THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomy
persoonlijke
personalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwee keer
twiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepubliek
public.Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethe
publiek
publicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’ervaring
experienceinaCustom-House.Theexampleofthe
beroemde
famous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.Thetruth
schijnt
seemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind
wind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;
asiftheprintedbook,
gegooid
thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werezeker
certaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnatuur
nature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,
echter
however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonableto
stellen
imaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowa
groot
largeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytrue
positie
positionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersoonlijke
personalrelationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;
behalve
except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetide
vaak
oftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceover
acrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,
gedurende
duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,
plaats
insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitaire
militarypostofUncleSam’sregering
governmentishereestablished.Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,
ondersteunen
supportingabalcony,beneathwhichavlucht
flightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakand
oog
eye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;and
vooral
especiallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;
veronderstel
imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
Thepavement
rond
roundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgroeit
growinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beengedragen
wornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.Insomemonthsoftheyear,
echter
however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaor
Zuid
SouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentvoeten
feet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhis
arm
arm,inatarnishedtinbox.Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeen
gerealiseerd
realizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogoud
gold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethe
slimme
smartyoungclerk,whogetsthesmaak
tasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.Another
figuur
figureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
Noch
NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythe
groep
group,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscène
scene.Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitwere
zomer
summertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthemuur
wall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackof
energie
energythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isa
bepaalde
certainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenvoet
feetsquare,andofaloftyheight;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthe
derde
thirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,
lachen
laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
its
vloer
floorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasytoconclude,fromthe
algemene
generalslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthiersuccessor
draagt
wearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,the
kracht
forceofwhichIhavenevergerealiseerd
realizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthe
wilde
wildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehisdescendantshavebeen
geboren
bornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
noch
nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
The
figuur
figureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,wasaanwezig
presenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothe
huidige
presentphaseofthetown.I
schijn
seemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesovroeg
early,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadesogrote
largeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,wiens
whosenameisseldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,
rechter
judge;hewasarulerinthe
Kerk
Church;hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodand
kwaad
evil.Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobe
vrezen
feared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecuting
geest
spirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.Sodeepastain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!
Iknownot
of
whethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonofHemel
Heavenfortheircruelties;orwhethertheyarenowgroaningunderthe
zware
heavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstaat
stateofbeing.Atallevents,I,the
huidige
presentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebytakeschaamte
shameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andbidden
praythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftheras
race,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,
echter
however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhavegedragen
borne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeem
anders
otherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,
over
acrossthegulfoftime!Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,
sterke
strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.Planted
diep
deep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theras
racehaseversincesubsistedhere;always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;
butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimto
openbare
publicnotice.Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.
Fromfathertoson,forabovea
honderd
hundredyears,theyfollowedthezee
sea;agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,
bracht
spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.
Itisnotlove,butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeign
land
land,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhis
derde
thirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstotheplek
spotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudanddust,thedead
niveau
levelofsiteandsentiment,thechilleastwind
wind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorvoorstellen
imagine,arenothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeofthe
ras
racelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisan
bewijs
evidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Human
natuur
naturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,
noch
northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitleek
seemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,as
chief
chiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.I
betwijfel
doubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotbetwijfel
doubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaire
militaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependent
positie
positionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
Generaal
GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;amanover
wiens
whosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmy
afdeling
department,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostonevery
zee
sea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadeindelijk
finallydriftedintothisquietnook;where,withlittletodisturbthem,
behalve
excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.Thoughbynomeans
minder
lessliablethantheirfellow-mentoouderdom
ageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,
tijdens
duringalargepartoftheyear;but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintothe
warme
warmsunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedplicht
duty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.
Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’s
dienst
service,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewas
toegestaan
allowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficier
officermustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-Houseopensonthe
weg
roadtoParadise.ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,
wiens
whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersoonlijke
personaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamaand
monthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Volgens
Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofplicht
duty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;
todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofa
stem
voice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.Theyknew,these
uitstekende
excellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyheartto
handelen
actupontheknowledge.Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,they
bleven
continued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.They
brachten
spentagooddealoftime,also,slapen
asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthemuur
wall;awaking,however,onceor
twee keer
twiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththemeerdere
severalthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgegroeid
growntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.Thediscoverywassoonmade,I
denk
imagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededto
vergrendelden
lock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtape
tapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Plaats
Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecaseleek
seemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.
Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhich
gewoonlijk
usuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetype
typewherebyIrecognizetheman.AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmy
positie
positioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongroei
grewtolikethemall.Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthe
muur
wall,asusual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethana
diep
deepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothe
groene
greenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,
echter
however,itisrealsunshine;intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbesadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmy
uitstekende
excellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityand
energie
energy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksof
leeftijd
ageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.
They
leek
seemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanentInspector.
Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,or,
liever
rather,borninthepurple;sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodofthe
vroege
earlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,and
zeker
certainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompact
figuur
figure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedblauwe
bluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstap
step,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatuur
Natureintheshapeofman,whomleeftijd
ageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.His
stem
voiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhis
systeem
system,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeleeftijd
age,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.Thecareless
veiligheid
securityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,
echter
however,layintherareperfectionofhisdierlijke
animalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthat
groeide
grewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,didplicht
dutyveryrespectably,andtoalgemene
generalacceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,atevery
leeftijd
ageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.Here,onewould
veronderstellen
suppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.NotsowithouroldInspector!
Onebriefsighsufficedto
dragen
carryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchand
bestudeerde
studythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyothervorm
formofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,intruth,ararephenomenon;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
Myconclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;