Charlotte Bronte - 23 December 1848 to to Ellen Nussey
Dear Ellen
Emily suffers no more from pain or weakness now. She never will suffer more in this world. She is gone after a hard, short conflict. She died on Tuesday, the very day I wrote to you. I thought it possible then that she might be with us still for weeks and a few hours afterwards she was in Eternity - yes, there is no Emily in Time or on Earth now. Yesterday we put her poor wasted mortal frame quietly under the Church pavement. We are very calm at present, why should we be otherwise? The anguish of seeing her suffer is over, the spectacle of the pains of death is gone by, the funeral day is past, we feel she is at peace. No need to tremble for the hard frost and keen wind, Emily does not feel them. She has died in a time of promise, we saw her torn from life in its prime, but it is God's will and the place where she is gone is better than that she has left.
God has sustained me in a way I marvel at through such agony as I had not conceived. I now look at Anne and wish she were well and strong but she is neither, nor is papa. Could you now come to us for a few days? I would not ask you to stay long. Write and tell me if you can come next week.......you will I trust find us tranquil.
Try to come, I never so much needed the consolation of a friend's presence. Pleasure of course there would be none for you in the visit, except what your kind heart would teach you to find in doing good to others
C Bronte
In a short period of nine months Charlotte suffered the death of Branwell, Emily and Anne. It is impossible to read these letters without a lump in the throat.