Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-05-29

ing and impatient authors among our
selves.
When the manuscript of Jane Eyre
| had been received by the future publishers
Of that remarkable novel, it fell to the lot
Of "A gentleman connected with the firm to
read it first. lie was so powerfully struck
| by the character OF the tale that he reported
his impression in very strong terms to Mr..
Smith, who appears to have boen much
amused by the admiration excited. You
seem to have been so enchanted that | do
not know how to believe you,' he laughing
| ly said. But when a second reader, in the
person of clear headed Scotchman, not
| given to enthusiasm, had taken the MS.
| home in the evening, and became so deeply
interested in it as to sit up half the night
to finish it, Mr.. Smiths curiosity was sui
tciently excited to prompt him to read it
Tor himself; and great as were the praises
which had been bestowed upon it, he found
that they had not exceeded the truth
On its publication. copies were presented
to few private literary friends. Their dis
c"rnment had been rightly rcckoned upon
They were of considerable standing in the
world of letters; and ono and all returned
expressions Of right praise along with their
thanks for the book. Among them
was the great writer of fiction
rhackerav] for whom Miss Brontc
felt 50 strong an admiration; he i'm
mediatcly appreciated, and in characterls-
tic note to the publishers acknowledged its
extraordinary merits.
The Reviews were more tardy or more
cautious. The Athennum and the Special
tor gave short notices, containing qualified
admissions of the power of the author. The
Literary Gazette was uncertain as to whe-
ther 1T was safe to praise an unknown
author. The Daily News declined
accepting the copy which had been sent, on
the score of n rule never to review novels;
but "A little later there appeared II notice OF
The Bltchelor of the Albany in that pa
per; and Messrs. Smith q Elder again for
warded a copy of Jane Eyre to the Editor,
with II request for notice This time the
work was accepted, but | am not aware
what was the character Of the article upon
it.
The Examiner came forward to the res
cue, as far as the opinions Of professional
critics were concerned The literary arti-
cIcs in that pap'r were always remarkable
for their genial and generous appreciation
OF merit; nor was the notice OF Jane Eyre
an exception, it was fu Of hearty, vet DELI
cate and discriminating praise Otherwise.
the press In general did little to promote the
sale Of the novel, the demand for it among
librarians had begun before the appearance
Of the review in The Examiner; the power
and fascination of the tale itself made its
merits known to the public without the
kindly finger posts Of professional criticism
and early IN December the rush began Tor
copies
But with the brightness of her prospects
80 al. l.r
thckly oyer her household paths Her un-
fortunate brother died in the autumn of
lS4S Her state of mind on the occurrence
oi that event is best described by herself -
The past three weeks have been dark
interval in our humble home. Branwell 5
constitution had been failing fast all the
summer but still neither the doctors nor
himself thought him so near his end as he
was. lie was entirely confined to his bed
but for one single day, and was in the vi.
lLge two days before his death. lie died
after twenty minutes struggle, on Sunday
morning september "a. He was perfectly
conscious till the last agony came on. His
mind had undergone the peculiar change
which frequently precedes death. two days
previously: the calm of better feelings filled
it; a return Of natural affection marked his
last moments He is in Gods hands now
and the All-POweriul is likewise the ALL
Merciful. A deep conviction that he rests
at last-rests well, after his brief, erring.
suffering, feverish lifc--fills and quiets my
mind now. The final separation, the spec
tacle of his pale corpse, gave me more acute
bitter pain than could have imagined -
Till tie last hour comes, we never know
how much we can forgive, pity, regret a
near relative. All his vices were and ART
"A IN mhar nply hi
Her sister Emily died in lS4S, and AnnC
in 1919 Miss Bronte was now left literal
alone. Her nerves were in a state of great
disorder, and sensitive to the slightest i'm
preston. She thus became prey tr grin
desolation.
Owing to Mr.. Brontes great age, anC
long formed habits Of solitary ccupatior
when in the house, his daughter was left t.
herself for the greater part OF of the day
Ever since his serious attacks of illness, h,
had dined alone portion of his diet mos
suitable for him, being taken into his room
bv herself After dinner she read to hin
for an hour or SO, as his sight was too veal
to allow of his reading long to himself. ii,
was out doors among his pensioners for
good part of each day = often for a longe
time than his strength would permit. Ye
he always liked to go alone, and consequent,
her atfectionate care could be no check upOi
the length of his walks to the more distan
hamlets which were in his cure. lie wOul
come back occasionally utterly iatigucd; an,
be obliged to 90 to bed, questioning himsel
sadly as to where ali his former strength 0
body had gone to. His strength of will wa
| the same as ever. That which he resovet
10 do he did, at whatever cost Of weiriness
but his daughter was all the more unxiou
from seeing him so regardless of himself an
his health. The hours Of retiring for tn
/ night always been early in the parsonage
now family prayers were at o clock
| directly after which Mr.. Bronte and oil
| Tabby went to bed, and Martha was no
| long in following But Charlotte could no
have slept if she had gOne-could not hav
rested ON her desolate couch. She stoppe
up-it was very tempting-late and later
striving to beguile the lonely night wit
some employment, till her weak eyes faile
to read or to sew, and could only weep
solitude over the dead that were not. n
one on earth can even imagine what thos
hours were to her. All the grim supersti
tions Of the North had been implanted i
her during her childhood by the servants
who believed i'll them. They recurred t
her now-with no shrinking from tn
| HflrltS Ol tnc uedu, Out WIN sucn an IN
tense longing once more to stand face t
face with the souls of her sisters as no on
but she could have felt, II seemed a. if th
very strength OF her yearning should hay
compelled them to appear. On windy nigh
cries, and sobs, and waiing seemed to g
round the house, as of the dearly believe
striving to force their way to her. Son
one conyersing with her once objected,
my presence, to that part of Jane Eyre
which she hears Rochester's voice cryiu
out to her in a great crisis of her life,
being many, many miles distant at the tim
do not know what incident was in Mi
Bronte's recollection when she replied, in
low voice, drawing her breath, But it is
true thing it is really happened.
During the Exhibition at the Cryst
Palace in 1851, Miss Bronte made a visit
London, but with little relish for its emo
ments, and with the express stipulation {
the part of her friends that she should