the old yeomanrysmall squireswho are rapidly becoming extinct as a class； from one of two causes。 Either the possessor falls into idle； drinking habits； and so is obliged eventually to sell his property： or he finds； if more shrewd and adventurous； that the 〃beck〃 running down the mountain…side； or the minerals beneath his feet； can be turned into a new source of wealth； and leaving the old plodding life of a landowner with small capital； he turns manufacturer； or digs for coal； or quarries for stone。
Still there are those remaining of this classdwellers in the lonely houses far away in the upland districtseven at the present day； who sufficiently indicate what strange eccentricity what wild strength of willnay； even what unnatural power of crime was fostered by a mode of living in which a man seldom met his fellows； and where public opinion was only a distant and inarticulate echo of some clearer voice sounding behind the sweeping horizon。
A solitary life cherishes mere fancies until they become manias。 And the powerful Yorkshire character； which was scarcely tamed into subjection by all the contact it m
