Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-04-05

Haworth. They were five years at Harris
head. Then Mr.. Bronte was transferred
to Thornton, anotker Yorkshire West Rid
ing mofFland hamlet "owre the ~staires"
that is, over the stairs, or hills -four miles
south Of Raworth, the gray old ~Octagonal
chapel tower at Thornton being visible
from the heights Of Browmoor, Just over
there across the valley. Mr.. Bronte was
given the living of Haworth in 1870, and
with his family took possession Of the old
parsonage just as you see it today. he
remained until his death in 1851, a period
Of forty-one years, the incumbent OF st.
Michael's and All Angels, this now world
famed church, which with the parsonage,
the graveyard and these closely huddled
houses of stone max up a grim old village
picture.
1t will be your fortune TO be driven from
this parsonage door, just as was Miss
Thackery and scores Of English literators
in the past, as was the Rev. DR.. Theo.
f. Clarke, Of Brooklyn, last summer, and
as l 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 vandals' hands; and
stand beside the memorial tablets to the
one family that made all Haworth a shrine.
Then, if you will be cautious, and will as
kuIG III EAAlDAC = oA4 NANaNhA M
YOU will not betray her condolences to the
present precious incumbentofSt. Michael's,
/ with old ''Susey' Ramsden-half bHnd and
deaf, quite fourscore yeans of age, but with
her love for the Bronte family flaming
deeper and brighter as the end approaches
You may 90 over all the sad, sweet story
Of the pious yet stern old curate's Haworth
ministrations; the loss of the gentle, pa
tient mother; the death of the older sisters;
the curse of the wayward brothers life and
terrible death: the grim, mistaken sense of
duty shown in the surviving sisters holding
the sunless home together; and then all
the long years Of iron-hearted struggling
by the three sisters, Courier, Ellis and Ac-
ton Bel, I" respectively Charlotte, Emily and
Anne Bronte, to reach the mighty world
heart with their far away, unknown voices
and pens; the final victory and rejoicings;
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
Charlotte's two sisters within one Year; her
own brief and happy welded life and ulti-
mate 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 Groom
ing gossip about Charlotte's husband, Mr..
Nichols, once the curate here, and now a
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 pilgriming to
the former nest Of genius and love; from
wanderings over the moOrs, to which the
father and all the talented sisters were 50
passionately devoted; from dreaming about
the ancient churchyard, with its dank
graves and %sOughiug willows, and from
hushed and pensive lingering within the
church by the very spot where all these
loving and loyal sad and tempestuous,
hearts are resting - the eternal ~silences, it
is a delight. If still a melancholy pleasure,
20 turn TO an humble home not a stones
throw from parsonage, church and graves,
where a younger cousin Of Charlotte's faith
full nurse, Martha Brown, has with dog
ged fidelity TO a generous sentiment, gath
cred 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 a show place for stran-
gers, but a house Of prayer for the
praise Of God" that the memory Of this
family represented TO him merely "a rec
election OF a predecessor Incumbent" and
who has lone everything in his little pow
er TO destroy the greatest and least vestiges
Of as noble and tender personalities and in
huences as ever halloved English soil-this
yOuug man, a poor IAN besides, Robinson
Brown, Of i23 Mali street, Haworth, has
passed a life of sacri<ce and almost person
al want TO secure these precious relics and
to generously welcome all strangers who
- - - -. WLn-~ HI Aanma - Whn
only real Bronte shrine in Haworth. The
curate rules the village with a spiritual
rod Of iron. and this local autocracy makes
it treason in Haworth to be interested in
Bronte relics and memorials.
Mr.. Browns collection comprises a 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 draw
ings are numerous. Three Of these are re
markably true TO nature. Two are of
laughing and a crying child. The other Is
a river bridge and mountain scene, full Of
d~elicacy and feeling. Her skill in needle
work, and what would now be termed ar
embroidery, was superior. An extraordi
nary piece Of this needlewOrk is a study OF
a youthful shepherd and shepherdess tend
~ a III u eAAC-EH nv 49,
being partially laid in with water colors
The only painting Of Charlotte in oil, dom
during her lifetime, is also here. Their
are several Of her letters in her wonderfully
minute M perfect chirography, and on
was particularly interesting 10 me becaus
written to the 'old Susey" / had seen.
There is also in the collection a spotte'
print dress worn by the novelist; her shaw
and brooch, and a lock Of her hair given b.
her husband, Mr.. Nichols, 70 Marthi
Brown. Several old reviews containing
notices Of the Bronte family and thei
work, which were in her possession, ar
here. One, The Quarterly Review for De
cember. 1s4s, hurt her deeply. Its review
Of "Jane Eyre" refers to the author as hav
ing "horrid taste" Two Of the most in
teresting articles to be seen are a waite
color sketch by the novelist's own ham
representing her favorite dog, Floss,
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