The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-04
CHARLOTTE BRoNTE's NURSE.
Eighty Two Years of Age and an Inmate of an
English WOrk-House.
Pail Mall Budget.

Pail Mall Budget.
A few months ago there was received into the
Bradford work house an old woman who, for the
sake of the precious memories that she cherishes
and the associations of which she is the last re-
naming link, ought to have been saved from
such fate. Her name is Nancy Wainwright
and her claim to public sympathy rests on the
fact that she was the nurse of Charlotte Bronte,
her sisters, Emily and Anne, and the intractable
Branwell. Nancy Wainwright, who is in her
eighty second year, is the only person now living
who can recall from personal contact and Obser-
vation the precocious childhood and early in
tellectual yearnings Of that little family group
which, first in the obscurity of the parsonage at
Thornton and afterwards in the dreary moorside
residence at Hawarth, showed evidences of that
strong genius which was destined to set its mark
upon English literature for all time.
Nancy never tires of talking of the BroRteS.
Her remem brance of them is as sunshine to her
declining years. She was twelve years of age
when Mr.. Bronte engaged her as nurse girl,
Charlotte being her first charge She acted in
the same capacity to Branwell, Emily and Anne,
all of whom were born at the Thornton parson
age. When the family removed to Haworth she
accompanied them, remaining with them many
years as cook, her younger sister taking her
place in the nursery. She has many stories to
relate of the kindly disposition of Charlotte, the
wilfulness of Branwell, the hot temper of Emily
and the tenderness of Anne. When "distin-
guished" visitors came, she says, it
was always a matter Of difficulty to
Keep CudflOGIo lfOm qulelly STEALING lhto
the drawing-room, and when they had
gone she would criticise their appearance, man
ner and speech with such cleverness that her
father would often laugh heartily, in spite of the
utmost efforts to restrain himself. "Branweil
was a good lad enough" she says, until the
serpent beguiled him." and she thinks he has
been ''made out to be good deal worse than he
really was" Nancy could manage him" better
than any one else when his fits of fury-were on
him, and Branwell seemed to have real affec-
ton for his Old nurse. He often wanted to paint
her portrait but she always declined on the
score that she did not consider herself cookbook
ing enough.
Nancy tells story which shows Charlotte's
goodness of heart in strong light Nancy had
a brother who had literary aspirations. He
submit them to the author of "Jane Eyre"
This was in the summer of 1853, when she was
at the height of her fame. Immediately she saw
the young man she said, 'Why you are Nan
cy's brother, although she had never seen him
before. She read his poems, heard all his plans,
and, after telling him how she and her sisters
had published poems at a loss, did her best to
dissuade him from his project. The next day
she sent him a letter, again urging him not to
publish. few weeks later the young man
received letter bearing the crest of the Earl of
Carlisle, earnest patron of literature. The
letter contained an Enclosure of f5 The connec
ton between the visit of Nancy's brother to
Haworth and the letter was not far to seek.
Nancy retains all her faculties, and finds her
greatest comfort in talking of the days she
passed with the Brontes. Her life is not
happy; still, it would be pleasant to think that
she had been put in position that insured her
something better when the end shall come,
than paupers grave.