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The Scarlet Letter | Progressively Translated Dutch A1 Books

The Scarlet Letter | Progressively Translated Dutch A1 Books

Unlock the potential of this modern translation approach, designed to enhance your language learning experience. By allowing you to choose your difficulty level, it guarantees a personalized challenge that's suited to your progress. This method promotes comprehension by encouraging you to infer the meaning of new words from context, rather than relying heavily on direct translations. Though some translations are obscured to stimulate guessing, it's perfectly fine to consult a dictionary when needed. This technique combines challenge and support, making language learning fun and effective. Explore these translated classics to enjoy literature while advancing your language skills.

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tis
een
alittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedto
praten
talkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,
en
andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmy
leven
lifehavetakenpossessionof
me
me,inaddressingthepublic.
De
Thefirsttimewasthree
of
orfouryearssince,whenIfavored
de
thereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthly
reden
reason,thateithertheindulgentreader
of
ortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmy
manier
wayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
En
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwas
gelukkig
happyenoughtofindalistener
of
ortwoontheformeroccasion—I
weer
againseizethepublicbythebutton,
en
andtalkofmythreeyears’experiencein
een
aCustom-House.
Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,Clerkof
deze
thisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfully
gevolgd
followed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,
wanneer
whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywho
zullen
willflingasidehisvolume,
of
ornevertakeitup,butthefewwho
zullen
willunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmates
of
orlifemates.
Someauthors,indeed,
doen
dofarmorethanthis,
en
andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationas
kunnen
couldfittinglybeaddressed,only
en
andexclusively,totheone
hart
heartandmindofperfectsympathy;
asiftheprinted
boek
book,thrownatlargeonthewide
wereld
world,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’s
eigen
ownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistenceby
brengen
bringinghimintocommunionwithit.
Itisscarcelydecorous,however,to
spreken
speakall,evenwherewe
spreken
speakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozen
en
andutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeaker
staat
standinsometruerelation
met
withhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimagine
dat
thatafriend,akind
en
andapprehensive,thoughnottheclosest
vriend
friend,islisteningtoourtalk;
en
andthen,anativereservebeingthawedby
dit
thisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateof
de
thecircumstancesthatliearound
ons
us,andevenofourself,
maar
butstillkeeptheinmostMe
achter
behinditsveil.
Tothisextent,
en
andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,
kan
maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeither
de
thereader’srightsorhis
eigen
own.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,that
deze
thisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,of
een
akindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghow
een
alargeportionofthefollowingpages
gekomen
cameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityof
een
anarrativethereincontained.
This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,
of
orverylittlemore,ofthe
meest
mostprolixamongthetales
die
thatmakeupmyvolume,—this,
en
andnoother,ismytrue
reden
reasonforassumingapersonalrelation
met
withthepublic.
Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,it
heeft
hasappearedallowable,bya
paar
fewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,
samen
togetherwithsomeofthecharacters
die
thatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedto
gemaakt
makeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,atthe
hoofd
headofwhat,halfacentury
geleden
ago,inthedaysof
oude
oldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—but
die
whichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,
en
andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommercial
leven
life;
except,perhaps,abark
of
orbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;
of
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthe
hoofd
head,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,
die
whichthetideoftenoverflows,
en
andalongwhich,atthebase
en
andintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackof
vele
manylanguidyearsisseenin
een
aborderofunthriftygrass,—here,
met
withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnot
erg
veryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,
staat
standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.
Fromtheloftiest
punt
pointofitsroof,duringprecisely
drie
threeandahalfhoursof
elke
eachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreeze
of
orcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;
maar
butwiththethirteenstripes
gedraaid
turnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,
en
andthusindicatingthatacivil,
en
andnotamilitarypostof
Oom
UncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.
Its
voorkant
frontisornamentedwithaporticoof
half
halfadozenwoodenpillars,supporting
een
abalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowards
de
thestreet.
Overtheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenof
de
theAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,
en
and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderbolts
en
andbarbedarrowsineachclaw.
Met
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemper
die
thatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,by
de
thefiercenessofherbeak
en
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischiefto
de
theinoffensivecommunity;
andespeciallytowarn
alle
allcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,
tegen
againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadows
met
withherwings.
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,
veel
manypeopleareseeking,at
dit
thisverymoment,toshelterthemselves
onder
underthewingofthefederaleagle;
imagining,Ipresume,
dat
thatherbosomhasallthesoftness
en
andsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.
Maar
Butshehasnogreattenderness,
zelfs
eveninherbestofmoods,
en
and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoon
dan
thanlate,—isapttofling
af
offhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,
een
adabofherbeak,
of
oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwe
kunnen
mayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrass
genoeg
enoughgrowinginitschinksto
laten zien
showthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornby
een
anymultitudinousresortofbusiness.
