the life of charlotte bronte-1-第8部分
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annum； and she was in the receipt of a small annuity （50L。 I have been told） by the will of her father。 So； at the end of September； the lovers began to talk about taking a house； for I suppose that Mr。 Bronte up to that time had been in lodgings； and all went smoothly and successfully with a view to their marriage in the ensuing winter； until November； when a misfortune happened； which she thus patiently and prettily describes：…
〃I suppose you never expected to be much the richer for me； but I am sorry to inform you that I am still poorer than I thought myself。 I mentioned having sent for my books； clothes； &c。 On Saturday evening； about the time when you were writing the description of your imaginary shipwreck； I was reading and feeling the effects of a real one； having then received a letter from my sister giving me an account of the vessel in which she had sent my box being stranded on the coast of Devonshire； in consequence of which the box was dashed to pieces with the violence of the sea； and all my little property； with the exception of a very few articles； being swallowed up in the mighty deep。 If this should not prove the prelude to something worse I shall think little of it； as it is the first disastrous circumstance which has occurred since I left my home。〃
The last of these letters is dated December the 5th。 Miss Branwell and her cousin intended to set about making the wedding… cake in the following week； so the marriage could not be far off。 She had been learning by heart a 〃pretty little hymn〃 of Mr。 Bronte's composing； and reading Lord Lyttelton's 〃Advice to a Lady；〃 on which she makes some pertinent and just remarks； showing that she thought as well as read。 And so Maria Branwell fades out of sight； we have no more direct intercourse with her； we hear of her as Mrs。 Bronte； but it is as an invalid； not far from death； still patient； cheerful； and pious。 The writing of these letters is elegant and neat； while there are allusions to household occupationssuch as making the wedding…cake； there are also allusions to the books she has read； or is reading； showing a well…cultivated mind。 Without having anything of her daughter's rare talents； Mrs。 Bronte must have been； I imagine； that unusual character； a well…balanced and consistent woman。 The style of the letters is easy and good； as is also that of a paper from the same hand； entitled 〃The Advantages of Poverty in Religious Concerns；〃 which was written rather later； with a view to publication in some periodical。
She was married from her uncle's house in Yorkshire； on the 29th of December； 1812； the same day was also the wedding…day of her younger sister； Charlotte Branwell； in distant Penzance。 I do not think that Mrs。 Bronte ever revisited Cornwall； but she has left a very pleasant impression on the minds of those relations who yet survive； they speak of her as 〃their favourite aunt； and one to whom they； as well as all the family； looked up； as a person of talent and great amiability of disposition；〃 and； again； as 〃meek and retiring； while possessing more than ordinary talents； which she inherited from her father； and her piety was genuine and unobtrusive。〃
Mr。 Bronte remained for five years at Hartshead； in the parish of Dewsbury。 There he was married； and his two children； Maria and Elizabeth； were born。 At the expiration of that period； he had the living of Thornton； in Bradford Parish。 Some of those great West Riding parishes are almost like bishoprics for their amount of population and number of churches。 Thornton church is a little episcopal chapel of ease； rich in Nonconformist monuments； as of Accepted Lister and his friend Dr。 Hall。 The neighbourhood is desolate and wild； great tracts of bleak land； enclosed by stone dykes； sweeping up Clayton heights。 The church itself looks ancient and solitary； and as if left behind by the great stone mills of a flourishing Independent firm； and the solid square chapel built by the members of that denomination。 Altogether not so pleasant a place as Hartshead； with its ample outlook over cloud…shadowed； sun…flecked plain； and hill rising beyond hill to form the distant horizon。
Here； at Thornton； Charlotte Bronte was born； on the 21st of April； 1816。 Fast on her heels followed Patrick Branwell； Emily Jane； and Anne。 After the birth of this last daughter； Mrs。 Bronte's health began to decline。 It is hard work to provide for the little tender wants of many young children where the means are but limited。 The necessaries of food and clothing are much more easily supplied than the almost equal necessaries of attendance； care； soothing； amusement； and sympathy。 Maria Bronte； the eldest of six； could only have been a few months more than six years old； when Mr。 Bronte removed to Haworth； on February the 25th； 1820。 Those who knew her then； describe her as grave； thoughtful； and quiet； to a degree far beyond her years。 Her childhood was no childhood； the cases are rare in which the possessors of great gifts have known the blessings of that careless happy time； THEIR unusual powers stir within them； and； instead of the natural life of perceptionthe objective； as the Germans call itthey begin the deeper life of reflectionthe subjective。
