THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tis
een
alittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtopraten
talkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,en
andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmyleven
lifehavetakenpossessionofme
me,inaddressingthepublic.De
Thefirsttimewasthreeof
orfouryearssince,whenIfavoredde
thereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreden
reason,thateithertheindulgentreaderof
ortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmymanier
wayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.En
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwasgelukkig
happyenoughtofindalistenerof
ortwoontheformeroccasion—Iweer
againseizethepublicbythebutton,en
andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceineen
aCustom-House.Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,Clerkof
deze
thisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullygevolgd
followed.Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,
wanneer
whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhozullen
willflingasidehisvolume,of
ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhozullen
willunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesof
orlifemates.Someauthors,indeed,
doen
dofarmorethanthis,en
andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationaskunnen
couldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyen
andexclusively,totheonehart
heartandmindofperfectsympathy;asiftheprinted
boek
book,thrownatlargeonthewidewereld
world,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’seigen
ownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybrengen
bringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,to
spreken
speakall,evenwherewespreken
speakimpersonally.But,asthoughtsarefrozen
en
andutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstaat
standinsometruerelationmet
withhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginedat
thatafriend,akinden
andapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestvriend
friend,islisteningtoourtalk;en
andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbydit
thisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofde
thecircumstancesthatliearoundons
us,andevenofourself,maar
butstillkeeptheinmostMeachter
behinditsveil.Tothisextent,
en
andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,kan
maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherde
thereader’srightsorhiseigen
own.Itwillbeseen,likewise,that
deze
thisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofeen
akindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghoween
alargeportionofthefollowingpagesgekomen
cameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofeen
anarrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,
of
orverylittlemore,ofthemeest
mostprolixamongthetalesdie
thatmakeupmyvolume,—this,en
andnoother,ismytruereden
reasonforassumingapersonalrelationmet
withthepublic.Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,it
heeft
hasappearedallowable,byapaar
fewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,samen
togetherwithsomeofthecharactersdie
thatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtogemaakt
makeone.InmynativetownofSalem,atthe
hoofd
headofwhat,halfacenturygeleden
ago,inthedaysofoude
oldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butdie
whichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,en
andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommercialleven
life;except,perhaps,abark
of
orbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;of
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehoofd
head,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,die
whichthetideoftenoverflows,en
andalongwhich,atthebaseen
andintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofvele
manylanguidyearsisseenineen
aborderofunthriftygrass,—here,met
withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnoterg
veryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,staat
standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiest
punt
pointofitsroof,duringpreciselydrie
threeandahalfhoursofelke
eachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeof
orcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;maar
butwiththethirteenstripesgedraaid
turnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,en
andthusindicatingthatacivil,en
andnotamilitarypostofOom
UncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.Its
voorkant
frontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalf
halfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingeen
abalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsde
thestreet.Overtheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenof
de
theAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,en
and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsen
andbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Met
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperdie
thatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,byde
thefiercenessofherbeaken
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftode
theinoffensivecommunity;andespeciallytowarn
alle
allcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,tegen
againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowsmet
withherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,
veel
manypeopleareseeking,atdit
thisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesonder
underthewingofthefederaleagle;imagining,Ipresume,
dat
thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessen
andsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.Maar
Butshehasnogreattenderness,zelfs
eveninherbestofmoods,en
and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoondan
thanlate,—isapttoflingaf
offhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,een
adabofherbeak,of
oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwe
kunnen
mayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassgenoeg
enoughgrowinginitschinkstolaten zien
showthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyeen
anymultitudinousresortofbusiness.In
sommige
somemonthsoftheyear,however,er
thereoftenchancesaforenoonwanneer
whenaffairsmoveonwardwitheen
aliveliertread.Suchoccasions
kunnen
mightremindtheelderlycitizenofdie
thatperiodbeforethelastoorlog
warwithEngland,whenSalemwaseen
aportbyitself;notscorned,assheis
nu
now,byherownmerchantsen
andship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,terwijl
whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyen
andimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkof
orBoston.Onsomesuch
ochtend
morning,whenthreeorfourvesselstoevallig
happentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaof
orSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,er
thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupen
anddownthegranitesteps.Hier
Here,beforehisownwifeheeft
hasgreetedhim,youmaygreetde
thesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,met
withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,ineen
atarnishedtinbox.Here,too,
komt
comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousof
orinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofde
thenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisedie
thatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,of
orhasburiedhimundereen
abulkofincommodities,suchasniemand
nobodywillcaretoridhimvan
of.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—we
hebben
havethesmartyoungclerk,die
whogetsthetasteoftrafficaseen
awolf-cubdoesofblood,en
andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbeter
betterbesailingmimic-boatsuponeen
amill-pond.Anotherfigurein
de
thesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofeen
aprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,pale
en
andfeeble,seekingapassporttotheziekenhuis
hospital.Normustweforget
de
thecaptainsoftherustykleine
littleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromde
theBritishprovinces;arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,
zonder
withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,maar
butcontributinganitemofgeen
noslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.Cluster
al
alltheseindividualstogether,astheysoms
sometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,en
and,forthetimebeing,itmaakte
madetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,you
zou
woulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,of
orintheirappropriaterooms,als
ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,zittend
sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbacktegen
againstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,
maar
butoccasionallymightbeheardpraten
talkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechen
andasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,en
andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,of
oranythingelse,buttheireigen
ownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,
zoals
likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,maar
butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,zoals
likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.Furthermore,on
de
thelefthandasyouenterde
thefrontdoor,isacertainkamer
roomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,en
andofaloftyheight;met
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingeen
aviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,en
andthethirdlookingacrosseen
anarrowlane,andalongeen
aportionofDerbyStreet.Alle
Allthreegiveglimpsesofde
theshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,en
andship-chandlers;aroundthedoorsof
die
whicharegenerallytobezien
seen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoude
oldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofeen
aseaport.Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,
en
anddingywitholdpaint;itsfloorisstrewn
met
withgraysand,inafashiondie
thathaselsewherefallenintolang
longdisuse;anditis
gemakkelijk
easytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplaats
place,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,met
withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomen
andmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.In
het
thewayoffurniture,thereiseen
astovewithavoluminousfunnel;an
oud
oldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;twee
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepiten
andinfirm;and—nottoforget
de
thelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreof
ortwoofvolumesofde
theActsofCongress,andeen
abulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.Een
Atinpipeascendsthroughhet
theceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationmet
withotherpartsoftheedifice.En
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,of
orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,met
withhiselbowonthedesk,en
andhiseyeswanderingupen
anddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthad
haverecognized,honoredreader,thedezelfde
sameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerykleine
littlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlydoor
throughthewillowbranches,onthewesternkant
sideoftheOldManse.Maar
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhem
him,youwouldinquireinvainforde
theLocofocoSurveyor.Thebesomofreform
heeft
hasswepthimoutofoffice;en
andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,en
andpocketshisemoluments.This
oude
oldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIheb
havedweltmuchawayfromit,zowel
bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,of
ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,de
theforceofwhichIheb
haveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehier
here.Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,
met
withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflymet
withwoodenhouses,fewornoneofdie
whichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,die
whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,maar
butonlytame,—itslongandlazystraat
street,loungingwearisomelythroughthehele
wholeextentofthepeninsula,met
withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneuiteinde
end,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.En
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,er
thereiswithinmeagevoel
feelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofeen
abetterphrase,Imustbecontenttonoemen
callaffection.Thesentimentis
waarschijnlijk
probablyassignabletothedeepen
andagedrootswhichmyfamilie
familyhasstruckintothesoil.Itis
nu
nownearlytwocenturiesandeen
aquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmynaam
name,madehisappearanceinthewilden
andforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincegeworden
becomeacity.Andherehisdescendants
hebben
havebeenbornanddied,en
andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancemet
withthesoil;untilno
klein
smallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foreen
alittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Weinig
Fewofmycountrymencanweten
knowwhatitis;nor,asfrequenttransplantationis
misschien
perhapsbetterforthestock,moeten
needtheyconsideritdesirabletoweten