In
sommige
somemonthsoftheyear,however,
er
thereoftenchancesaforenoon
wanneer
whenaffairsmoveonwardwith
een
aliveliertread.
Suchoccasions
kunnen
mightremindtheelderlycitizenof
die
thatperiodbeforethelast
oorlog
warwithEngland,whenSalemwas
een
aportbyitself;
notscorned,assheis
nu
now,byherownmerchants
en
andship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,
terwijl
whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlessly
en
andimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYork
of
orBoston.
Onsomesuch
ochtend
morning,whenthreeorfourvessels
toevallig
happentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfrica
of
orSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,
er
thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyup
en
anddownthegranitesteps.
Hier
Here,beforehisownwife
heeft
hasgreetedhim,youmaygreet
de
thesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,
met
withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,in
een
atarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,
komt
comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,gracious
of
orinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeof
de
thenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandise
die
thatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,
of
orhasburiedhimunder
een
abulkofincommodities,suchas
niemand
nobodywillcaretoridhim
van
of.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—we
hebben
havethesmartyoungclerk,
die
whogetsthetasteoftrafficas
een
awolf-cubdoesofblood,
en
andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehad
beter
betterbesailingmimic-boatsupon
een
amill-pond.
Anotherfigurein
de
thesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestof
een
aprotection;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,pale
en
andfeeble,seekingapassporttothe
ziekenhuis
hospital.
Normustweforget
de
thecaptainsoftherusty
kleine
littleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfrom
de
theBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,
zonder
withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,
maar
butcontributinganitemof
geen
noslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.
Cluster
al
alltheseindividualstogether,asthey
soms
sometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,
en
and,forthetimebeing,it
maakte
madetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,you
zou
woulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,
of
orintheirappropriaterooms,
als
ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,
zittend
sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsback
tegen
againstthewall.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,
maar
butoccasionallymightbeheard
praten
talkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeech
en
andasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,
en
andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,
of
oranythingelse,buttheir
eigen
ownindependentexertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,
zoals
likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,
maar
butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,
zoals
likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,on
de
thelefthandasyouenter
de
thefrontdoor,isacertain
kamer
roomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,
en
andofaloftyheight;
met
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommanding
een
aviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,
en
andthethirdlookingacross
een
anarrowlane,andalong
een
aportionofDerbyStreet.
Alle
Allthreegiveglimpsesof
de
theshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,
en
andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsof
die
whicharegenerallytobe
zien
seen,laughingandgossiping,clustersof
oude
oldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingof
een
aseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,
en
anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewn
met
withgraysand,inafashion
die
thathaselsewherefalleninto
lang
longdisuse;
anditis
gemakkelijk
easytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessofthe
plaats
place,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,
met
withhertoolsofmagic,thebroom
en
andmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.
In
het
thewayoffurniture,thereis
een
astovewithavoluminousfunnel;
an
oud
oldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
twee
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepit
en
andinfirm;
and—nottoforget
de
thelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascore
of
ortwoofvolumesof
de
theActsofCongress,and
een
abulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Een
Atinpipeascendsthrough
het
theceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunication
met
withotherpartsoftheedifice.
En
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,
of
orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,
met
withhiselbowonthedesk,
en
andhiseyeswanderingup
en
anddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmight
had
haverecognized,honoredreader,the
dezelfde
sameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeery
kleine
littlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantly
door
throughthewillowbranches,onthewestern
kant
sideoftheOldManse.
Maar
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseek
hem
him,youwouldinquireinvainfor
de
theLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomofreform
heeft
hasswepthimoutofoffice;
en
andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,
en
andpocketshisemoluments.
This
oude
oldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughI
heb
havedweltmuchawayfromit,
zowel
bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,
of
ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,
de
theforceofwhichI
heb
haveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidence
hier
here.
Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,
met
withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchiefly
met
withwoodenhouses,fewornoneof
die
whichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,
die
whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,
maar
butonlytame,—itslongandlazy
straat
street,loungingwearisomelythroughthe
hele
wholeextentofthepeninsula,
met
withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatone
uiteinde
end,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.
En
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,
er
thereiswithinmea
gevoel
feelingforoldSalem,which,inlackof
een
abetterphrase,Imustbecontentto
noemen
callaffection.
Thesentimentis
waarschijnlijk
probablyassignabletothedeep
en
andagedrootswhichmy
familie
familyhasstruckintothesoil.
