The Scarlet Letter | Progressively Translated Dutch A2 Books

The Scarlet Letter | Progressively Translated Dutch A2 Books

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THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomy
persoonlijke
personal
friends—anautobiographicalimpulseshould
twee keer
twice
inmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthe
publiek
public
.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethe
publiek
public
bythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’
ervaring
experience
inaCustom-House.
Theexampleofthe
beroemde
famous
“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruth
schijnt
seems
tobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthe
wind
wind
,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;
asiftheprintedbook,
gegooid
thrown
atlargeonthewideworld,were
zeker
certain
tofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sown
natuur
nature
,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.
Itisscarcelydecorous,
echter
however
,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonableto
stellen
imagine
thatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;
andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowa
groot
large
portionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.
This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytrue
positie
position
aseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassuminga
persoonlijke
personal
relationwiththepublic.
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
often
overflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthence
over
across
theharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.
Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,
gedurende
during
preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,
plaats
instead
ofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnota
militaire
military
postofUncleSam’s
regering
government
ishereestablished.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,
ondersteunen
supporting
abalcony,beneathwhicha
vlucht
flight
ofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakand
oog
eye
,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;
and
vooral
especially
towarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;
veronderstel
imagining
,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.
Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
Thepavement
rond
round
abouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenough
groeit
growing
initschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,been
gedragen
worn
byanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,
echter
however
,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaor
Zuid
South
America,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequent
voeten
feet
,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhis
arm
arm
,inatarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeen
gerealiseerd
realized
inmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedto
goud
gold
,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethe
slimme
smart
youngclerk,whogetsthe
smaak
taste
oftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Another
figuur
figure
inthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
Noch
Nor
mustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythe
groep
group
,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirring
scène
scene
.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitwere
zomer
summer
time,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthe
muur
wall
.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackof
energie
energy
thatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isa
bepaalde
certain
roomoroffice,aboutfifteen
voet
feet
square,andofaloftyheight;
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthe
derde
third
lookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.
Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,
lachen
laughing
andgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
its
vloer
floor
isstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;
anditiseasytoconclude,fromthe
algemene
general
slovenlinessoftheplace,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
wears
hisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,the
kracht
force
ofwhichIhavenever
gerealiseerd
realized
duringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
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
wild
andforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.
Andherehisdescendantshavebeen
geboren
born
anddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;
untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
noch
nor
,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.
Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
The
figuur
figure
ofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,was
aanwezig
present
tomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothe
huidige
present
phaseofthetown.
I
schijn
seem
tohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocameso
vroeg
early
,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadeso
grote
large
afigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,
wiens
whose
nameisseldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.
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
whether
theseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonof
Hemel
Heaven
fortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenowgroaningunderthe
zware
heavy
consequencesofthem,inanother
staat
state
ofbeing.
Atallevents,I,the
huidige
present
writer,astheirrepresentative,herebytake
schaamte
shame
uponmyselffortheirsakes,and
bidden
pray
thatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionofthe
ras
race
,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.
Doubtless,
echter
however
,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhave
gedragen
borne
,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeem
anders
otherwise
thanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,
over
across
thegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,
sterke
strong
traitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planted
diep
deep
,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,the
ras
race
haseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;
butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimto
openbare
public
notice.
Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.
Fromfathertoson,forabovea
honderd
hundred
years,theyfollowedthe
zee
sea
;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,
bracht
spent
atempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.
Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.
Itisnotlove,butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeign
land
land
,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhis
derde
third
centuryiscreeping,clingstothe
plek
spot
wherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudanddust,thedead
niveau
level
ofsiteandsentiment,thechilleast
wind
wind
,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeor
voorstellen
imagine
,arenothingtothepurpose.
Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeofthe
ras
race
laydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.
Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisan
bewijs
evidence
thattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.
Human
natuur
nature
willnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.
Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,
noch
nor
thesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asit
leek
seemed
,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,as
chief
chief
executiveofficeroftheCustom-House.
I
betwijfel
doubt
greatly—or,rather,Idonot
betwijfel
doubt
atall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilor
militaire
military
line,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependent
positie
position
oftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
Generaal
General
Millerwasradicallyconservative;
amanover
wiens
whose
kindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;
attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmy
afdeling
department
,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostonevery
zee
sea
,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,had
eindelijk
finally
driftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittletodisturbthem,
behalve
except
theperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.
Thoughbynomeans
minder
less
liablethantheirfellow-mento
ouderdom
age
andinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,
tijdens
during
alargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintothe
warme
warm
sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermed
plicht
duty
,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.
Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.
Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’s
dienst
service
,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewas
toegestaan
allowed
themforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-House
officier
officer
mustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-Houseopensonthe
weg
road
toParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,
wiens
whose
infirmitieswithheldhimfromthe
persoonlijke
personal
administrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withina
maand
month
aftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.
Volgens
According
tothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortof
plicht
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
excellent
oldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyheartto
handelen
act
upontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,they
bleven
continued
,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.
They
brachten
spent
agooddealoftime,also,
slapen
asleep
intheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthe
muur
wall
;
awaking,however,onceor
twee keer
twice
inaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththe
meerdere
several
thousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathad
gegroeid
grown
tobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
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,andsecurewith
tape
tape
andsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.
Plaats
Instead
ofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecase
leek
seemed
rathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.
Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhich
gewoonlijk
usually
comesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthe
type
type
wherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmy
positie
position
inreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoon
groei
grew
tolikethemall.
Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthe
muur
wall
,asusual;
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethana
diep
deep
senseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothe
groene
green
branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.
Inonecase,
echter
however
,itisrealsunshine;
intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbesadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmy
uitstekende
excellent
oldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityand
energie
energy
,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.
Then,moreover,thewhitelocksof
leeftijd
age
weresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.
They
leek
seemed
tohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,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
early
ageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,and
zeker
certainly
oneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.
Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompact
figuur
figure
,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttoned
blauwe
blue
coat,hisbriskandvigorous
stap
step
,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMother
Natuur
Nature
intheshapeofman,whom
leeftijd
age
andinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.
His
stem
voice
andlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhis
systeem
system
,andhiscapacity,atthatextreme
leeftijd
age
,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.
Thecareless
veiligheid
security
ofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,
echter
however
,layintherareperfectionofhis
dierlijke
animal
nature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;
theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthat
groeide
grew
inevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,did
plicht
duty
veryrespectably,andto
algemene
general
acceptance,inlieuofaheart.
Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,atevery
leeftijd
age
ofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.
Here,onewould
veronderstellen
suppose
,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
NotsowithouroldInspector!
Onebriefsighsufficedto
dragen
carry
offtheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchand
bestudeerde
study
thispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyother
vorm
form
ofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,ararephenomenon;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
Myconclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;