THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,
buiten
beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbytheknop
button,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.The
voorbeeld
exampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillfling
opzij
asidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.Someauthors,
inderdaad
indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehis
cirkel
circleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;
andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalways
erkend
recognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.This,infact,—a
verlangen
desiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonfornemen
assumingapersonalrelationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthe
voornaamste
mainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextra
extratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfa
eeuw
centuryago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthe
basis
baseandintherearoftherij
rowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninagrens
borderofunthriftygrass,—here,withauitzicht
viewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiestpointofits
dak
roof,duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthata
civiele
civil,andnotamilitarypost
postofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,beneathwhichaflightof
brede
widegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.Overthe
ingang
entrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,she
lijkt
appears,bythefiercenessofherbeakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherhouding
attitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivegemeenschap
community;andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheir
veiligheid
safety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleare
zoeken
seeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederale
federaleagle;imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.
Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,witha
kras
scratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—has
gras
grassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmight
herinneren
remindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiode
periodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohave
aangekomen
arrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,comeshis
eigenaar
owner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasbegraven
buriedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofa
bescherming
protection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,
zoek
seekingapassporttothehospital.NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecaying
handel
trade.Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—a
rij
rowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetween
spraak
speechandasnore,andwiththatgebrek
lackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeet
vierkante
square,andofaloftyheight;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandinga
uitzicht
viewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywithold
verf
paint;itsfloorisstrewnwithgray
zand
sand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequent
toegang
access.Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;
anoldpine
bureau
desk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,a
score
scoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfrom
hoek
cornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthebureau
desk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaveherkend
recognized,honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.Butnow,shouldyougothitherto
zoeken
seekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
Inderdaad
Indeed,sofarasitsfysieke
physicalaspectisconcerned,withitsvlakke
flat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretenderen
pretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHill
HillandNewGuineaatoneend,andauitzicht
viewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,in
gebrek
lackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.
Itisnow
bijna
nearlytwocenturiesandakwart
quartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;
untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,
dus
therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofstof
dustfordust.Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthe
voorraad
stock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoral
kwaliteit
quality.Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyish
verbeelding
imagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcely
beweren
claiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown.Iseemtohaveastronger
aanspraak
claimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgraf
grave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBijbel
Bibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongeraanspraak
claimthanformyself,whosenameisseldomheardandmyfacenauwelijks
hardlyknown.Hewasa
soldaat
soldier,legislator,judge;hewasarulerintheChurch;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,as
getuigen
witnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanvoorval
incidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.
Sodeepastain,
inderdaad
indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytostof
dust!Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresent
schrijver
writer,astheirrepresentative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanyvloek
curseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperoustoestand
conditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldbeweren
arguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthverwijderd
removed.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
No
doel
aim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyerkennen
recognizeaslaudable;nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,
buiten
beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmursonegray
schaduw
shadowofmyforefatherstotheother.“A
schrijver
writerofstory-books!Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,thedegenerate
kerel
fellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Geplant
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandkindertijd
childhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthy
lid
member;butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,
uitvoeren
performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaaanspraak
claimtopublicnotice.Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutof
zicht
sight;asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.
Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineach
generatie
generation,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehis
stof
dustwiththenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceof
geboorte
birthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.Itisnotlove,butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatheror
grootvader
grandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthird
eeuw
centuryiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudand
stof
dust,thedeadlevelofsite
siteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsociale
socialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothedoel
purpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthly
paradijs
paradise.Sohasitbeeninmycase.
Ifeltitalmostasa
lot
destinytomakeSalemmyhome;sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeen
bekend
familiarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhisgraf
grave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandherkend
recognizedintheoldtown.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethatthe
verbinding
connection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Humannaturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbe
geplant
plantedandreplanted,fortoolongareeks
seriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmeto
vullen
fillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreofthe
universum
universe.So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmy
zak
pocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyverantwoordelijkheid
responsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryofthe
Verenigde
UnitedStates,eitherintheburgerlijke
civilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolof
politieke
politicalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himself
veilig
secureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeentheveiligheid
safetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;
attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywere
oude
ancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.
Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpid
winter
winter,wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineofMayorJuni
June,golazilyaboutwhattheynoemden
termedduty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustplead
schuldig
guiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficiële
officialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-Houseopensontheroadto
Paradijs
Paradise.ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neither
ontving
receivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopolitieke
politicalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,to
nemen
assumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavegetrokken
drawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothe
ontvangen
receivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfa
eeuw
centuryofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselfto
zwijgen
silence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirown
gebrek
lackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetojongere
youngermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestodienen
serveourcommonUncle.Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactuponthe
kennis
knowledge.Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,
daarom
therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficiële
officialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;
ontwaken
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsonder
amongthem.Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreat
kwaad
harminhim.So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronesto
glijden
slipbetweentheirfingers!Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,and
beveiligden
securewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.
Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyI
herken
recognizetheman.AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,a
rij
rowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asgewoonlijk
usual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwith
gelach
laughterfromtheirlips.Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthe
oppervlak
surface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,however,itisrealsunshine;
intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecaying
hout
wood.Itwouldbesadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremen
onder
amongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohad
verzameld
gatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthe
gouden
goldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostzorgvuldig
carefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersalloverthe
Verenigde
UnitedStates—wasacertainpermanentInspecteur
Inspector.Hemighttrulybe
genoemd
termedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthepurple;sincehissire,aRevolutionary
kolonel
colonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadgemaakt
createdanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtovullen
fillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.This
Inspecteur
Inspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbewaarschijnlijk
likelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedblue
jas
coat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofa
haan
cock,ortheblastofaclarion.Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactory
object
object,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,orbijna
nearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,ona
regelmatig
regularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.The
oorspronkelijke
originalandmorepotentcauses,however,layinthezeldzame
rareperfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,
inderdaad
indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhis
lichamelijke
physicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageof
kindertijd
childhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtostof
dust.Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
Notsowithourold
Inspecteur
Inspector!Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyfor
sport
sportasanyunbreechedinfant;farreadierthantheCollector’s
junior
juniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,a
zeldzaam
rarephenomenon;soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
Myconclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;