Itis
nu
nownearlytwocenturiesand
een
aquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmy
naam
name,madehisappearanceinthewild
en
andforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassince
geworden
becomeacity.
Andherehisdescendants
hebben
havebeenbornanddied,
en
andhavemingledtheirearthysubstance
met
withthesoil;
untilno
klein
smallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,for
een
alittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Weinig
Fewofmycountrymencan
weten
knowwhatitis;
nor,asfrequenttransplantationis
misschien
perhapsbetterforthestock,
moeten
needtheyconsideritdesirableto
weten
know.
Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
De
Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedby
familie
familytraditionwithadim
en
andduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,as
ver
farbackasIcan
herinneren
remember.
Itstillhauntsme,
en
andinducesasortofhome-feeling
met
withthepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthe
stad
town.
Iseemtohave
een
astrongerclaimtoaresidence
hier
hereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloaked
en
andsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,
met
withhisBibleandhissword,
en
andtrodetheunwornstreet
met
withsuchastatelyport,
en
andmadesolargeafigure,as
een
amanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaim
dan
thanformyself,whosenameisseldom
gehoord
heardandmyfacehardlyknown.
Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewas
een
arulerintheChurch;
he
had
hadallthePuritanictraits,
zowel
bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,who
hebben
haverememberedhimintheirhistories,
en
andrelateanincidentofhis
harde
hardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,which
zal
willlastlonger,itistobefeared,
dan
thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
His
zoon
son,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,
en
andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,
dat
thattheirbloodmayfairlybe
gezegd
saidtohaveleftastainupon
hem
him.
Sodeepastain,indeed,
dat
thathisolddrybones,in
de
theCharterStreetburial-ground,must
nog steeds
stillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!
I
weet
knownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,
en
andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyare
nu
nowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,in
andere
anotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,
Ik
I,thepresentwriter,astheirrepresentative,hereby
nemen
takeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,
en
andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asI
heb
haveheard,andasthedreary
en
andunprosperousconditionoftherace,for
vele
manyalongyearback,
zou
wouldarguetoexist—maybe
nu
nowandhenceforthremoved.
Doubtless,however,eitherofthesestern
en
andblack-browedPuritanswouldhave
gedacht
thoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,
dat
that,aftersolongalapseofyears,the
oude
oldtrunkofthefamilytree,
met
withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,should
hebben
haveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Geen
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,
zou
wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
geen
nosuccessofmine—ifmy
leven
life,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwise
dan
thanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmurs
ene
onegrayshadowofmyforefathersto
de
theother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindof
een
abusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifying
God
God,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhis
dag
dayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Waarom
Why,thedegeneratefellowmightas
goed
wellhavebeenafiddler!”
Suchare
de
thecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsires
en
andmyself,acrossthegulfof
tijd
time!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnature
hebben
haveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancy
en
andchildhood,bythesetwoearnest
en
andenergeticmen,therace
heeft
haseversincesubsistedhere;
altijd
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhave
weet
known,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;
maar
butseldomornever,onthe
andere
otherhand,afterthefirst
twee
twogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,
of
orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Gradually,theyhavesunk
bijna
almostoutofsight;
as
oude
oldhouses,hereandthere
over
aboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-wayto
de
theeavesbytheaccumulationof
nieuwe
newsoil.
Fromfatherto
zoon
son,foraboveahundredyears,they
volgden
followedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,in
elke
eachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,
terwijl
whileaboyoffourteen
nam
tookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltspray
en
andthegale,whichhadblustered
tegen
againsthissireandgrandsire.
De
Theboy,also,indue
tijd
time,passedfromtheforecastleto
de
thecabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,
en
andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrow
oud
old,anddie,andminglehisdust
met
withthenatalearth.
This
lange
longconnectionofafamily
met
withonespot,asits
plaats
placeofbirthandburial,createsakindred
tussen
betweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthescenery
of
ormoralcircumstancesthatsurround
hem
him.
Itisnotlove,
maar
butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—who
kwam
camehimselffromaforeignland,
of
orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—has
weinig
littleclaimtobecalled
een
aSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionof
de
theoyster-liketenacitywithwhich
een
anoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingsto
de
thespotwherehissuccessivegenerations
heeft
havebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatter
dat
thattheplaceisjoylessfor
hem
him;
thatheiswearyofthe
oude
oldwoodenhouses,themud
en
anddust,thedeadlevelofsite
en
andsentiment,thechilleastwind,
en
andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,
en
andwhateverfaultsbesideshe
kan
mayseeorimagine,are
niets
nothingtothepurpose.
Thespellsurvives,
en
andjustaspowerfullyasif
de
thenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmy
geval
case.
