the life of charlotte bronte-1-第4节
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been possible。 For instance； one woollen manufacturer says that； not five and twenty years ago； he had to rise betimes to set off on a winter's… morning in order to be at Bradford with the great waggon…load of goods manufactured by his father； this load was packed over…night； but in the morning there was a great gathering around it； and flashing of lanterns； and examination of horses' feet； before the ponderous waggon got under way； and then some one had to go groping here and there； on hands and knees； and always sounding with a staff down the long； steep； slippery brow； to find where the horses might tread safely； until they reached the comparative easy…going of the deep…rutted main road。 People went on horseback over the upland moors； following the tracks of the pack…horses that carried the parcels； baggage； or goods from one town to another； between which there did not happen to be a highway。
But in winter； all such communication was impossible； by reason of the snow which lay long and late on the bleak high ground。 I have known people who； travelling by the mail…coach over Blackstone Edge； had been snowed up for a week or ten days at the little inn near the summit； and obliged to spend both Christmas and New Year's Day there； till the store of provisions laid in for the use of the landlord and his family falling short before the inroads of the unexpected visitors； they had recourse to the turkeys； geese； and Yorkshire pies with which the coach was laden； and even these were beginning to fail； when a fortunate thaw released them from their prison。
Isolated as the hill villages may be； they are in the world； compared with the loneliness of the grey ancestral houses to be seen here and there in the dense hollows of the moors。 These dwellings are not large； yet they are solid and roomy enough for the accommodation of those who live in them； and to whom the surrounding estates belong。 The land has often been held by one family since the days of the Tudors； the owners are； in fact； the remains of the old yeomanrysmall squireswho are rapidly becoming extinct as a class； from one of two causes。 Either the possessor falls into idle； drinking habits； and so is obliged eventually to sell his property： or he finds； if more shrewd and adventurous； that the 〃beck〃 running down the mountain…side； or the minerals beneath his feet； can be turned into a new source of wealth； and leaving the old plodding life of a landowner with small capital； he turns manufacturer； or digs for coal； or quarries for stone。
Still there are those remaining of this classdwellers in the lonely houses far away in the upland districtseven at the present day； who sufficiently indicate what strange eccentricity what wild strength of willnay； even what unnatural power of crime was fostered by a mode of living in which a man seldom met his fellows； and where public opinion was only a distant and inarticulate echo of some clearer voice sounding behind the sweeping horizon。
A solitary life cherishes mere fancies until they become manias。 And the powerful Yorkshire character； which was scarcely tamed into subjection by all the contact it met with in 〃busy town or crowded mart；〃 has before now broken out into strange wilfulness in the remoter districts。 A singular account was recently given me of a landowner （living； it is true； on the Lancashire side of the hills； but of the same blood and nature as the dwellers on the other；） who was supposed to be in the receipt of seven or eight hundred a year； and whose house bore marks of handsome antiquity； as if his forefathers had been for a long time people of consideration。 My informant was struck with the appearance of the place； and proposed to the countryman who was accompanying him； to go up to it and take a nearer inspection。 The reply was； 〃Yo'd better not； he'd threap yo' down th' loan。 He's let fly at some folk's legs； and let shot lodge in 'em afore now； for going too near to his house。〃 And finding； on closer inquiry； that such was really the inhospitable custom of this moorland squire； the gentleman gave up his purpose。 I believe that the savage yeoman is still living。
Another squire； of more distinguished family and larger property one is thence led to imagine of better education； but that does not always followdied at his house； not many miles from Haworth； only a few years ago。 His great amusement and occupation had been cock…fighting。 When he was confined to his chamber with what he knew would be his last illness； he had his cocks brought up there； and watched the bloody battle from his bed。 As his mortal disease increased； and it became impossible for him to turn so as to follow the combat； he had looking…glasses arranged in such a manner； around and above him； as he lay； that he could still see the cocks fighting。 And in this manner he died。
These are merely instances of eccentricity compared to the tales of positive violence and crime that have occurred in these isolated dwellings； which still linger in the memories of the old people of the district； and some of which were doubtless familiar to the authors of 〃Wuthering Heights〃 and 〃The Tenant of Wildfell Hall。〃
The amusements of the lower classes could hardly be expected to be more humane than those of the wealthy and better educated。 The gentleman； who has kindly furnished me with some of the particulars I have given； remembers the bull…baitings at Rochdale； not thirty years ago。 The bull was fastened by a chain or rope to a post in the river。 To increase the amount of water； as well as to give their workpeople the opportunity of savage delight； the masters were accustomed to stop their mills on the day when the sport took place。 The bull would sometimes wheel suddenly round； so that the rope by which he was fastened swept those who had been careless enough to come within its range down into the water； and the good people of Rochdale had the excitement of seeing one or two of their neighbours drowned； as well as of witnessing the bull baited； and the dogs torn and tossed。
The people of Haworth were not less strong and full of character than their neighbours on either side of the hills。 The village lies embedded in the moors； between the two counties； on the old road between Keighley and Colne。 About the middle of the last century； it became famous in the religious world as the scene of the ministrations of the Rev。 William Grimshaw； curate of Haworth for twenty years。 Before this time； it is probable that the curates were of the same order as one Mr。 Nicholls； a Yorkshire clergyman； in the days immediately succeeding the Reformation； who was 〃much addicted to drinking and company…keeping；〃 and used to say to his companions； 〃You must not heed me but when I am got three feet above the earth；〃 that was； into the pulpit。
Mr。 Grimshaw's life was written by Newton； Cowper's friend； and from it may be gathered some curious particulars of the manner in which a rough population were swayed and governed by a man of deep convictions； and strong earnestness of purpose。 It seems that he had not been in any way remarkable for religious zeal； though he had led a moral life； and been conscientious in fulfilling his parochial duties； until a certain Sunday in September； 1744； when the servant； rising at five； found her master already engaged in prayer； she stated that； after remaining in his chamber for some time； he went to engage in religious exercises in the house of a parishioner； then home again to pray； thence； still fasting； to the church； where； as he was reading the second lesson； he fell down； and； on his partial recovery； had to be led from the church。 As he went out； he spoke to the congregation； and told them not to disperse； as he had something to say to them； and would return presently。 He was taken to the clerk's house； and again became insensible。 His servant rubbed him； to restore the circulation； and when he was brought to himself 〃he seemed in a great rapture；〃 and the first words he uttered were； 〃I have had a glorious vision from the third heaven。〃 He did not say what he had seen； but returned into the church； and began the service again； at two in the afternoon； and went on until seven。
From this time he devoted himself； with the fervour of a Wesley； and something of the fanaticism of a Whitfield； to calling out a religious life among his parishioners。 They had been in the habit of playing at foot…ball on Sunday； using stones for this purpose； and giving and receiving challenges from other parishes。 There were horse…races held on the moors just above the village； which were periodical sources of drunkenness and profligacy。 Scarcely a wedding took place without the rough amusement of foot…races； where the half…naked runners were a scandal to all decent strangers。 The old custom of 〃arvills；〃 or funeral feasts； led to frequent pitched battles between the drunken mourners。 Such customs were the outward signs of the kind of people with whom Mr。 Grimshaw had to deal。 But； by various means； some of the most practical kind； he wrought a great change in his parish。 In his preaching he was occasionally assisted by Wesley and Whitfield； and at such times the little church proved much too small to hold the t
