But neither she nor her sisters were
naturally fond of children. The hieroglyphics of childhood were an
unknown language to them, for they had never been much with those younger
than themselves. I am inclined to think, too, that they had not the
happy knack of imparting information, which seems to be a separate gift
from the faculty of acquiring it; a kind of sympathetic tact, which
instinctively perceives the difficulties that impede comprehension in a
child's mind, and that yet are too vague and unformed for it, with its
half-developed powers of expression, to explain by words. Consequently,
teaching very young children was anything but a "delightful task" to the
three Bronte sisters. With older girls, verging on womanhood, they might
have done better, especially if these had any desire for improvement. But
the education which the village clergyman's daughters had received, did
not as yet qualify them to undertake the charge of advanced pupils. They
knew but little French, and were not proficients in music; I doubt
whether Charlotte could play at all. But they were all strong again,
and, at any rate, Charlotte and Anne must put their shoulders to the
wheel. One daughter was needed at home, to stay with Mr. Bronte and Miss
Branwell; to be the young and active member in a household of four,
whereof three--the father, the aunt, and faithful Tabby--were past middle
age.
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