Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-05
the graveyard and these closely huddled
houses Of stone make up
TpTN NJ n VILLAGE

the graveyard and these closely huddled
houses of stone make up
GRIM OLD VILLAGE PICTURE.
It viii be your fortune TO be driven from this
| parsonage door, Just as was MISS lhackery
and scores OF English literators in the past
as was the Rev. DR.. Theodore F. Clarke Of
Brooklyn, only last summer; and as | was
Yesterday. But you may see the old graves
| the Rontes saw: wander upon the moors
they knew; study the ancient tower that
escaped the vandals' hands; and stand be-
side the memorial tablets to the one family
! that made all Haworth shrine. Then. il
you will be cautious, and will assure the
simple hearted old creature that you will
not hetray her condolences TO the present
/ precious incun bent of St ,dichael's, with
old 'Suscy' Ramsden-half blind and deaf,
quite four-score years OF age, but with her
love for the Bronte family flaming deeper
and brighter as the end approaches-yOu
may GO over al the sad, sweet story: OF
the pious yet stern OLD curate's Haworth
ministrations; the loss Of the gentle, patti
ent mother the death of the older sisters;
the curse Of the Maynard brothers life and
terrible death; the grim, mistaken
sense Of duty shown in me sur
less home together; and then all the long
years Of iron-hearted struggling by the
three sisters, 'Currer, Ellis and Acton
Bell" respectively Charlotte, Emily aud
Anne Bronte, TO reach the mighty world
heart with their far-away, unknown, Voices
and pens; the final victory and rcioicings;
the coming TO the gray old village Of the
famous and great to do honor to the now
wondrous folk of the parsonage the loss Of
ChaIlUtte'S two sisters within one year;
her own brief and happy welded life and
ultimately death; the later death Of the
sturdy old father; the death, but the other
day, in ireland, of his surviving sister, the
las nft - 70 far iltr. la
grooming gossip about Charlottes husband,
Mr. Nichols, once the curate here,
and now whits-haired English
farner-ali in so tender way that
you will more and more lose the very earth
THESE PERFECT WOMEN TROD.
From ones longing lettering about the
old parsonage where now the spirit OF envy
and hate repels all who come pilgrimaging
to he former nest OF genius and love; from
wanderiugs over the mOors to which the
father and all he talented sisters were so
passiouately devoted; from dreaming about
The ancient churchyard with its dank graves
and sOurnnc willows; and from hushed
and pensiye lingering within the church by
the very spot where all these loving and
loyal, sad and tempestuOus, hearts are rest
ing in the eternal sienCeS; II Is delight,
L still L melancholy pleasure, to turn to an
humble home not stones throw from par
sUnage, church and graves, where
younger COUSIN OF ltllnI III
nurse, Martha Brown, have with logged
fidelity to a generous sentiment gathered
together many of the scattered relics of the
old BrOute household. With marked con-
trdst TO the clerical brute who mas repeat
eddy declared that the name OF Bronte
was hateful TO him; that it was not his
duty ito maintain a show-place for stran-
gers, nut house of prayer for the praise Of
Cod" that the memory Of this family
represented to him merely "a recollection
OF "a predecessor Ilcumoent:" and who has
done everything in his little power to de-
stroy the greatest and least vestiges of as
NOBLE AND TENDER PERSONALITIES
and influences as ever hallowed English
soil: This young man. poor man besides,
Robinson Brown of l23 Main street,
Haworth, has passed 8 life of sacrifice and
almost personal want to secure these
precious relics and to generously welcome
all strangers VINO may wish to see them.
His home is the only real Broute shrine in
Haworh. The curate rules the village
with spiritual rod of iron, and this local
aUtOcracy makes ii treason IN Haworth 10
be interested in Brontc relics and memo
riaS. Despite it. now and then the old, old
folk, ami the humble worl1lnen of the fac
tories, who secretly adore the writings of
Charlotte and the memory of the noble
family, steal in here by these mute BITS
from he old home, weep over them. and
steal away again, trembling from fear Of
discovery and prescription. Thus the curate
maintains "a house OF prayer for the praise
OF God" in the Haworth OF to-day.
Mir Browns collection comprises q few
paintings, many drawings and several speci-
mems OF needlework, al! done by Charlotte.
There IS j drawing, in Sepia, OF revenue
cutter becalmed ~ sea in soft and humid
moonlight. The pencil drawings are
numerous. Three of these are remarkably
true o nature. Two are of 4 laughing and
Il crying child. The other is river bridge
aEu mountain scene, full of delicacy and
feeling Her skill in needlewOrk, and what
would now be termed art embroidery. was
superior. An extraordinary piece OF this
nerNeTOrk is i study Of Il youthful Sh ep-
herd ana shepherdess tending L focz Of
moorlaud sheep, the faces of all being par
TALLY laid III with water cOiOrS. The only
painting of Charlotte il oil, done during
he. lifetime, is also here. There are sew
egal of her letters in her wonderfully minute
aud perfect chirCgraphy, and one vas par
ticUlaily interesting to me because written
Ia he old Susey" ! had seen. 1t is dated
Haw0rth, June l3. lo4S. Susey had left
Haworth for little stay at York, Miss
Bronte writes:
was afraid that at first you would not
feel very comfortable among strangers; per
sons who have lived most of their life in a
quiet little place like IIaworth find a vast
difference when they &c 10 a fresh neigh
borhOOd, and enter the society Of strangers
II you feel troubled about anything you
will not forget who IS your best help and
guide in every difficulty, and, separated rs
you are for little while from your earthly
friends, you will humbly and faithfully en-
treat the protection of your Friend and
Father who IS in heaven.
There is also in the collection n spotted
print dress worn by the novelist; her shawl
and brooch, and lock of her hair given by
her husband Mir Nichols. to Martha
Brown. Several old reviews containing
notices of the Bronte family and their
work, which were in her possession are
here One. the Quarterly Review for De
ccmber, 1878, hurt her deeply. Its review
Of Jane Eyre" refers to the author as
having 'horrid taste" Two of the most
interesting articles to be seen are Il water
color sketch by the nOveliSt's own hand
REPRESENTING HER FAvoRITE DOG.
Floss" chasing grouse over a reach Of
drear moorland, and priceless autograph
copy Of Jane Eyre" the latter another
gift to the beloved nurse, Martha Brown.
A baSketwOrk dolls cradle belonging to
Charlotte is here-all but the rockers. Those |
have been Clipped off and given as me-
mentoes TO pilgrims from our own country. I
There are also a small wooden trinket box !
continuing cloak and shoe buckles, with one /
or TWO pieces of ribbon from the noveliSt's /,
bonnet, several alabaSter vases from her |
room and Z silk patchwork counterpane, |
one among countless proofs Of the logged |
patience and unconquerable pluck Of the |
half-blind authoress. But single article |
remains as reminder Of the sad career and |
mi Spr,t HE pnGiup NJ pntripl. RroDyraIl |