The record-union., 1891-04-05

these cloSely-huddIed houses of stone,
make UP grim old village picture.
1t will be your fortune to be driven
from this parsonage door, just as was
Miss Thacl1eray and scores of English lit
orators IL the past. as MAS the Rev. Dr.
Theodore K. Clarke, of Brooklyn, only
last summer, and as [ was yesterday.
But you may see the old graves the
Brontes saw; wander upon the moors
they knew; study the ancient tower that
escaped the yandals' hands, and stand
beside the memorial tablets to the one
family that made all Haworth shrine.
Then, if you will be cautious, and will
assure the simple-hearted old creature
that you will not betray her confidence
to the present precious incumbent of ST.
Michaels, with old ''Susey" 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 pproacheS-you may go over all the
sad, sweet story; of the pioss yet stern
old curate's Haworth ministrations; the
loss of the gentle, patient mother; the
death OF the older sisters; the curse of the
wayward brothers life and terrible death;
the grim, mistaken sense of duty shown
III the surviving sisters holding the sun
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 and
AAilliO D1OlIbSs W lS<tSH ILC HOE1u-
heart with their far away, unknown
voices and pens; the final victory and re-
joicings; the coming to the gray old Will
age Of the famous and great to do honor
to the now wondrous folk of the parson-
age; the loss of Charlotte's two sisters
within one year; her own brief and happy
welded life and ultimely death; the
later death of the sturdy old father; the
death, but the other day, in Ireland, of
his surviving sister, the last of the Bronte
family; and, finally, the grooming gossip
about Charlotte's husband, Mr.. Nichols,
once the curate here, and now white
haired English farmer-all in so tender a
way that you will more and more love 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 pill
griming to the former nest of genius and
love; from WanderingS over the moors to
which the father and all the talented sis
ters were so passionately devoted; from
dreaming about the ancient church-yard
with its dank graves and Soughing will
ows; and from hushed and pensive ling
erlng within the church by the very spot
where all these loving and loyal, sad and
tempestuous hearts are resting in the
eternal silence, it is a delight, if still q
melancholy pleasure, to turn to an hum
ble home not a stones throw from par
younger cousin of Charlotte's faithful
nurse, Martha Brown, have, with dogged
fidelity to a generous sentiment, gathered
together many Of the scattered relics of
the old Bronte household. With marked
contrast to the clerical brute who has re-
peatedly declared that the name of Bronte
was hateful to him; that it was not his
duty ito maintain show-place for
strangers, but a house of prayer for the
praise OF God;" that the memory of this
family represented to him merely "a rec
ollectlon Of q predecessor incumbent:''
and who has done everything in his little
power TO destroy the greatest and least
vestiges of as noble and tender personali-
ties and influences as ever hallowed Eng
lish soil; this young man, poor man be-
sides, Robinson Brown. of 123 Main
street, Haworth, has passed life of sac
rlflce and almost personal want to secure
these precious. relics and to generously
welcome all strangers who may wish to
see them. His home is the only real
Bronte shrine in Haworth. The curate
rules the village with q spiritual rod OF
iron, and this local autocracy makes it
treason i'll Haworth TO oe interested in
Bronte relics and memorials. Despite it,
now and then the old, old folk and the
humble workmen of the factories, who
secretly adore the writings of Charlotte
and the memory of the noble family.
old home, weep over them, and steal away
again, trembling from fear of discovery
and prescription. Thus the curate main
tains "a house of prayer for the praise OF
God'' in the Haworth of to-day.
Mr.. Browns collection comprises few
paintings, many drawings and several
specimens of needlework, all done by
Charlotte. There is a drawing, in sepia
of a revenue cutter becalmed at sea in
soft and humid moonlight. The pencil
drawings are numerous. Three of these
are remarkably true to nature. Two arc
of . laughing and q crying child The
other is a river bridge and 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 needle
work IS study of youthful shepherd
and shepherdesS tending flock of moor
land sheep, the faces all being partially
laid III with water colors. The only
painting of Charlotte in oil, done during
her lifetime, is also here. There are sew
eral OF her letters in her wonderfully mi
mute and perfect chirography; and one
was particularly interesting to me be-
cause written to the ''old Susey'' had
seen. 1t is dated Haworth, June 13, 1S4S.
Susey had left Haworth for little stay al
ork. Miss Bronte writes ~ was afraid
that at first you would not feel very COM
Portable among strangers. Persons who
have lived most of their lives in quiet
little place like Haworth find O vast diff
! ference when they go to fresh neighbor-
hood and enter the society Of strangers.
| If you feel troubled about anything you
will not forget who is your best help and
guide in every difficulty, and, separated
as you are for little while from your
earthly friends, you will humbly and
faithfully entreat the protection of youl
Friend and Father who is in heaven"
There is also in the collection a spotted
| print dress worn by the novelist; hel
shawl and brooch, and lock of her hail
! given by her husband, Mr. Nichols, tC
Martha Brown. Several old reviews con.
| tanning notices of the Bronte family anG
| their work, which were in her possession
! are here. One, the Quarterly ReDieaO fol
/ December, lS4S, hurt her deeply. It's re.
| view of Jane Eyre" refers TO the author
/ as having 'horrid taste" Two of the
most interesting articles TO be seen are
water-color sketch by the novelist's owr
| hand representing her favorite dog
| Floss" chasing grouse over a reach o.
| drear moorland, and a priceless autograph
! copy of Jane Eyre" the latter another
! gift to the beloved nurse, Martha Brown
! \ basketwork dolPs cradle, belonging tc
Charlotte, is here-all but the rocker
/ Those have been chipped off and given
| as mementos to pilgrims from our coun.
/ try. There are also a small wooden
( trinket box containing cloak and shoe
/ buckles, with one or two pieces of ribbon
/ from the noveiist's bonnet; several ala.
/ baster vases from her room; and a silk
! patchwork counterpane, one among
| countless proofs OF the logged patience
and uneonquerable pluck of the half
/ blind authoress. But a single article re.
mains as reminder of the sad career and
/ miserable ending of Patrick Branwel
/ Bronte, the brilliant and unfortunate
brother. The oldest character that. per.
/ haps, ever lived in Haworth was "old
Bill Brown" the Grabbed Haworth sex
/ ION of the Brontes' time He was i'm