Journal

Villette. Both Anne and Branwell included it in their books.
Just after Mrs Pryor finishes her whole-hearted singing of the pathetic hymn,
starting from O God, Our Help in Ages Past, Caroline asks her to sing a Scottish
song, Robert Burns’ Ye Banks and Braes o’Bonnie Doon. This is another favourite
that was included in the books. It seems that Charlotte expected the reader to
be acquainted with the words. They must have known that this was a song of
resentment of a girl against her lover who deserted her. There are also a
number of Hymns and outdoor songs in Shirley.
Wuthering Heights
In Wuthering Heights, Cathy came home on Christmas Day after a five-week
stay at the Lintons. Heathcliff wBrontëas excluded from the gathering, just as
Jane had been at the Reeds.
‘In the evening we had a dance … and our pleasure was
increased by the arrival of the Gimmerton Band, mustering fifteen
strong; a trumpet, a trombone, clarinets, bassoons, French Horns, and
a Bass Viol besides singers. They go the rounds of all the respectable
houses and receive contributions every Christmas, and we esteemed it a
first-rate treat to hear them.
After the usual carols had been sung, we set them to songs and
glees. Mrs Earnshaw loved the music, and so they gave us plenty.
Catherine loved it too; but she said it sounded sweetest at the
top of the steps, … She … mounted … to the garret where
Heathcliffe was confined;’
Branwell described a similar orchestra. Both he and Emily must have enjoyed
similar bands, or attended performances of orchestras in Haworth and
Keighley.
Nellie sang to Hareton as she rocked him on her knee.
It was far in the night, and the bairnies grat,
The mither beneath the mools heard that,
These two lines are taken from an old Danish ballad of pre-Christian beliefs.
Catherine Linton sang to Linton Heathcliff.
Sit on the settle and let me lean on your knee – That’s as Mamma used
to do, whole afternoons together-Sit quite still, and don’t talk, but you
may sing a song if you can sing, or you may say a nice long interesting
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