the life of charlotte bronte-1-第12章
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at time assure me of the fidelity with which this is represented； while at the same time they regret that the delineation should have obliterated； as it were； nearly all that was noble or conscientious。 And that there were grand and fine qualities in Mr。 Wilson； I have received abundant evidence。 Indeed for several weeks past I have received letters almost daily； bearing on the subject of this chapter； some vague； some definite； many full of love and admiration for Mr。 Wilson； some as full of dislike and indignation； few containing positive facts。 After giving careful consideration to this mass of conflicting evidence； I have made such alterations and omissions in this chapter as seem to me to be required。 It is but just to state that the major part of the testimony with which I have been favoured from old pupils is in high praise of Mr。 Wilson。 Among the letters that I have read； there is one whose evidence ought to be highly respected。 It is from the husband of 〃Miss Temple。〃 She died in 1856； but he； a clergyman； thus wrote in reply to a letter addressed to him on the subject by one of Mr。 Wilson's friends：… 〃Often have I heard my late dear wife speak of her sojourn at Cowan Bridge； always in terms of admiration of Mr。 Carus Wilson； his parental love to his pupils； and their love for him； of the food and general treatment； in terms of approval。 I have heard her allude to an unfortunate cook； who used at times to spoil the porridge； but who； she said； was soon dismissed。〃
The recollections left of the four Bronte sisters at this period of their lives； on the minds of those who associated with them； are not very distinct。 Wild； strong hearts； and powerful minds； were hidden under an enforced propriety and regularity of demeanour and expression； just as their faces had been concealed by their father； under his stiff； unchanging mask。 Maria was delicate； unusually clever and thoughtful for her age； gentle； and untidy。 Of her frequent disgrace from this last faultof her sufferings； so patiently borneI have already spoken。 The only glimpse we get of Elizabeth； through the few years of her short life； is contained in a letter which I have received from 〃Miss Temple。〃 〃The second； Elizabeth； is the only one of the family of whom I have a vivid recollection； from her meeting with a somewhat alarming accident； in consequence of which I had her for some days and nights in my bedroom； not only for the sake of greater quiet； but that I might watch over her myself。 Her head was severely cut； but she bore all the consequent suffering with exemplary patience； and by it won much upon my esteem。 Of the two younger ones （if two there were） I have very slight recollections； save that one； a darling child； under five years of age； was quite the pet nursling of the school。〃 This last would be Emily。 Charlotte was considered the most talkative of the sistersa 〃bright； clever； little child。〃 Her great friend was a certain 〃Mellany Hane〃 （so Mr。 Bronte spells the name）； whose brother paid for her schooling； and who had no remarkable talent except for music； which her brother's circumstances forbade her to cultivate。 She was 〃a hungry； good…natured； ordinary girl；〃 older than Charlotte； and ever ready to protect her from any petty tyranny or encroachments on the part of the elder girls。 Charlotte always remembered her with affection and gratitude。
I have quoted the word 〃bright〃 in the account of Charlotte。 I suspect that this year of 1825 was the last time it could ever be applied to her。 In the spring of it； Maria became so rapidly worse that Mr。 Bronte was sent for。 He had not previously been aware of her illness； and the condition in which he found her was a terrible shock to him。 He took her home by the Leeds coach； the girls crowding out into the road to follow her with their eyes over the bridge； past the cottages； and then out of sight for ever。 She died a very few days after her arrival at home。 Perhaps the news of her death falling suddenly into the life of which her patient existence had formed a part； only a little week or so before； made those who remained at Cowan Bridge look with more anxiety on Elizabeth's symptoms； which also turned out to be consumptive。 She was sent home in charge of a confidential servant of the establishment； and she； too； died in the early summer of that year。 Charlotte was thus suddenly called into the responsibilities of eldest sister in a motherless family。 She remembered how anxiously her dear sister Maria had striven； in her grave earnest way； to be a tender helper and a counsellor to them all； and the duties that now fell upon her seemed almost like a legacy from the gentle little sufferer so lately dead。
Both Charlotte and Emily returned to school after the Midsummer holidays in this fatal year。 But before the next winter it was thought desirable to advise their removal； as it was evident that the damp situation of the house at Cowan Bridge did not suit their health。 ｛3｝
CHAPTER V
For the reason just stated； the little girls were sent home in the autumn of 1825； when Charlotte was little more than nine years old。
