The Scarlet Letter Gradually Hardening Danish B1 Books

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.

INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”

tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.

Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.

Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoonthe

tidligere

formeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythe

knappen

button,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.

Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.

Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhe

kaster

castshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.

Someauthors,

faktisk

indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;

asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthe

brede

wideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehis

cirkel

circleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.

Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.

But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhis

publikum

audience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;

andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.

Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.

Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalways

anerkendt

recognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.

This,infact,—a

ønske

desiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonfor

antage

assumingapersonalrelationwiththepublic.

Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafew

ekstra

extratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,

blandt

amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.

InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfa

århundrede

centuryago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;

except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;

or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,the

sporet

trackofmanylanguidyearsisseenina

grænse

borderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.

Fromtheloftiestpointofits

tag

roof,duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;

butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.

Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,beneathwhichaflightof

brede

widegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.

Overthe

indgangen

entrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.

Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofher

holdning

attitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensive

samfund

community;

andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheir

sikkerhed

safety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.

Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleare

søger

seeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthe

føderale

federaleagle;

imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.

Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,

før

soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,orarankling

sår

woundfromherbarbedarrows.

Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—has

græs

grassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.

Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.

Suchoccasionsmight

minde

remindtheelderlycitizenofthat

periode

periodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;

notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.

Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfrom

Afrika

AfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.

Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.

Here,too,comeshis

ejer

owner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.

Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.

Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofa

beskyttelse

protection;

ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,seekinga

pas

passporttothehospital.

NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;

arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecaying

handel

trade.

Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.

Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—a

række

rowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.

Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetween

tale

speechandasnore,andwiththat

mangel

lackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.

Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.

Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeet

firkant

square,andofaloftyheight;

withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.

Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;

aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.

Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywithold

maling

paint;

itsfloorisstrewnwithgray

sand

sand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;

anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequent

adgang

access.

Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;

anoldpine

skrivebord

desk,withathree-leggedstool

ved siden af

besideit;

twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;

and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,a

score

scoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.

Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.

Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfrom

hjørne

cornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthave

genkendt

recognized,honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.

Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.

Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;

andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.

ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.

Faktisk

Indeed,sofarasits

fysiske

physicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallows

Hill

HillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.

Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,in

mangel

lackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.

Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.

Itisnow

næsten

nearlytwocenturiesanda

fjerdedel

quartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.

Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;

untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.

Inpart,

derfor

therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyof

støv

dustfordust.

Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;

nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needthey

betragte

consideritdesirabletoknow.

Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoral

kvalitet

quality.

Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyish

fantasi

imagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.

Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcely

hævder

claiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown.

Iseemtohavea

stærkere

strongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhis

sværd

sword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—a

stærkere

strongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameisseldomheardandmyface

næppe

hardlyknown.

Hewasa

soldat

soldier,legislator,judge;

hewasarulerintheChurch;

hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.

Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,as

vidner

witnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelatean

hændelse

incidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.

Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.

Sodeepastain,

faktisk

indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlyto

støv

dust!

Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;

orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.

Atallevents,I,thepresent

forfatter

writer,astheirrepresentative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatany

forbandelse

curseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperous

tilstand

conditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,would

hævde

arguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.

Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.

mål

aim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldthey

anerkende

recognizeaslaudable;

nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.

“Whatishe?”

murmursonegray

skygge

shadowofmyforefatherstotheother.

“A

forfatter

writerofstory-books!

Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?

Why,thedegenerate

fyr

fellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”

Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!

Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.

Plantet

Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;

always,too,inrespectability;

never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthy

medlem

member;

butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,

udfører

performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwarda

krav

claimtopublicnotice.

Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutof

syne

sight;

asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.

Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;

agray-headedshipmaster,ineach

generation

generation,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthe

salt

saltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.

Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehis

støv

dustwiththenatalearth.

Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,

skaber

createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.

Itisnotlove,butinstinct.

Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffroma

fremmed

foreignland,orwhosefatheror

bedstefar

grandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;

hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthird

århundrede

centuryiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.

Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;

thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudand

støv

dust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestof

sociale

socialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.

Thespell

overlever

survives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthly

paradis

paradise.

Sohasitbeeninmycase.

Ifeltitalmostasa

skæbne

destinytomakeSalemmyhome;

sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastof

karakter

characterwhichhadallalongbeen

bekendt

familiarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhis

grav

grave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenand

genkendt

recognizedintheoldtown.

Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.

Humannaturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbe

plantet

plantedandreplanted,fortoolonga

række

seriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.

Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shall

slå

striketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.

OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmeto

fylde

fillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.

Mydoomwasonme.

Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;

orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreofthe

universet

universe.

So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwas

introduceret

introducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweighty

ansvar

responsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.

Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthe

civile

civilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.

ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.

Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolof

politiske

politicalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.

Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;

and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourof

fare

dangerandheart-quake.

GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;

amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;

attachinghimselfstronglyto

velkendte

familiarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.

Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.

Theywere

gamle

ancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;

where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.

Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.

Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;

but,afteratorpid

vinter

winter,wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineofMayor

Juni

June,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.

Imustplead

skyldig

guiltytothechargeofabbreviatingthe

officielle

officialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.

Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.

Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.

Neitherthefrontnortheback

indgang

entranceoftheCustom-Houseopensontheroadto

Paradis

Paradise.

ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.

ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neither

modtog

receivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferenceto

politiske

politicalservices.

Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,to

påtage sig

assumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathof

officielle

officiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.

Accordingtothereceived

kode

codeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.

Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.

Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthat

deltog

attendedmyadvent;

toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfa

århundrede

centuryofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;

todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselfto

tavshed

silence.

Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirown

mangel

lackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplaceto

yngre

youngermen,moreorthodoxin

politik

politics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvesto

tjene

serveourcommonUncle.

Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactuponthe

viden

knowledge.

Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,

derfor

therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmy

officielle

officialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.

Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;

awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersigns

blandt

amongthem.

Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreat

skade

harminhim.

So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforour

elskede

belovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.

Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!

Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowed

større

greateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!

Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,and

direkte

directlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,and

sikre

securewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.

Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;

taknemmelig

gratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.

Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.

Thebetterpartofmycompanion’s

karakter

character,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyI

genkender

recognizetheman.

AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthof

venlige

friendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.

Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,a

række

rowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;

whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwith

latter

laughterfromtheirlips.

Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchin

fælles

commonwiththemirthofchildren;

theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;

itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.

Inonecase,however,itisrealsunshine;

intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecaying

træ

wood.

Itwouldbesadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.

Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;

thereweremen

blandt

amongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarked

evne

abilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.

Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.

But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.

Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthe

gyldne

goldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmost

omhyggeligt

carefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.

Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhad

vidne

witnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.

ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanent

Inspektør

Inspector.

Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthepurple;

sincehissire,aRevolutionary

oberst

colonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andappointedhimto

fylde

fillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.

This

Inspektør

Inspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbe

tilbøjelige

likelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.

Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedblue

frakke

coat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureinthe

form

shapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.

Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;

theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.

Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactory

objekt

object,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,or

næsten

nearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.

ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,ona

regelmæssig

regularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.

The

oprindelige

originalandmorepotentcauses,however,layinthe

sjældne

rareperfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;

theselatterqualities,

faktisk

indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheold

gentleman

gentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.

Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;

nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhis

fysiske

physicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaheart.

Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;

thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageof

barndom

childhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedto

støv

dust.

Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.

Notsowithourold

Inspektør

Inspector!

Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.

Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyfor

sport

sportasanyunbreechedinfant;

farreadierthantheCollector’s

junior

juniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.

Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.

Hewas,intruth,ararephenomenon;

soperfect,inonepointofview;

soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.

Myconclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;

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