the miry clay of the churchyard, where the graves of her sisters were before her window; in such a living sepulchre her mind could not but prey upon itself; and how it did suffer, we see, in the more painful portions of 'Villette.' She said, with a change in her steady countenance, that 'she should feel very lonely when her aged father died.' But she formed new ties after that; she married, and it is the aged father who survives to mourn her." Thus is the cabinet picture drawn by one who evidently knew much of the inner life of Currer Bell.
A correspondent of the "Literary Gazette" will furnish us with the touching conclusion to this sad history. "Mr. Bronte is the Incumbent of Ha worth, and the father of 'the three sisters;' two had already died, when Mr. Nicholls, his curate, wished to marry the last sole hope. To this Mr. Bronte objected, as it might deprive him of his only child; and although they were much attached, the connection was so far broken, that Mr. Nicholls was to leave. Then the Vicar of Bradford interposed, by offering to secure for Mr; Nicholls the Incumbency of Haworth, after Mr. Bronte's death. This obviated all objection, and last summer (1854) a study was built to the parsonage, and the lovers were married, remaining under the father's roof. But alas! in three months the bride's lungs were attacked, and in three more the father and husband committed, their loved one to the grave. Is it not a sad reality in which the romance ends. May God comfort the two mourners!"
BROOKE, FRANCES,
Whose maiden name was Moore, was the daughter of an English clergyman, and the wife of the Rev. John Brooke, rector of Colny, in Norfolk, of St. Augustine in the city of Norwich, and chaplain to the garrison of Quebec. She was as remarkable for her gentleness and suavity of manners as for her literary talents. Her husband died on the 21st. of January, 1789, and she herself expired on the 26th. of the same month, at Sleaford, where she had retired to the house of her son. Her first literary performance, was the "Old Maid," a periodical work, begun in November, 1755, and continued every Saturday until about the end of July, 1756. In the same year she published "Virginia," a tragedy, with odes, pastorals, and translations. In the preface to this publication she assigns as a reason for its appearance, "that she was precluded from all hopes of ever seeing the tragedy brought upon the stage, by there having been two so lately on the same subject." Prefixed to this publication were proposals for printing by subscription a poetical translation with notes, of "Il Pastor Fido," a work which was probably never completed.
From 1763 to 1788, Mrs. Brooke published many novels and dramas, and other works. Her most popular play was "Rosina," acted at Covent Garden in 1782. Few pieces have been equally successful. The simplicity of the story, the elegance of the language, and the excellence of the music, caused it to be admired for a long time. Her last work was "Marian," acted in 1788, at Covent Garden, with some success, but very much inferior to "Rosina."
BROOKS, MARIA,
Known as a poetess under the name (given to her by Mr. Southey)