About this time； an elderly woman of the village came to live as servant at the parsonage。 She remained there； as a member of the household； for thirty years； and from the length of her faithful service； and the attachment and respect which she inspired； is deserving of mention。 Tabby was a thorough specimen of a Yorkshire woman of her class； in dialect； in appearance； and in character。 She abounded in strong practical sense and shrewdness。 Her words were far from flattery； but she would spare no deeds in the cause of those whom she kindly regarded。 She ruled the children pretty sharply； and yet never grudged a little extra trouble to provide them with such small treats as came within her power。 In return； she claimed to be looked upon as a humble friend； and； many years later； Miss Bronte told me that she found it somewhat difficult to manage； as Tabby expected to be informed of all the family concerns； and yet had grown so deaf that what was repeated to her became known to whoever might be in or about the house。 To obviate this publication of what it might be desirable to keep secret； Miss Bronte used to take her out for a walk on the solitary moors； where； when both were seated on a tuft of heather； in some high lonely place； she could acquaint the old woman； at leisure； with all that she wanted to hear。
Tabby had lived in Haworth in the days when the pack…horses went through once a week； with their tinkling bells and gay worsted adornment； carrying the produce of the country from Keighley over the hills to Colne and Burnley。 What is more； she had known the 〃bottom；〃 or valley； in those primitive days when the fairies frequented the margin of the 〃beck〃 on moonlight nights； and had known folk who had seen them。 But that was when there were no mills in the valleys； and when all the wool…spinning was done by hand in the farm…houses round。 〃It wur the factories as had driven 'em away；〃 she said。 No doubt she had many a tale to tell of by…gone days of the country…side； old ways of living； former inhabitants； decayed gentry； who had melted away； and whose places knew them no more； family tragedies； and dark superstitious dooms； and in telling these things； without the least consciousness that there might ever be anything requiring to be softened down； would give at full length the bare and simple details。
Miss Branwell instructed the children at regular hours in all she could teach； making her bed…chamber into their school…room。 Their father was in the habit of relating to them any public news in which he felt an interest； and from the opinions of his strong and independent mind they would gather much food for thought； but I do not know whether he gave them any direct instruction。 Charlotte's deep thoughtful spirit appears to have felt almost painfully the tender responsibility which rested upon her with reference to her remaining sisters。 She was only eighteen months older than Emily； but Emily and Anne were simply companions and playmates； while Charlotte was motherly friend and guardian to both； and this loving assumption of duties beyond her years； made her feel considerably older than she really was。
Patrick Branwell； their only brother； was a boy of remarkable promise； and； in some ways； of extraordinary precocity of talent。 Mr。 Bronte's friends advised him to send his son to school； but； remembering both the strength of will of his own youth and his mode of employing it； he believed that Patrick was better at home； and that he himself could teach him well； as he had taught others before。 So Patrick； or as his family called himBranwell； remained at Haworth； working hard for some hours a day with his father； but； when the time of the latter was taken up with his parochial duties； the boy was thrown into chance companionship with the lads of the villagefor youth will to youth； and boys will to boys。
Still； he was associated in many of his sisters' plays and amusements。 These were mostly of a sedentary and intellectual nature。 I have had a curious packet confided to me； containing an immense amount of manuscript； in an inconceivably small space； tales； dramas； poems； romances； written principally by Charlotte； in a hand which it is almost impossible to decipher without the aid of a magnifying glass。 No description will give so good an idea of the extreme minuteness of the writing as the annexed facsimile of a page。
Among these papers there is a list of her works； which I copy； as a curious proof how early the rage for literary composition had seized upon her：…
CATALOGUE OF MY BOOKS； WITH THE PERIOD OF THEIR COMPLETION； UP TO AUGUST 3RD； 1830。
Two romantic tales in one volume； viz。； The Twelve Adventurers and the Adventures in Ireland； April 2nd； 1829。
The Search after Happiness； a Tale； Aug。 1st； 1829。
Leisure Hours； a Tale； and two Fragments； July 6th 1829。
The Adventures of Edward de Crack； a Tale； Feb。 2nd； 1830。
The Adventures of Ernest Alembert； a Tale； May 26th； 1830。
An interesting Incident in the Lives of some of the most eminent Persons of the Age； a Tale； June 10th； 1830。
Tales of the Islanders； in four volumes。 Contents of the lst Vol。： l。 An Account of their Origin； 2。 A Description of Vision Island； 3。 Ratten's Attempt； 4。 Lord Charles Wellesley and the Marquis of Douro's Adventure； completed June 31st； 1829。 2nd Vol。：… 1。 The School…rebellion； 2。 The strange Incident in the Duke of Wellington's Life； 3。 Tale to his Sons； 4。 The Marquis of Douro and Lord Charles Wellesley's Tale to his little King and Queen； completed Dec。 2nd； 1829。 3rd Vol。：… 1。 The Duke of Wellington's Adventure in the Cavern； 2。 The Duke of Wellington and the little King's and Queen's visit to the Horse… Guards； completed May 8th； 1830。 4th Vol。：… 1。 The three old Washer…women of Strathfieldsaye； 2。 Lord C。 Wellesley's Tale to his Brother； completed July 30th； 1830。
Characters of Great Men of the Present Age； Dec。 17th 1829。
The Young Men's Magazines； in Six Numbers； from August to December； the latter months double number； completed December the 12th； 1829。 General index to their contents：… 1。 A T
