按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
would steal out while the family were at churchto which he had professed himself too ill to go and manage to cajole the village druggist out of a lump； or； it might be； the carrier had unsuspiciously brought him some in a packet from a distance。 For some time before his death he had attacks of delirium tremens of the most frightful character； he slept in his father's room； and he would sometimes declare that either he or his father should be dead before the morning。 The trembling sisters； sick with fright； would implore their father not to expose himself to this danger； but Mr。 Bronte is no timid man； and perhaps he felt that he could possibly influence his son to some self…restraint； more by showing trust in him than by showing fear。 The sisters often listened for the report of a pistol in the dead of the night； till watchful eye and hearkening ear grew heavy and dull with the perpetual strain upon their nerves。 In the mornings young Bronte would saunter out； saying； with a drunkard's incontinence of speech； 〃The poor old man and I have had a terrible night of it； he does his bestthe poor old man！ but it's all over with me。〃
CHAPTER XIV
In the course of this sad autumn of 1845； a new interest came up； faint； indeed； and often lost sight of in the vivid pain and constant pressure of anxiety respecting their brother。 In the biographical notice of her sisters； which Charlotte prefixed to the edition of 〃Wuthering Heights〃 and 〃Agnes Grey；〃 published in 1850a piece of writing unique； as far as I know； in its pathos and its powershe says：…
〃One day in the autumn of 1845； I accidentally lighted on a MS。 volume of verse； in my sister Emily's hand…writing。 Of course； I was not surprised； knowing that she could and did write verse： I looked it over； and something more than surprise seized mea deep conviction that these were not common effusions； nor at all like the poetry women generally write。 I thought them condensed and terse； vigorous and genuine。 To my ear they had also a peculiar music； wild； melancholy； and elevating。 My sister Emily was not a person of demonstrative character； nor one on the recesses of whose mind and feelings even those nearest and dearest to her could； with impunity； intrude unlicensed： it took hours to reconcile her to the discovery I had made； and days to persuade her that such poems merited publication 。 。 。 Meantime； my younger sister quietly produced some of her own compositions； intimating that since Emily's had given me pleasure； I might like to look at hers。 I could not but be a partial judge； yet I thought that these verses too had a sweet sincere pathos of their own。 We had very early cherished the dream of one day being authors。 We agreed to arrange a small selection of our poems； and； if possible； get them printed。 Averse to personal publicity； we veiled our own names under those of Currer； Ellis； and Acton Bell； the ambiguous choice being dictated by a sort of conscientious scruple at assuming Christian names； positively masculine； while we did not like to declare ourselves women； becausewithout at the time suspecting that our mode of writing and thinking was not what is called 'feminine；' we had a vague impression that authoresses are liable to be looked on with prejudice； we noticed how critics sometimes use for their chastisement the weapon of personality； and for their reward； a flattery； which is not true praise。 The bringing out of our little book was hard work。 As was to be expected； neither we nor our poems were at all wanted； but for this we had been prepared at the outset； though inexperienced ourselves； we had read the experience of others。 The great puzzle lay in the difficulty of getting answers of any kind from the publishers to whom we applied。 Being greatly harassed by this obstacle； I ventured to apply to the Messrs。 Chambers； of Edinburgh； for a word of advice； THEY may have forgotten the circumstance； but I have not； for from them I received a brief and business…like； but civil and sensible reply； on which we acted； and at last made way。〃
I inquired from Mr。 Robert Chambers； and found； as Miss Bronte conjectured； that he had entirely forgotten the application which had been made to him and his brother for advice； nor had they any copy or memorandum of the correspondence。
There is an intelligent man living in Haworth； who has given me some interesting particulars relating to the sisters about this period。 He says：…
〃I have known Miss Bronte； as Miss Bronte； a long time； indeed； ever since they came to Haworth in 1819。 But I had not much acquaintance with the family till about 1843； when I began to do a little in the stationery line。 Nothing of that kind could be had nearer than Keighley before I began。 They used to buy a great deal of writing paper； and I used to wonder whatever they did with so much。 I sometimes thought they contributed to the Magazines。 When I was out of stock； I was always afraid of their coming； they seemed so distressed about it； if I had none。 I have walked to Halifax （a distance of ten miles） many a time； for half a ream of paper； for fear of being without it when they came。 I could not buy more at a time for want of capital。 I was always short of that。 I did so like them to come when I had anything for them； they were so much different to anybody else； so gentle and kind； and so very quiet。 They never talked much。 Charlotte sometimes would sit and inquire about our circumstances so kindly and feelingly！ 。 。 。 Though I am a poor working man （which I have never felt to be any degradation）； I could talk with her with the greatest freedom。 I always felt quite at home with her。 Though I never had any school education； I never felt the want of it in her company。〃
The publishers to whom she finally made a successful application for the production of 〃Currer； Ellis； and Acton Bell's poems；〃 were Messrs。 Aylott and Jones； Paternoster Row。 Mr。 Aylott has kindly placed the letters which she wrote to them on the subject at my disposal。 The first is dated January 28th； 1846； and in it she inquires if they will publish one volume octavo of poems； if not at their own risk； on the author's account。 It is signed 〃C。 Bronte。〃 They must have replied pretty speedily； for on January 31st she writes again：…
〃GENTLEMEN；
〃Since you agree to undertake the publication of the work respecting which I applied to you； I should wish now to know； as soon as possible； the cost of paper and printing。 I will then send the necessary remittance； together with the manuscript。 I should like it to be printed in one octavo volume； of the same quality of paper and size of type as Moxon's last edition of Wordsworth。 The poems will occupy； I should think； from 200 to 250 pages。 They are not the production of a clergyman； nor are they exclusively of a religious character； but I presume these circumstances will be immaterial。 It will； perhaps； be necessary that you should see the manuscript； in order to calculate accurately the expense of publication； in that case I will send it immediately。 I should like； however； previously； to have some idea of the probable cost； and if； from what I have said； you can make a rough calcula