Easter time can be a very busy time for people, whether it’s planning and cooking a big family meal, shopping for chocolate eggs and other essentials, or heading off on a springtime vacation. It can be even busier, of course, if you’re a vicar, or the family of one! That’s something the Brontë sisters knew well, as we see in a letter Charlotte Brontë sent to her great friend Ellen Nussey on the 22nd March 1853. We’ll take a look at that below, and of course we’ll intersperse this post with some Victorian era Easter cards.
At the time of this letter, Ellen has been spending some time with her friends the Gorham and Upjohn families of Suffolk, but Ellen is clearly frustrated by Mrs Sarah Upjohn’s frequent change of plans. Ellen has invited Charlotte to visit her in Birstall, but in turning down this invitation Charlotte spells out some of the activities expected of her at this time of year – her main duties seem to be preparing sermons for preaching, and entertaining local parsons:
Dear Ellen, Mrs Upjohn really carries her protractions and vacillations a little too far – and I am truly sorry that your movements should thus inevitably be hampered by her fluctuations. It is a trial of Job to be thus moved backward and forward by this most luckless of Mistresses and her tribe of reprobate servants.
Thank you for sending Amelia’s notes; though I have not alluded to them lately they always amuse me – I like to read them; one gets from them a clear enough idea of her sort of life. Joe’s attempts to improve his good partner’s mind make me smile. I think it all right enough and doubt not they are happy in their way – only the direction he gives his efforts seems rather problematic
Wisdom – Algebra and Optics! Why not rather enlarge her views by a little well-chosen general reading? However – they do right to amuse themselves in their own way,
The rather dark view you seem inclined to take of the general opinion about ‘‘Villette’’ – surprises me the less, dear Nell, as only the more unfavourable reviews seem to have come in your way. Some reports reach me of a different tendency; but no matter. Time will shew. As to the character of ‘‘Lucy Snowe’’ my intention from the first was that she should not occupy the pedestal to which ‘‘Jane Eyre’’ was raised by some injudicious admirers. She is where I meant her to be, and where no charge of self-laudation can touch her. I cannot accept your kind invitation. I must be at home at Easter on two or three accounts connected with Sermons to be preached, parsons to be entertained, Mechanic’s Institute Meetings and tea-drinkings to be solemnized – and erelong I have promised to go and see Mrs. Gaskell – but till this wintry weather is passed I would rather eschew visiting anywhere. I trust that bad cold of yours is quite well and that you will take good care of yourself in future. That night work is always perilous, Yours Faithfully, C. Brontë”
Whether you are entertaining parsons, or eating a Lindor egg in front of the television, I hope you and your loved ones are having a very happy and relaxing Easter, and I hope you can join me next Sunday for another new Brontë blog post.