know.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
De
Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilie
familytraditionwithadimen
andduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asver
farbackasIcanherinneren
remember.Itstillhauntsme,
en
andinducesasortofhome-feelingmet
withthepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthestad
town.Iseemtohave
een
astrongerclaimtoaresidencehier
hereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakeden
andsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,met
withhisBibleandhissword,en
andtrodetheunwornstreetmet
withsuchastatelyport,en
andmadesolargeafigure,aseen
amanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimdan
thanformyself,whosenameisseldomgehoord
heardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewas
een
arulerintheChurch;he
had
hadallthePuritanictraits,zowel
bothgoodandevil.Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,who
hebben
haverememberedhimintheirhistories,en
andrelateanincidentofhisharde
hardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichzal
willlastlonger,itistobefeared,dan
thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.His
zoon
son,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,en
andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,dat
thattheirbloodmayfairlybegezegd
saidtohaveleftastainuponhem
him.Sodeepastain,indeed,
dat
thathisolddrybones,inde
theCharterStreetburial-ground,mustnog steeds
stillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!I
weet
knownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,en
andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;orwhethertheyare
nu
nowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inandere
anotherstateofbeing.Atallevents,
Ik
I,thepresentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebynemen
takeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,en
andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIheb
haveheard,andasthedrearyen
andunprosperousconditionoftherace,forvele
manyalongyearback,zou
wouldarguetoexist—maybenu
nowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesestern
en
andblack-browedPuritanswouldhavegedacht
thoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,dat
that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoude
oldtrunkofthefamilytree,met
withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhebben
haveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Geen
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,zou
wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;geen
nosuccessofmine—ifmyleven
life,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisedan
thanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmurs
ene
onegrayshadowofmyforefatherstode
theother.“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindof
een
abusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod
God,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdag
dayandgeneration—maythatbe?Waarom
Why,thedegeneratefellowmightasgoed
wellhavebeenafiddler!”Suchare
de
thecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresen
andmyself,acrossthegulfoftijd
time!Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnature
hebben
haveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancy
en
andchildhood,bythesetwoearnesten
andenergeticmen,theraceheeft
haseversincesubsistedhere;altijd
always,too,inrespectability;never,sofarasIhave
weet
known,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;maar
butseldomornever,ontheandere
otherhand,afterthefirsttwee
twogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,of
orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.Gradually,theyhavesunk
bijna
almostoutofsight;as
oude
oldhouses,hereandthereover
aboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytode
theeavesbytheaccumulationofnieuwe
newsoil.Fromfatherto
zoon
son,foraboveahundredyears,theyvolgden
followedthesea;agray-headedshipmaster,in
elke
eachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,terwijl
whileaboyoffourteennam
tookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayen
andthegale,whichhadblusteredtegen
againsthissireandgrandsire.De
Theboy,also,induetijd
time,passedfromtheforecastletode
thecabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,en
andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowoud
old,anddie,andminglehisdustmet
withthenatalearth.This
lange
longconnectionofafamilymet
withonespot,asitsplaats
placeofbirthandburial,createsakindredtussen
betweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryof
ormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhem
him.Itisnotlove,
maar
butinstinct.Thenewinhabitant—who
kwam
camehimselffromaforeignland,of
orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—hasweinig
littleclaimtobecalledeen
aSalemite;hehasnoconceptionof
de
theoyster-liketenacitywithwhicheen
anoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstode
thespotwherehissuccessivegenerationsheeft
havebeenimbedded.Itisnomatter
dat
thattheplaceisjoylessforhem
him;thatheiswearyofthe
oude
oldwoodenhouses,themuden
anddust,thedeadlevelofsiteen
andsentiment,thechilleastwind,en
andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,en
andwhateverfaultsbesideshekan
mayseeorimagine,areniets
nothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,
en
andjustaspowerfullyasifde
thenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.Sohasitbeeninmy
geval
case.Ifeltitalmostas
een
adestinytomakeSalemmythuis
home;sothatthemouldoffeatures
en
andcastofcharacterwhichhadal
allalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,aseen
onerepresentativeoftheracelag
laydowninhisgrave,ander
anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchlangs
alongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmykleine
littledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoude
oldtown.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethat
de
theconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,moet
shouldatlastbesevered.Menselijke
Humannaturewillnotflourish,anymeer
morethanapotato,ifitbeplanteden
andreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthedezelfde
sameworn-outsoil.Mychildren
hebben
havehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrole
control,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedaarde
earth.OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschiefly
deze
thisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,die
thatbroughtmetofilleen
aplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,toen
whenImightaswell,of
orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwason
mij
me.Itwasnotthe
eerste
firsttime,northesecond,dat
thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,liketheslechte
badhalf-penny;orasifSalemwereforme
het
theinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.So,
een
onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,met
withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,en
andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemendie
whoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryof
de
theUnitedStates,eitherinde
thecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransonder
underhisordersasmyself.De
ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,toen
whenIlookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbefore
dit
thisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhad
hadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseuit
outofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.Een
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestond
stoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;en
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehad
hadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinvele
manyanhourofdangeren
andheart-quake.GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
een
amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithad
hadnoslightinfluence;attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,
en
andwithdifficultymovedtoveranderen
change,evenwhenchangemighthad
havebroughtunquestionableimprovement.Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,I
vond
foundfewbutagedmen.Theywereancientsea-captains,for
het
themostpart,who,afterbeingtostonelke
everysea,andstandingupsturdilytegen
againstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintodeze
thisquietnook;where,with
weinig
littletodisturbthem,exceptde
theperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanieuwe
newleaseofexistence.Thoughbynomeanslessliable
dan
thantheirfellow-mentoageen
andinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanof
orotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Twee
Twoorthreeoftheiraantal
number,asIwasassured,beinggoutyen
andrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,nooit
neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringeen
alargepartofthejaar
year;but,afteratorpidwinter,
zou
wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineofMei
MayorJune,golazilyover
aboutwhattheytermedduty,en
and,attheirownleisureen
andconvenience,betakethemselvestobed
bedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathof
meer
morethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,to
rusten
restfromtheirarduouslabors,en
andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilygeloof
believeitwas—withdrewtoabetterwereld
world.Itisapiousconsolationto
mij
me,that,throughmyinterference,een
asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilen
andcorruptpracticesintowhich,aseen
amatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermoet
mustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-House
opent
opensontheroadtoParadise.Het
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.Itwas
goed
wellfortheirvenerablebrotherhooddat
thatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,en
andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficemet
withanyreferencetopoliticalservices.Hebben
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintodeze
thisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadtegen
againstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyaman
manoftheoldcorpszou
wouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficialleven
life,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhebben
hadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceivedcodein
dergelijke
suchmatters,itwouldhavebeenniets
nothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobrengen
bringeveryoneofthosewitte
whiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplain
genoeg
enoughtodiscern,thattheoude
oldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.Itpained,
en
andatthesametimeamusedme
me,tobeholdtheterrorsdie
thatattendedmyadvent;to
zien
seeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalve
halfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;todetect,asone
of
oranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,die
which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowdoor
throughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.They
wisten
knew,theseexcellentoldpersons,dat
that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsommige
someofthem,weighedbytheireigen
ownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohadden
havegivenplacetoyoungermen,meer
moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterdan
thanthemselvestoserveourcommonOom
Uncle.Iknewittoo,
maar
butcouldneverquitefindinmyhart
hearttoactupontheknowledge.Veel
Muchanddeservedlytomyeigen
owndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytode
thedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepover
aboutthewharves,andloiterupen
anddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspent
een
agooddealoftime,ook
also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,met
withtheirchairstiltedbacktegen
againstthewall;awaking,however,once
of
ortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanothermet
withtheseveralthousandthrepetitionofoude
oldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,die
thathadgrowntobepasswordsen
andcountersignsamongthem.Thediscoverywas
snel
soonmade,Iimagine,thatde
thenewSurveyorhadnogroot
greatharminhim.So,
met
withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheireigen
ownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoede
goodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofkantoor
office.Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepinto
de
theholdsofvessels!Mightywastheirfuss
over
aboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,soms
sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestosliptussen
betweentheirfingers!Wheneversuch
een
amischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,misschien
perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingkon
couldexceedthevigilanceandalacritymet
withwhichtheyproceededtolock,en
anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeen
andsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,the
zaak
caseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,nadat
afterthemischiefhadhappened;agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,the
moment
momentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.Unless
