Into the midst of this lawless, yet not unkindly population, Mr. Bronte
brought his wife and six little children, in February, 1820. There are
those yet alive who remember seven heavily-laden carts lumbering slowly
up the long stone street, bearing the "new parson's" household goods to
his future abode.

One wonders how the bleak aspect of her new home--the low, oblong, stone
parsonage, high up, yet with a still higher back-ground of sweeping
moors--struck on the gentle, delicate wife, whose health even then was
failing.




CHAPTER III


The Rev. Patrick Bronte is a native of the County Down in Ireland. His
father Hugh Bronte, was left an orphan at an early age. He came from the
south to the north of the island, and settled in the parish of Ahaderg,
near Loughbrickland. There was some family tradition that, humble as
Hugh Bronte's circumstances were, he was the descendant of an ancient
family. But about this neither he nor his descendants have cared to
inquire. He made an early marriage, and reared and educated ten children
on the proceeds of the few acres of land which he farmed. This large
family were remarkable for great physical strength, and much personal
beauty. Even in his old age, Mr. Bronte is a striking-looking man, above
the common height, with a nobly-shaped head, and erect carriage. In his
youth he must have been unusually handsome.