Ifeltitalmostas
een
adestinytomakeSalemmy
thuis
home;
sothatthemouldoffeatures
en
andcastofcharacterwhichhad
al
allalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,as
een
onerepresentativeoftherace
lag
laydowninhisgrave,
ander
anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-march
langs
alongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmy
kleine
littledaybeseenandrecognizedinthe
oude
oldtown.
Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethat
de
theconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,
moet
shouldatlastbesevered.
Menselijke
Humannaturewillnotflourish,any
meer
morethanapotato,ifitbeplanted
en
andreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthe
dezelfde
sameworn-outsoil.
Mychildren
hebben
havehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmy
controle
control,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomed
aarde
earth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschiefly
deze
thisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,
die
thatbroughtmetofill
een
aplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,
toen
whenImightaswell,
of
orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
Mydoomwason
mij
me.
Itwasnotthe
eerste
firsttime,northesecond,
dat
thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethe
slechte
badhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereforme
het
theinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.
So,
een
onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,
met
withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,
en
andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemen
die
whoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.
Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryof
de
theUnitedStates,eitherin
de
thecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveterans
onder
underhisordersasmyself.
De
ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,
toen
whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbefore
dit
thisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollector
had
hadkepttheSalemCustom-House
uit
outofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.
Een
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—he
stond
stoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
en
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhe
had
hadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesin
vele
manyanhourofdanger
en
andheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
een
amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabit
had
hadnoslightinfluence;
attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,
en
andwithdifficultymovedto
veranderen
change,evenwhenchangemight
had
havebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,I
vond
foundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,for
het
themostpart,who,afterbeingtoston
elke
everysea,andstandingupsturdily
tegen
againstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedinto
deze
thisquietnook;
where,with
weinig
littletodisturbthem,except
de
theperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquireda
nieuwe
newleaseofexistence.
Thoughbynomeanslessliable
dan
thantheirfellow-mentoage
en
andinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalisman
of
orotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twee
Twoorthreeoftheir
aantal
number,asIwasassured,beinggouty
en
andrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,
nooit
neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,during
een
alargepartofthe
jaar
year;
but,afteratorpidwinter,
zou
wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineof
Mei
MayorJune,golazily
over
aboutwhattheytermedduty,
en
and,attheirownleisure
en
andconvenience,betakethemselvesto
bed
bedagain.
Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathof
meer
morethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.
Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,to
rusten
restfromtheirarduouslabors,
en
andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverily
geloof
believeitwas—withdrewtoabetter
wereld
world.
Itisapiousconsolationto
mij
me,that,throughmyinterference,
een
asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevil
en
andcorruptpracticesintowhich,as
een
amatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficer
moet
mustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-House
opent
opensontheroadtoParadise.
Het
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwas
goed
wellfortheirvenerablebrotherhood
dat
thatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,
en
andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisoffice
met
withanyreferencetopoliticalservices.
Hebben
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputinto
deze
thisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakinghead
tegen
againstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlya
man
manoftheoldcorps
zou
wouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficial
leven
life,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangel
hebben
hadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.
Accordingtothereceivedcodein
dergelijke
suchmatters,itwouldhavebeen
niets
nothingshortofduty,inapolitician,to
brengen
bringeveryoneofthose
witte
whiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.
Itwasplain
genoeg
enoughtodiscern,thatthe
oude
oldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,
en
andatthesametimeamused
me
me,tobeholdtheterrors
die
thatattendedmyadvent;
to
zien
seeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenby
halve
halfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;
todetect,asone
of
oranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,
die
which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellow
door
throughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.
They
wisten
knew,theseexcellentoldpersons,
dat
that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregarded
sommige
someofthem,weighedbytheir
eigen
ownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughtto
hadden
havegivenplacetoyoungermen,
meer
moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitter
dan
thanthemselvestoserveourcommon
Oom
Uncle.
Iknewittoo,
maar
butcouldneverquitefindinmy
hart
hearttoactupontheknowledge.
Veel
Muchanddeservedlytomy
eigen
owndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablyto
de
thedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreep
over
aboutthewharves,andloiterup
en
anddowntheCustom-Housesteps.
Theyspent
een
agooddealoftime,
ook
also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,
met
withtheirchairstiltedback
tegen
againstthewall;
awaking,however,once
of
ortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanother
met
withtheseveralthousandthrepetitionof
oude
oldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,
die
thathadgrowntobepasswords
en
andcountersignsamongthem.
Thediscoverywas
snel
soonmade,Iimagine,that
de
thenewSurveyorhadno
groot
greatharminhim.
