Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1858-01-08


Shirley" villette," &c. By Mrs. Gaszeil.EIn two
Vols d. Appleton Co., New York.
We read earnestly, intently, through these
two volumes of a life-history, with cold ach-
ing pain at heart, apd eyes brimfull of unshed
tears. Not in one instance did these eyes
overflow, the story is too sad tor that. 1t
is not of that kind which ''moves to tears"
and when they gush up from the hearts foun-
tain and flow down the cheek io gentle rain,
we feel refreshed and lightened, almost glad
dened by the Indulgence No,-tears there
are, but they refuse to flow, and gathered back
into the heart, they lie there like an incubus
pressing down till they awaken that numb
and gnawiDg pain which if long continued be-
comes an agony. This record of a remarka-
bic woman, written by friend, who knew
her well, and who sympathzed with her deep
ly, forms one of the most sadly interesting, and
painfully attractive works which we have ev-
er read. You may take it up in cheerful
mood, but few moments study of the face
of Charlotte Bronte, and the lonely Parsonage
of Haworth, .fills you with vague sadness,
and you turn away to the book itself Soon
come to you like the spells which hung around
the "house of Usher,"-you read on, and the
shadows which darkened over the life Of SOUR
rer Bell" enfold you in their gloomy pail, you
read on and on, and at last with long sigh OF
relief lay down the volume, for she Is at rest
You do not rejoice, bit yon are peacefully
content that this sorely tried spirit has passed
to bourne, where God shall wipe away all
tears from her eyes" The lifting of the cloud,
and the unfolding of its ''silver lining," when
the narrative is within a few pages of its
CLOSE, does not cause you so much to grieve
that she cannot stay to enjoy its brightness,
as to feel grateful that she is so soon to pass
away into the radiance of that Land of which
it has been said, 80 nd there shall be no night
there; and they need no candle, neither light
of the sun; for the Lord God gioeth them light,
and they shall reign t0reUer and eUer."
The Brontes were remarkable family.
We think the American press generally (from
what cause we know nOt,O has been particu-
larly unjust to one of them, 4. 6. the father.
We have not read single American review
that did not present Us, Gntentionaily or no'D
with morose, obstinate, or violent man, with
no care for lis children, no interest in their
works and no pride in their fame. Such is not
his character as we look on its portrayal in
Mrs. Gaskel's volumes. He was eccentric it
is true,-they were all that, more or less, but
morose, unkind, or violent, TO them,) he was
not, as we understand the author. To his del
icate wife he was ever the kind, sympathizing
husband, and tender nurse,-to his son he was
not severe, although such treatment was well
merited,- and of Charlotte we know that he
was both tender and proud. Says our author
before me lies packet of extracts from
newspapers and periodicals which Mr.. Bronte
has sent me. 1t is touching to look over them
and see how there's hardly notice, however
short and clumsily worded, in any oh 'cure
provincial paper, but what has been cut out,
and carefully ticketed, with it's date, by the
poor bereaved father,-so proud when he first
read them,-so desolate now" That surely
does not SAVIOR of the carelessness or indiffer
ence with which the press generally would
have Us believe he regarded the literary works
of his gifted children.
We look upon Emily Bronte as being the
most eccentric, and at the same time, the
most extraordinary of the three sisters-n
truth, she was a most remarkable woman.
One or two incidents will fully illustrate this.
We remember we'll, the incident of the mad
dog in SHIRLEY" and how at the time of
reading it we were struck with its origin
atty, and admired its fine effect in impressng
us with the nerve" and determination of the
heroine. But who would have dreamed that
such highly wrought incident was realityi
Says Mrs. Gaskell, speaking of her dead SIS
ter, Emily, the former, (CharlOtte,) told me
that fl rom her many traits in "Shirley's" char
acter were taken; her way of sitting on the
rug reading with her arm round her rough bull
dogs neck; her calling to a strange dog, running
past, with hanging head and lolling tongue,
to give it a merciful draught of water, its mad
dened snap at her, her noble presence of mind,
going right into the kitchen, and taken up one
of Tabby's red hot Italian irons to scar the
bitten place, and telling no one, till the dan
ger was we'll nigh over, for fear Of the terrors
that might beset their weaker minds. All
this looked upon as a well-minded fiction in
"Shirley," was written down by Charlotte,
with streaming eyes, it was the literal true
account of what Emily had done" Our au
thor continues, giving an incident somewhat
similar: "rhe same tawDy bulldog called
Tartar 10 Shirley was Keeper in Ha-
worth parsonage; gift to Emily. With the
gift came warning. Keeper was faithful TO
the depths of his nature, as long as he was
with friends; but he who struck him with a
stick, or whip, reused the relentless nature of
he brute, who flew at his throat forthwith,
md held him there till one or the other was
.t the point of death. Now Keepers house.
,old fault was this: de loved to steal up stairs
md stretch his square tawny limbs on the
comfortable beds, covered over with delicate
white counterpanes. But the cleanliness of
he parsonage arrangements was perfect; and
his habit of Keepers was so Objectionable, that
Emily, 10 reply to Tabby's circumstances, de-
,lared that, If he was found again transgress-
ng, she herself, in defiance of warning, and
lis we'll known terocity of nature, would beat
lim so severely that he never would offend
.gaiu. In the gathering dusk of an autumn
evening Tabby came, half ,riamphanily, half
remblingly, bat in great wrath, TO tell Emily
hist Keeper was lying on the best bed, in
lrowsy voluptuousDess. Charlotte saw Emi-
VS. whitening face, and set mouth, but dared
rot speak to interfere; no one dared, when
.mily's eyes giowed In that manner, out Of
he paleuess of her face, aud when her lips |