the life of charlotte bronte-1-第6部分
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cy of my repetition； has to a certain degree been confirmed by a letter from the Yorkshire gentleman； whose words I have already quoted。
〃I am not surprised at your difficulty in authenticating matter… of…fact。 I find this in recalling what I have heard； and the authority on which I have heard anything。 As to the donkey tale； I believe you are right。 Mr。 Redhead and Dr。 Ramsbotham； his son… in…law； are no strangers to me。 Each of them has a niche in my affections。
〃I have asked； this day； two persons who lived in Haworth at the time to which you allude； the son and daughter of an acting trustee； and each of them between sixty and seventy years of age； and they assure me that the donkey was introduced。 One of them says it was mounted by a half…witted man； seated with his face towards the tail of the beast； and having several hats piled on his head。 Neither of my informants was； however； present at these edifying services。 I believe that no movement was made in the church on either Sunday； until the whole of the authorised reading…service was gone through； and I am sure that nothing was more remote from the more respectable party than any personal antagonism toward Mr。 Redhead。 He was one of the most amiable and worthy of men； a man to myself endeared by many ties and obligations。 I never heard before your book that the sweep ascended the pulpit steps。 He was present； however； in the clerical habiliments of his order 。 。 。 I may also add that among the many who were present at those sad Sunday orgies the majority were non…residents； and came from those moorland fastnesses on the outskirts of the parish locally designated as 'ovver th' steyres；' one stage more remote than Haworth from modern civilization。
〃To an instance or two more of the rusticity of the inhabitants of the chapelry of Haworth； I may introduce you。
〃A Haworth carrier called at the office of a friend of mine to deliver a parcel on a cold winter's day； and stood with the door open。 'Robin！ shut the door！' said the recipient。 'Have you no doors in your country？' 'Yoi；' responded Robin； 'we hev； but we nivver steik 'em。' I have frequently remarked the number of doors open even in winter。
〃When well directed； the indomitable and independent energies of the natives of this part of the country are invaluable； dangerous when perverted。 I shall never forget the fierce actions and utterances of one suffering from delirium tremens。 Whether in its wrath； disdain； or its dismay； the countenance was infernal。 I called once upon a time on a most respectable yeoman； and I was； in language earnest and homely； pressed to accept the hospitality of the house。 I consented。 The word to me was； 'Nah； Maister； yah mun stop an hev sum te…ah； yah mun； eah； yah mun。' A bountiful table was soon spread； at all events； time soon went while I scaled the hills to see 't' maire at wor thretty year owd； an't' feil at wor fewer。' On sitting down to the table； a venerable woman officiated； and after filling the cups； she thus addressed me： 'Nah； Maister； yah mun loawze th'taible' （loose the table）。 The master said； 'Shah meeans yah mun sey t' greyce。' I took the hint； and uttered the blessing。
〃I spoke with an aged and tried woman at one time； who； after recording her mercies； stated； among others； her powers of speech； by asserting 'Thank the Lord； ah nivver wor a meilly…meouthed wumman。' I feel particularly at fault in attempting the orthography of the dialect； but must excuse myself by telling you that I once saw a letter in which the word I have just now used （excuse） was written 'ecksqueaize！'
〃There are some things； however； which rather tend to soften the idea of the rudeness of Haworth。 No rural district has been more markedly the abode of musical taste and acquirement； and this at a period when it was difficult to find them to the same extent apart from towns in advance of their times。 I have gone to Haworth and found an orchestra to meet me； filled with local performers； vocal and instrumental； to whom the best works of Handel； Haydn； Mozart； Marcello； &c。 &c。； were familiar as household words。 By knowledge； taste； and voice； they were markedly separate from ordinary village choirs； and have been put in extensive requisition for the solo and chorus of many an imposing festival。 One man still survives； who； for fifty years； has had one of the finest tenor voices I ever heard； and with it a refined and cultivated taste。 To him and to others many inducements have been offered to migrate； but the loom； the association； the mountain air have had charms enow to secure their continuance at home。 I love the recollection of their performance； that recollection extends over more than sixty years。 The attachments； the antipathies and the hospitalities of the district are ardent； hearty； and homely。 Cordiality in each is the prominent characteristic。 As a people； these mountaineers have ever been accessible to gentleness and truth； so far as I have known them； but excite suspicion or resentment； and they give emphatic and not impotent resistance。 Compulsion they defy。
