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tstwo affectionate； warm…hearted sisters； who cannot now speak of the family without tearscalled the room the 〃children's study。〃 The age of the eldest student was perhaps by this time seven。
The people in Haworth were none of them very poor。 Many of them were employed in the neighbouring worsted mills； a few were mill… owners and manufacturers in a small way； there were also some shopkeepers for the humbler and every…day wants； but for medical advice； for stationery； books； law； dress； or dainties； the inhabitants had to go to Keighley。 There were several Sunday… schools； the Baptists had taken the lead in instituting them； the Wesleyans had followed； the Church of England had brought up the rear。 Good Mr。 Grimshaw； Wesley's friend； had built a humble Methodist chapel； but it stood close to the road leading on to the moor； the Baptists then raised a place of worship； with the distinction of being a few yards back from the highway； and the Methodists have since thought it well to erect another and a larger chapel； still more retired from the road。 Mr。 Bronte was ever on kind and friendly terms with each denomination as a body； but from individuals in the village the family stood aloof； unless some direct service was required； from the first。 〃They kept themselves very close；〃 is the account given by those who remember Mr。 and Mrs。 Bronte's coming amongst them。 I believe many of the Yorkshiremen would object to the system of parochial visiting； their surly independence would revolt from the idea of any one having a right； from his office； to inquire into their condition； to counsel； or to admonish them。 The old hill…spirit lingers in them； which coined the rhyme； inscribed on the under part of one of the seats in the Sedilia of Whalley Abbey； not many miles from Haworth；
〃Who mells wi' what another does Had best go home and shoe his goose。〃
I asked an inhabitant of a district close to Haworth what sort of a clergyman they had at the church which he attended。
〃A rare good one；〃 said he： 〃he minds his own business； and ne'er troubles himself with ours。〃
Mr。 Bronte was faithful in visiting the sick and all those who sent for him； and diligent in attendance at the schools； and so was his daughter Charlotte too； but； cherishing and valuing privacy themselves； they were perhaps over…delicate in not intruding upon the privacy of others。
From their first going to Haworth； their walks were directed rather out towards the heathery moors； sloping upwards behind the parsonage； than towards the long descending village street。 A good old woman； who came to nurse Mrs。 Bronte in the illnessan internal cancerwhich grew and gathered upon her； not many months after her arrival at Haworth； tells me that at that time the six little creatures used to walk out； hand in hand； towards the glorious wild moors； which in after days they loved so passionately； the elder ones taking thoughtful care for the toddling wee things。
They were grave and silent beyond their years； subdued； probably； by the presence of serious illness in the house； for； at the time which my informant speaks of； Mrs。 Bronte was confined to the bedroom from which she never came forth alive。 〃You would not have known there was a child in the house； they were such still； noiseless； good little creatures。 Maria would shut herself up〃 （Maria； but seven！） 〃in the children's study with a newspaper； and be able to tell one everything when she came out； debates in Parliament； and I don't know what all。 She was as good as a mother to her sisters and brother。 But there never were such good children。 I used to think them spiritless； they were so different to any children I had ever seen。 They were good little creatures。 Emily was the prettiest。〃
Mrs。 Bronte was the same patient； cheerful person as we have seen her formerly； very ill； suffering great pain； but seldom if ever complaining； at her better times begging her nurse to raise her in bed to let her see her clean the grate； 〃because she did it as it was done in Cornwall；〃 devotedly fond of her husband； who warmly repaid her affection； and suffered no one else to take the night… nursing； but； according to my informant； the mother was not very anxious to see much of her children； probably because the sight of them； knowing how soon they were to be left motherless； would have agitated her too much。 So the little things clung quietly together； for their father was busy in his study and in his parish； or with their mother； and they took their meals alone； sat reading； or whispering low； in the 〃children's study；〃 or wandered out on the hill…side； hand in hand。
The ideas of Rousseau and Mr。 Day on education had filtered down through many classes； and spread themselves widely out。 I imagine； Mr。 Bronte must have formed some of his opinions on the management of children from these two theorists。 His practice was not half so wild or extraordinary as that to which an aunt of mine was subjected by a disciple of Mr。 Day's。 She had been taken by this gentleman and his wife； to live with them as their adopted child； perhaps about five…and…twenty years before the time of which I am writing。 They were wealthy people and kind hearted； but her food and clothing were of the very simplest and rudest description； on Spartan principles。 A healthy； merry child； she did not much care for dress or eating； but the treatment which she felt as a real cruelty was this。 They had a carriage； in which she and the favourite dog were taken an airing on alternate days； the creature whose turn it was to be left at home being tossed in a blanketan operation which my aunt especially dreaded。 Her affright at the tossing was probably the reason why it was persevered in。 Dressed…up ghosts had become common； and she did not care for them； so the blanket exercise was to be the next mode of hardening her nerves。 It is well known that Mr。 Day broke off his intention of marrying Sabrina； the girl whom he had educated for this purpose； because； within a few weeks of the time fixed for the wedding； she was guilty of the frivolity； while on a visit from home； of wearing thin sleeves。 Yet Mr。 Day and my aunt's relations were benevolent people； only strongly imbued with the crotchet that by a system of training might be educed the hardihood and simplicity of the ideal savage； forgetting the terrible isolation of feelings and habits which their pupils would experience in the future life which they must pass among the corruptions and refinements of civilization。
Mr。 Bronte wished to make his children hardy； and indifferent to the pleasures of eating and dress。 In the latter he succeeded； as far as regarded his daughters。
His strong； passionate； Irish nature was； in general； compressed down with resolute stoicism； but it was there notwithstanding all his philosophic calm and dignity of demeanour； though he did not speak when he was annoyed or displeased。 Mrs。 Bronte； whose sweet nature thought invariably of the bright side； would say； 〃Ought I not to be thankful that he never gave me an angry word？〃
Mr。 Bronte was an active walker； stretching away over the moors for many miles； noting in his mind all natural signs of wind and wea