So,
met
withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheir
eigen
ownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—these
goede
goodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesof
kantoor
office.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepinto
de
theholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfuss
over
aboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,
soms
sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslip
tussen
betweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuch
een
amischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,
misschien
perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothing
kon
couldexceedthevigilanceandalacrity
met
withwhichtheyproceededtolock,
en
anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtape
en
andsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.
Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,the
zaak
caseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,
nadat
afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,the
moment
momentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.
Unless
mensen
peoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontract
een
akindnessforthem.
The
beter
betterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,
als
ifithaveabetter
deel
part,isthatwhichusually
komt
comesuppermostinmyregard,
en
andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizethe
man
man.
Asmostofthese
oude
oldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,
en
andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternal
en
andprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,I
snel
soongrewtolikethem
al
all.
Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,
die
thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthe
menselijke
humanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasantto
horen
hearthemchattinginthebackentry,
een
arowofthemalltipped
tegen
againstthewall,asusual;
terwijl
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,
en
andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,
de
thejollityofagedmen
heeft
hasmuchincommonwith
de
themirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,
heeft
haslittletodowiththe
zaak
matter;
itis,withboth,
een
agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,
en
andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,
en
andgray,moulderingtrunk.
Inone
geval
case,however,itisrealsunshine;
inthe
andere
other,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
It
zou
wouldbesadinjustice,thereader
moet
mustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellent
oude
oldfriendsasintheirdotage.
In
de
thefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariably
oud
old;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrength
en
andprime,ofmarkedability
en
andenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggish
en
anddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstars
hadden
hadcastthem.
Then,moreover,the
witte
whitelocksofagewere
soms
sometimesfoundtobethethatchof
een
anintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
Maar
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,
er
therewillbenowrong
gedaan
done,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyas
een
asetofwearisomeoldsouls,
die
whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungaway
al
allthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,
en
andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.
They
spraken
spokewithfarmoreinterest
en
andunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,
of
oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’s
avondeten
dinner,thanoftheshipwreckofforty
of
orfiftyyearsago,and
al
alltheworld’swonderswhichthey
hadden
hadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
The
vader
fatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,not
alleen
onlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,
maar
but,Iamboldto
zeggen
say,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersall
over
overtheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanentInspector.
He
kunnen
mighttrulybetermedalegitimate
zoon
sonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,
of
or,rather,borninthepurple;
sinds
sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,
en
andformerlycollectoroftheport,
had
hadcreatedanofficefor
hem
him,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyages
die
whichfewlivingmencan
nu
nowremember.
ThisInspector,whenI
eerst
firstknewhim,wasa
man
manoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,
en
andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-green
die
thatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.
Met
Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedin
een
abright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbrisk
en
andvigorousstep,andhishale
en
andheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—not
jong
young,indeed—butakindof
nieuwe
newcontrivanceofMotherNaturein
de
theshapeofman,whomage
en
andinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.
Hisvoice
en
andlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoed
door
throughtheCustom-House,hadnothingof
de
thetremulousquaverandcackleof
een
anoldman’sutterance;
they
kwamen
camestruttingoutofhislungs,
als
likethecrowofacock,
of
ortheblastofaclarion.
Kijken
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—and
er
therewasverylittleelseto
kijken
lookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,from
de
thethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,
en
andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoy
alle
all,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhe
had
hadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.
Thecarelesssecurityofhis
leven
lifeintheCustom-House,on
een
aregularincome,andwith
maar
butslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,
had
hadnodoubtcontributedto
maken
maketimepasslightlyover
hem
him.
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,
lag
layintherareperfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,
en
andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoral
en
andspiritualingredients;
theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarely
genoeg
enoughmeasuretokeepthe
oude
oldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
Hepossessed
geen
nopowerofthought,nodepthof
gevoel
feeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,
maar
butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedby
de
thecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitably
uit
outofhisphysicalwell-being,
deed
diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuof
een
aheart.
Hehadbeen
de
thehusbandofthreewives,all
lang
longsincedead;
thefatheroftwenty
kinderen
children,mostofwhom,at
elke
everyageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewise
teruggekeerd
returnedtodust.
Here,one
zou
wouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrow
genoeg
enoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,
door
throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
Notso
met
withouroldInspector!
Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryoff
de
theentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.
Het
Thenextmoment,hewasas
klaar
readyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadier
dan
thantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,
die
who,atnineteenyears,wasmuch
de
theelderandgravermanof
de
thetwo.
Iusedto
bekeek
watchandstudythispatriarchalpersonage
met
with,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,
dan
thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,
een
ararephenomenon;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,in
elk
everyother.
Myconclusionwas
dat
thathehadnosoul,
geen
noheart,nomind;