〃I accompanied Mr。 Heap on his first visit to Haworth after his accession to the vicarage of Bradford。 It was on Easter day； either 1816 or 1817。 His predecessor； the venerable John Crosse； known as the 'blind vicar；' had been inattentive to the vicarial claims。 A searching investigation had to be made and enforced； and as it proceeded stout and sturdy utterances were not lacking on the part of the parishioners。 To a spectator； though rude； they were amusing； and significant； foretelling what might be expected； and what was afterwards realised； on the advent of a new incumbent； if they deemed him an intruder。
〃From their peculiar parochial position and circumstances； the inhabitants of the chapelry have been prompt； earnest； and persevering in their opposition to church…rates。 Although ten miles from the mother…church； they were called upon to defray a large proportion of this obnoxious tax；I believe one fifth。
〃Besides this； they had to maintain their own edifice； &c。； &c。 They resisted； therefore； with energy； that which they deemed to be oppression and injustice。 By scores would they wend their way from the hills to attend a vestry meeting at Bradford； and in such service failed not to show less of the SUAVITER IN MODO than the FORTITER IN RE。 Happily such occasion for their action has not occurred for many years。
〃The use of patronymics has been common in this locality。 Inquire for a man by his Christian name and surname； and you may have some difficulty in finding him： ask； however； for 'George o' Ned's；' or 'Dick o' Bob's；' or 'Tom o' Jack's；' as the case may be； and your difficulty is at an end。 In many instances the person is designated by his residence。 In my early years I had occasion to inquire for Jonathan Whitaker； who owned a considerable farm in the township。 I was sent hither and thither； until it occurred to me to ask for 'Jonathan o' th' Gate。' My difficulties were then at an end。 Such circumstances arise out of the settled character and isolation of the natives。
〃Those who have witnessed a Haworth wedding when the parties were above the rank of labourers； will not easily forget the scene。 A levy was made on the horses of the neighbourhood； and a merry cavalcade of mounted men and women； single or double； traversed the way to Bradford church。 The inn and church appeared to be in natural connection； and as the labours of the Temperance Society had then to begin； the interests of sobriety were not always consulted。 On remounting their steeds they commenced with a race； and not unfrequently an inebriate or unskilful horseman or woman was put HORS DE COMBAT。 A race also was frequent at the end。 of these wedding expeditions； from the bridge to the toll…bar at Haworth。 The race…course you will know to be anything but level。〃
Into the midst of this lawless； yet not unkindly population； Mr。 Bronte brought his wife and six little children； in February； 1820。 There are those yet alive who remember seven heavily…laden carts lumbering slowly up the long stone street； bearing the 〃new parson's〃 household goods to his future abode。
One wonders how the bleak aspect of her new homethe low； oblong； stone parsonage； high up； yet with a still higher back…ground of sweeping moorsstruck on the gentle； delicate wife； whose health even then was failing。
CHAPTER III
The Rev。 Patrick Bronte is a native of the County Down in Ireland。 His father Hugh Bronte； was left an orphan at an early age。 He came from the south to the north of the island； and settled in the parish of Ahaderg； near Loughbrickland。 There was some family tradition that； humble as Hugh Bronte's circumstances were； he was the descendant of an ancient family。 But about this neither he nor his descendants have cared to inquire。 He made an early marriage； and reared and educated ten children on the proceeds of the few acres of land which he farmed。 This large family were remarkable for great physical strength； and much personal beauty。 Even in his old age； Mr。 Bronte is a striking…looking man； above the common height； with a nobly…shaped head； and erect carriage。 In his youth he must have been unusually handsome。
He was born on Patrickmas day （March 17）； 1777； and early gave tokens of extraordinary quickness and intelligence。 He had also his full share of ambition； and of his strong sense and forethought there is a proof in the fact； that； knowing that his father could afford him no pecuniary aid； and that he must depend upon his own exertions； he opened a public school at the early age of sixteen； and this mode of living he continued to follow for five or six years。 He then became a tutor in the family of the Rev。 Mr。 Tighe； rector of Drumgooland parish。 Thence he proceeded to St。 John's College； Cambridge； where he was entered in July； 1802； being at the time five…and…twenty years of age。 After nearly four years' residence； he obtained his B。A。 degree； and was ordained to a curacy in Essex； whence he removed into Yorkshire。 The course of life of which this is the outline； shows a powerful and remarkable character； originating and pursuing a purpose in a resolute and independ
