THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical
impuls
impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenbesiddelse
possessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent
læser
readerortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withabeskrivelse
descriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofinda
lytter
listenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagaingribe
seizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuch
fortrolige
confidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandudelukkende
exclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympati
sympathy;asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe
opdelt
dividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleofeksistens
existencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itis
næppe
scarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometrue
forhold
relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthenærmeste
closestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,anative
reserve
reservebeingthawedbythisgenialbevidsthed
consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsslør
veil.Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
forfatter
author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutkrænke
violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.Itwillbeseen,
ligeledes
likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalargedel
portionofthefollowingpagescameintomybesiddelse
possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofafortælling
narrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
redaktør
editor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonalforhold
relationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togivea
svag
faintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforebeskrevet
described,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnow
belastet
burdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andudviser
exhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;except,perhaps,a
bark
barkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylængde
length,discharginghides;or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther
last
cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningudsigt
prospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofmursten
brick.Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
præcist
preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,flyder
floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanner
banneroftherepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus
indikerer
indicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereetableret
established.Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
dusin
dozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalkon
balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.Overtheentrancehoversanenormous
eksemplar
specimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,askjold
shieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityof
temperament
temperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofhernæb
beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,totrue
threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,against
trænge
intrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.Ikke desto mindre
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;imagining,Ipresume,thather
bryst
bosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpude
pillow.Butshehasnogreat
ømhed
tenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofhernæb
beak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.The
fortovet
pavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmove
fremad
onwardwithaliveliertread.Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly
borger
citizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasahavn
portbyitself;notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
tillader
permitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotosvulme
swell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themægtige
mightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthe
randen
vergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundofhyppige
frequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
hilse
greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinhavnen
port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtin
tinbox.Here,too,comeshisowner,
munter
cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedrejse
voyagehasbeenrealizedinvarer
merchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbe
sejle
sailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound
sømand
sailorinquestofaprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,
bleg
paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.Normustweforgetthecaptainsofthe
rustne
rustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,but
bidrager
contributinganitemofnolille
slightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheir
bagben
hindlegsbackagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,but
lejlighedsvis
occasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythatadskiller
distinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceonvelgørenhed
charity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownuafhængige
independentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotvery
ansvarlig
liabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.Desuden
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyhøjde
height;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossa
smal
narrowlane,andalongadel
portionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhichare
generelt
generallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashjemsøge
haunttheWappingofaseaport.Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwith
grå
graysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasyto
konkludere
conclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thekost
broomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.Inthewayof
møbler
furniture,thereisastovewithavoluminoustragt
funnel;anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipe
stiger
ascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamedium
mediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyes
vandrede
wanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredlæser
reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthevestlige
westernsideoftheOldManse.Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
spørge
inquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthier
efterfølger
successorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordid
besidder
possess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.Indeed,sofarasitsphysical
aspekt
aspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslonganddovne
lazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthehalvøen
peninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimental
sentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter
sætning
phrase,Imustbecontenttocallhengivenhed
affection.Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe
jorden
soil.ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,the
tidligste
earliestemigrantofmyname,madehisoptræden
appearanceinthewildandforest-borderedbosættelse
settlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehis
efterkommere
descendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthystof
substancewiththesoil;untilnosmall
del
portionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothedødelige
mortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.Inpart,therefore,the
tilknytning
attachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympati
sympathyofdustfordust.Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,as
hyppig
frequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritønskeligt
desirabletoknow.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseits
moralske
moralquality.Thefigureofthatfirst
forfader
ancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichI
næppe
scarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentfase
phaseofthetown.Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa
bopæl
residencehereonaccountofthisgrave,skæggede
bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyhavn
port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameissjældent
seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
hersker
rulerintheChurch;hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewisea
bitre
bitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelatere
relateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,
arvede
inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayretfærdigt
fairlybesaidtohaveleftaplet
stainuponhim.Sodeepa
plet
stain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharter
CharterStreetburial-ground,muststillbeholde
retainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledhelt
utterlytodust!Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenow
stønner
groaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir
repræsentant
representative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquitea
tilstrækkelig
sufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemos
mossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits
hjemlige
domesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivt
positivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmursone
grå
grayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—what
måde
modeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomenneskeheden
mankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?Why,the
degenererede
degeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthe
kløft
gulfoftime!Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’s
tidligste
earliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergiske
energeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;
but
sjældent
seldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.Efterhånden
Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcovered
halvvejs
half-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewjord
soil.Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe
arvelige
hereditaryplacebeforethemast,konfrontere
confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentatempestuous
manddom
manhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andblande
minglehisdustwiththenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quite
uafhængig
independentofanycharminthesceneryormoralske
moralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.Itisnotlove,but
instinkt
instinct.Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheis
træt
wearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudder
mudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandfølelse
sentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
repræsentant
representativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.Ikke desto mindre
Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanusund
unhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Humannaturewillnot
blomstre
flourish,anymorethanakartoffel
potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outjord
soil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous
tilknytning
attachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformethe
uundgåelige
inevitablecentreoftheuniverse.So,onefinemorning,I
steg
ascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretohjælpe
aidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefadministrerende
executiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
The
opholdssted
whereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the
uafhængige
independentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerelt
generallysofragile.Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestood
fast
firmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwas
radikalt
radicallyconservative;amanoverwhosekindlynature
vane
habithadnoslightinfluence;knyttet
attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableforbedring
improvement.Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittleto
forstyrre
disturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallerhvervet
acquiredanewleaseofeksistens
existence.Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
åbenbart
evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
forsikret
assured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheiroptræden
appearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;but,afteratorpidwinter,would
krybe
creepoutintothewarmsolskin
sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownfritid
leisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.
Theywereallowed,onmy
repræsentation
representation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheireneste
soleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.Itisa
from
piousconsolationtome,that,throughmyindblanding
interference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandkorrupte
corruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerable
broderskab
brotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitiker
politician,andthoughafaithfulDemokrat
Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyhenvisning
referencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan
aktiv
activepoliticianbeenputintothisindflydelsesrige
influentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministration
administrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldkorps
corpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
politiker
politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheøksen
axeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellows
frygtede
dreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowed
kind
cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;to
opdage
detect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtoskræmme
frightenBoreashimselftosilence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byall
etablerede
establishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,vejet
weighedbytheirownlackofeffektivitet
efficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreortodokse
orthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and
betydeligt
considerablytothedetrimentofmyofficialsamvittighed
conscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tokrybe
creepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy
bevidsthed
consciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughtheforskellige
variousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mægtig
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadof
værdifulde
valuablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlyunder
beneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldovergå
exceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyfortsatte
proceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentskib
vessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheir
tidligere
previousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertokræve
requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthyforsigtighed
caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;agrateful
anerkendelse
recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranymiddel
remedy.Unlesspeoplearemorethan
almindeligt
commonlydisagreeable,itismytåbelige
foolishhabittocontractavenlighed
kindnessforthem.Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmy
henseende
regard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternaland
beskyttende
protective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,
blot
merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
the
intellekt
intellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor
humor,haslittletodowiththematter;itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa
solrig
sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreengren
branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,however,itisrealsunshine;
intheother,itmore
ligner
resemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.Itwouldbesad
uretfærdighed
injustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepræsentere
representallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,and
helt
altogethersuperiortothesluggishandafhængige
dependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthe
størstedelen
majorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerelt
generallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvarierede
variedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden
korn
grainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofhøste
harvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertain
permanent
permanentInspector.Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,
farvet
dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthelilla
purple;sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,and
tidligere
formerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto
opdage
discoverinalifetime’ssearch.Withhisflorid
kind
cheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspekt
aspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethe
krage
crowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.Lookingathim
blot
merelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamosttilfredsstillende
satisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhisevne
capacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular
indkomst
income,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsoffjernelse
removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare
perfektion
perfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateandel
proportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralske
moralandspiritualingredients;these
sidstnævnte
latterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmål
measuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.He
besad
possessednopowerofthought,nodybde
depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,
hjulpet
aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewuundgåeligt
inevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralaccept
acceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
modenhed
maturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen
sorg
sorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.NotsowithouroldInspector!
One
kort
briefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchthe
ældre
elderandgravermanofthetwo.Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
nysgerrighed
curiosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,intruth,arare
fænomen
phenomenon;soperfect,inonepointofview;
so
overfladisk
shallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolut
absolutenonentity,ineveryother.My
konklusion
conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;