“Now every antiquary knows that the formula of prayer ‘bono statu’ always refers to the living.  I suspect this singular Christian name has been mistaken by the stone-cutter for Austet, a contraction of Eustatius, but the word Tod, which has been mis-read for the Arabic figures 600, is perfectly fair and legible.  On the presumption of this foolish claim to antiquity, the people would needs set up for independence, and contest the right of the Vicar of Bradford to nominate a curate at Haworth.”

I have given this extract, in order to explain the imaginary groundwork of a commotion which took place in Haworth about five and thirty years ago, to which I shall have occasion to allude again more particularly.

The interior of the church is commonplace; it is neither old enough nor modern enough to compel notice.  The pews are of black oak, with high divisions; and the names of those to whom they belong are painted in white letters on the doors.  There are neither brasses, nor altar-tombs, nor monuments, but there is a mural tablet on the right-hand side of the communion-table, bearing the following inscription:—­

   Here
   lie the remains of
   Maria Bronte, wife
   of the
   Rev.  P. Bronte, A.B., Minister of Haworth. 
   Her soul
   departed to the saviour, Sept. 15Th, 1821,
   in the 39th year of her age.

   “Be ye also ready:  for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man
   cometh.”  Matthew xxiv. 44.

Also here lie the remains of Maria Bronte, daughter of the aforesaid; she died on the 6th of may, 1825, in the 12th year of her age; and of Elizabeth Bronte, her sister, who died June 15th, 1825, in the 11th year of her age.

   “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little
   children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”—­Matthew
   xviii. 3.

   Here also lie the remains of
   Patrick Branwell Bronte,
   who died Sept. 24Th, 1848, aged 30 years;
   and of
   Emily Jane Bronte,
   who died Dec. 19Th, 1848, aged 29 years,
   son and daughter of the
   Rev.  P. Bronte, incumbent.