mensen
peoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontracteen
akindnessforthem.The
beter
betterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,als
ifithaveabetterdeel
part,isthatwhichusuallykomt
comesuppermostinmyregard,en
andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman
man.Asmostofthese
oude
oldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,en
andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalen
andprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isnel
soongrewtolikethemal
all.Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,
die
thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthemenselijke
humanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohoren
hearthemchattinginthebackentry,een
arowofthemalltippedtegen
againstthewall,asusual;terwijl
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,en
andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.Externally,
de
thejollityofagedmenheeft
hasmuchincommonwithde
themirthofchildren;theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,
heeft
haslittletodowiththezaak
matter;itis,withboth,
een
agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,en
andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,en
andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inone
geval
case,however,itisrealsunshine;inthe
andere
other,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.It
zou
wouldbesadinjustice,thereadermoet
mustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoude
oldfriendsasintheirdotage.In
de
thefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyoud
old;thereweremenamongthemintheirstrength
en
andprime,ofmarkedabilityen
andenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishen
anddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadden
hadcastthem.Then,moreover,the
witte
whitelocksofageweresoms
sometimesfoundtobethethatchofeen
anintellectualtenementingoodrepair.Maar
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,er
therewillbenowronggedaan
done,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyaseen
asetofwearisomeoldsouls,die
whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungaway
al
allthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,en
andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.They
spraken
spokewithfarmoreinteresten
andunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,of
oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’savondeten
dinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyof
orfiftyyearsago,andal
alltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadden
hadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.The
vader
fatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notalleen
onlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,maar
but,Iamboldtozeggen
say,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallover
overtheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanentInspector.He
kunnen
mighttrulybetermedalegitimatezoon
sonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,of
or,rather,borninthepurple;sinds
sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,en
andformerlycollectoroftheport,had
hadcreatedanofficeforhem
him,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyagesdie
whichfewlivingmencannu
nowremember.ThisInspector,whenI
eerst
firstknewhim,wasaman
manoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,en
andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greendie
thatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.Met
Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedineen
abright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbrisken
andvigorousstep,andhishaleen
andheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notjong
young,indeed—butakindofnieuwe
newcontrivanceofMotherNatureinde
theshapeofman,whomageen
andinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.Hisvoice
en
andlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoeddoor
throughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofde
thetremulousquaverandcackleofeen
anoldman’sutterance;they
kwamen
camestruttingoutofhislungs,als
likethecrowofacock,of
ortheblastofaclarion.Kijken
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—ander
therewasverylittleelsetokijken
lookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromde
thethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,en
andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyalle
all,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehad
hadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.Thecarelesssecurityofhis
leven
lifeintheCustom-House,oneen
aregularincome,andwithmaar
butslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,had
hadnodoubtcontributedtomaken
maketimepasslightlyoverhem
him.Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,
lag
layintherareperfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,en
andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralen
andspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarely
genoeg
enoughmeasuretokeeptheoude
oldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.Hepossessed
geen
nopowerofthought,nodepthofgevoel
feeling,notroublesomesensibilities;nothing,inshort,
maar
butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbyde
thecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyuit
outofhisphysicalwell-being,deed
diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofeen
aheart.Hehadbeen
de
thehusbandofthreewives,alllang
longsincedead;thefatheroftwenty
kinderen
children,mostofwhom,atelke
everyageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewiseteruggekeerd
returnedtodust.Here,one
zou
wouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowgenoeg
enoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,door
throughandthrough,withasabletinge.Notso
met
withouroldInspector!Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryoff
de
theentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Het
Thenextmoment,hewasasklaar
readyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;farreadier
dan
thantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,die
who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchde
theelderandgravermanofde
thetwo.Iusedto
bekeek
watchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagemet
with,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,dan
thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,intruth,
een
ararephenomenon;soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,in
elk
everyother.Myconclusionwas
dat
thathehadnosoul,geen
noheart,nomind;