按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 independent manner。 Here is a youtha boy of sixteenseparating himself from his family； and determining to maintain himself； and that； not in the hereditary manner by agricultural pursuits； but by the labour of his brain。
I suppose； from what I have heard； that Mr。 Tighe became strongly interested in his children's tutor； and may have aided him； not only in the direction of his studies； but in the suggestion of an English university education； and in advice as to the mode in which he should obtain entrance there。 Mr。 Bronte has now no trace of his Irish origin remaining in his speech； he never could have shown his Celtic descent in the straight Greek lines and long oval of his face； but at five…and…twenty； fresh from the only life he had ever known； to present himself at the gates of St。 John's proved no little determination of will； and scorn of ridicule。
While at Cambridge； he became one of a corps of volunteers； who were then being called out all over the country to resist the apprehended invasion by the French。 I have heard him allude； in late years； to Lord Palmerston as one who had often been associated with him then in the mimic military duties which they had to perform。
We take him up now settled as a curate at Hartshead； in Yorkshire… …far removed from his birth…place and all his Irish connections； with whom； indeed； he cared little to keep up any intercourse； and whom he never； I believe； re…visited after becoming a student at Cambridge。
Hartshead is a very small village； lying to the east of Huddersfield and Halifax； and； from its high situationon a mound； as it were； surrounded by a circular basincommanding a magnificent view。 Mr。 Bronte resided here for five years； and； while the incumbent of Hartshead； he wooed and married Maria Branwell。
She was the third daughter of Mr。 Thomas Branwell； merchant； of Penzance。 Her mother's maiden name was Carne： and； both on father's and mother's side； the Branwell family were sufficiently well descended to enable them to mix in the best society that Penzance then afforded。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Branwell would be living their family of four daughters and one son； still childrenduring the existence of that primitive state of society which is well described by Dr。 Davy in the life of his brother。
〃In the same town； when the population was about 2；000 persons； there was only one carpet； the floors of rooms were sprinkled with sea…sand； and there was not a single silver fork。
〃At that time； when our colonial possessions were very limited； our army and navy on a small scale； and there was comparatively little demand for intellect； the younger sons of gentlemen were often of necessity brought up to some trade or mechanical art； to which no discredit； or loss of caste； as it were； was attached。 The eldest son； if not allowed to remain an idle country squire； was sent to Oxford or Cambridge； preparatory to his engaging in one of the three liberal professions of divinity； law； or physic； the second son was perhaps apprenticed to a surgeon or apothecary； or a solicitor