Little Maria Bronte was delicate and small in appearance； which seemed to give greater effect to her wonderful precocity of intellect。 She must have been her mother's companion and helpmate in many a household and nursery experience； for Mr。 Bronte was； of course； much engaged in his study； and besides； he was not naturally fond of children； and felt their frequent appearance on the scene as a drag both on his wife's strength； and as an interruption to the comfort of the household。
Haworth Parsonage isas I mentioned in the first chapteran oblong stone house； facing down the hill on which the village stands； and with the front door right opposite to the western door of the church； distant about a hundred yards。 Of this space twenty yards or so in depth are occupied by the grassy garden； which is scarcely wider than the house。 The graveyard lies on two sides of the house and garden。 The house consists of four rooms on each floor； and is two stories high。 When the Brontes took possession； they made the larger parlour； to the left of the entrance； the family sitting…room； while that on the right was appropriated to Mr。 Bronte as a study。 Behind this was the kitchen； behind the former； a sort of flagged store…room。 Up… stairs were four bed…chambers of similar size； with the addition of a small apartment over the passage； or 〃lobby〃 as we call it in the north。 This was to the front； the staircase going up right opposite to the entrance。 There is the pleasant old fashion of window seats all through the house； and one can see that the parsonage was built in the days when wood was plentiful； as the massive stair…banisters； and the wainscots； and the heavy window… frames testify。
This little extra up…stairs room was appropriated to the children。 Small as it was； it was not called a nursery； indeed； it had not the comfort of a fire…place in it； the servantstwo affectionate； warm…hearted sisters； who cannot now speak of the family without tearscalled the room the 〃children's study。〃 The age of the eldest student was perhaps by this time seven。
The people in Haworth were none of them very poor。 Many of them were employed in the neighbouring worsted mills； a few were mill… owners and manufacturers in a small way； there were also some shopkeepers for the humbler and every…day wants； but for medical advice； for stationery； books； law； dress； or dainties； the inhabitants had to go to Keighley。 There were several Sunday… schools； the Baptists had taken the lead in instituting them； the Wesleyans had followed； the Church of England had brought up the rear。 Good Mr。 Grimshaw； Wesley's friend； had built a humble Methodist chapel； but it stood close to the road leading on to the moor； the Baptists then raised a place of worship； with the distinction of being a few yards back from the highway； and the Methodists have since thought it well to erect another and a larger chapel； still more retired from the road。 Mr。 Bronte was ever on kind and friendly terms with each denomination as a body； but from individuals in the village the family stood aloof； unless some direct service was required； from the first。 〃They kept themselves very close；〃 is the account given by those who remember Mr。 and Mrs。 Bronte's coming amongst them。 I believe many of the Yorkshiremen would object to the system of parochial visiting； their surly independence would revolt from the idea of any one having a right； from his office； to inquire into their condition； to counsel； or to admonish them。 The old hill…spirit lingers in them； which coined the rhyme； inscribed on the under part of one of the seats in the Sedilia of Whalley Abbey； not many miles from Haworth；
〃Who mells wi' what another does Had best go home and shoe his goose。〃
I asked an inhabitant of a district close to Haworth what sort of a clergyman they had at the church which he attended。
〃A rare good one；〃 said he： 〃he minds his own business； and ne'er troubles himself with ours。〃
Mr。 Bronte was faithful in visiting the sick and all those who sent for him； and diligent in attendance at the schools； and so was his daughter Charlotte too； but； cherishing and valuing privacy themselves； they were perhaps over…delicate in not intruding upon the privacy of others。
From their first going to Haworth； their walks were directed rather out towards the heathery moors； sloping upwards behind the parsonage； than towards the long descending village street。 A good old woman； who came to nurse Mrs。 Bronte in the illnessan internal cancerwhich grew and gathered upon her； not many months after her arrival at Haworth； tells me that at that time the six little creatures used to walk out； hand in hand； towards the glorious wild moors； which in after days they loved so passionately； the elder ones taking thoughtful care for the toddling wee things。
They were grave and silent beyond their years； subdued； probably； by the presence of serious illness in the house； for； at the time which my informant speaks of； Mrs。 Bronte was confined
