The Scarlet Letter Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.

INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”

tisalittle

opmerkelijk

remarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical

impuls

impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetaken

bezit

possessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.

Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent

lezer

readerortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha

beschrijving

descriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.

Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagain

greep

seizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.

Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,

Griffier

ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.

Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,the

schrijver

authoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.

Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuch

vertrouwelijke

confidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfect

sympathie

sympathy;

asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe

verdeelde

dividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleof

bestaan

existencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.

Itis

nauwelijks

scarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.

But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthe

spreker

speakerstandinsometrue

relatie

relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthe

naaste

closestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;

andthen,a

inheemse

nativereservebeingthawedbythisgenial

bewustzijn

consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits

sluier

veil.

Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an

auteur

author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without

schenden

violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.

Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House

schets

sketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedin

literatuur

literature,asexplaininghowalarge

deel

portionofthefollowingpagescameintomy

bezit

possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofa

verhaal

narrativethereincontained.

This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas

redacteur

editor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal

relatie

relationwiththepublic.

vervullen

accomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togivea

zwakke

faintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretofore

beschreven

described,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomthe

auteur

authorhappenedtomakeone.

InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwith

vervallen

decayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsof

commercieel

commerciallife;

except,perhaps,a

schors

barkorbrig,half-waydownits

melancholische

melancholylength,discharginghides;

or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther

lading

cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthe

getij

tideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandinthe

achterzijde

rearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenlivening

vooruitzicht

prospect,andthenceacrossthe

haven

harbor,standsaspaciousedificeof

bakstenen

brick.

Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during

precies

preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,

drijft

floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebannerofthe

republiek

republic;

butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.

Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa

dozijn

dozenwoodenpillars,supportinga

balkon

balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.

Overtheentrancehoversan

enorm

enormousspecimenoftheAmerican

adelaar

eagle,withoutspreadwings,a

schild

shieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineach

klauw

claw.

Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher

snavel

beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to

dreigen

threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;

andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.

Niettemin

Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederal

adelaar

eagle;

imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down

kussen

pillow.

Butshehasnogreat

tederheid

tenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofher

klauw

claw,adabofher

snavel

beak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.

The

trottoir

pavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.

Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.

Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly

burger

citizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa

haven

portbyitself;

notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who

toestaan

permitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,the

machtige

mightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.

Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof

frequente

frequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.

Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay

begroeten

greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justin

haven

port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.

Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,

genadig

graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplished

reis

voyagehasbeenrealizedin

goederen

merchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimundera

bulk

bulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.

Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung

klerk

clerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbe

zeilen

sailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.

Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound

zeeman

sailorinquestofaprotection;

ortherecentlyarrivedone,

bleek

paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.

NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;

arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankee

aspect

aspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslight

belang

importancetoourdecayingtrade.

Cluster

Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.

vaak

frequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—inthe

ingang

entry,ifitweresummertime,orintheir

juiste

appropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.

Oftentimestheywereasleep,but

af en toe

occasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechanda

snurken

snore,andwiththatlackofenergythat

onderscheidt

distinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceon

liefdadigheid

charity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirown

onafhankelijke

independentexertions.

Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthe

ontvangst

receiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.

Bovendien

Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofalofty

hoogte

height;

withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossa

smalle

narrowlane,andalonga

deel

portionofDerbyStreet.

Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;

aroundthedoorsofwhichare

algemeen

generallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsas

achtervolgen

haunttheWappingofaseaport.

Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;

itsfloorisstrewnwith

grijs

graysand,inafashionthathas

elders

elsewherefallenintolongdisuse;

anditiseasyto

concluderen

conclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisa

heiligdom

sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,the

bezem

broomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.

Inthewayof

meubels

furniture,thereisastovewithavoluminous

trechter

funnel;

anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;

twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;

and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.

Atinpipeascendsthroughthe

plafond

ceiling,andformsamediumof

vocale

vocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.

Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhis

elleboog

elbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honored

lezer

reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.

Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould

vragen

inquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.

Thebesomof

hervorming

reformhasswepthimoutofoffice;

andaworthier

opvolger

successorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.

ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhave

gewoond

dweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactual

verblijf

residencehere.

Indeed,sofarasitsphysical

aspect

aspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthe

schiereiland

peninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.

Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiest

elders

elsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter

uitdrukking

phrase,Imustbecontenttocall

genegenheid

affection.

Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.

ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,the

vroegste

earliestemigrantofmyname,madehis

verschijning

appearanceinthewildandforest-bordered

nederzetting

settlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.

Andherehis

nakomelingen

descendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhave

vermengd

mingledtheirearthysubstancewiththe

bodem

soil;

untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothe

sterfelijke

mortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.

Inpart,therefore,the

gehechtheid

attachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuous

sympathie

sympathyofdustfordust.

Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;

nor,as

frequente

frequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit

wenselijk

desirabletoknow.

Butthe

sentiment

sentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.

Thefigureofthatfirst

voorouder

ancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.

Itstill

achtervolgt

hauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichI

nauwelijks

scarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresent

fase

phaseofthetown.

Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastately

haven

port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis

zelden

seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.

Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;

hewasa

heerser

rulerintheChurch;

hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.

Hewaslikewisea

bittere

bitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.

Hisson,too,

erfde

inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavelefta

vlek

stainuponhim.

Sodeepa

vlek

stain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,inthe

Charter

CharterStreetburial-ground,muststill

behouden

retainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!

Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto

bekeren

repent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;

orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.

Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir

vertegenwoordiger

representative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.

Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theold

stam

trunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerable

mos

mossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.

Noaim,thatIhaveever

gekoesterd

cherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;

nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethan

waardeloos

worthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.

“Whatishe?”

murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.

“Awriterofstory-books!

Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceableto

mensheid

mankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?

Why,the

gedegenereerde

degeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”

Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthe

kloof

gulfoftime!

Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.

Planteddeep,inthetown’s

vroegste

earliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;

always,too,inrespectability;

never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingle

onwaardig

unworthymember;

butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performingany

gedenkwaardige

memorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.

Geleidelijk

Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;

asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew

bodem

soil.

Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;

agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,

pensioen

retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe

erfelijke

hereditaryplacebeforethemast,

geconfronteerd

confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.

Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe

hut

cabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,and

vermengen

minglehisdustwiththenatalearth.

Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand

begrafenis

burial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quite

onafhankelijk

independentofanycharminthe

landschap

sceneryormoralcircumstancesthat

omringen

surroundhim.

Itisnotlove,but

instinct

instinct.

Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;

hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyis

kruipt

creeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.

Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;

thatheis

moe

wearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,the

modder

mudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteand

sentiment

sentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.

Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.

Sohasitbeeninmycase.

IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;

sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone

vertegenwoordiger

representativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.

Niettemin

Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomean

ongezonde

unhealthyone,shouldatlastbe

verbroken

severed.

Humannaturewillnot

bloeien

flourish,anymorethana

aardappel

potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-out

bodem

soil.

Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.

OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous

gehechtheid

attachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’s

bakstenen

brickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.

Mydoomwasonme.

Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;

orasifSalemwereformetheinevitable

centrum

centreoftheuniverse.

So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’s

commissie

commissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothe

korps

corpsofgentlemenwhowereto

helpen

aidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.

Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.

The

verblijfplaats

whereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.

Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the

onafhankelijke

independentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofoffice

algemeen

generallysofragile.

Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthe

voetstuk

pedestalofhisgallantservices;

and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.

GeneralMillerwas

radicaal

radicallyconservative;

amanoverwhosekindlynature

gewoonte

habithadnoslightinfluence;

hechtte

attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.

Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.

Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinally

gedreven

driftedintothisquietnook;

where,withlittleto

storen

disturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandall

verwierven

acquiredanewleaseof

bestaan

existence.

Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad

blijkbaar

evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.

Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas

verzekerd

assured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheir

verschijning

appearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;

but,afteratorpidwinter,would

kruipen

creepoutintothewarm

zon

sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownleisureand

gemak

convenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.

Imust

pleiten

pleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe

republiek

republic.

Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheir

enige

soleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.

Itisa

vroom

piousconsolationtome,that,throughmy

inmenging

interference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheeviland

corrupte

corruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.

NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.

ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.

Itwaswellfortheirvenerable

broederschap

brotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnota

politicus

politician,andthoughafaithful

Democraat

Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany

verwijzing

referencetopoliticalservices.

Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan

actieve

activepoliticianbeenputintothis

invloedrijke

influentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhig

Verzamelaar

Collector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheold

korps

corpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.

Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina

politicus

politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthe

bijl

axeoftheguillotine.

Itwas

duidelijk

plainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellows

vreesden

dreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.

Itpained,andatthesametime

vermaakte

amusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;

toseeafurrowed

wang

cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashy

bleek

paleattheglanceofsoharmlessan

individu

individualasmyself;

todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto

schrikken

frightenBoreashimselftosilence.

Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,as

beschouwden

regardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackof

efficiëntie

efficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,more

orthodox

orthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.

Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.

Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficial

geweten

conscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,to

kruipen

creepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.

Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairs

gekanteld

tiltedbackagainstthewall;

awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.

The

ontdekking

discoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.

So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy

bewustzijn

consciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthe

verschillende

variousformalitiesofoffice.

Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!

Mightywastheir

ophef

fussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!

Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadof

waardevolle

valuablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcould

overtreffen

exceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquent

schip

vessel.

Insteadofareprimandfortheir

eerdere

previousnegligence,thecaseseemedratherto

vereisen

requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy

voorzichtigheid

caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;

agrateful

erkenning

recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany

remedie

remedy.

Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismy

dwaze

foolishhabittocontracta

vriendelijkheid

kindnessforthem.

Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.

AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was

gunstig

favorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.

Itwas

aangenaam

pleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwas

aangenaam

pleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;

whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.

Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;

the

intellect

intellect,anymorethanadeepsenseof

humor

humor,haslittletodowiththematter;

itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa

zonnig

sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreen

tak

branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.

Inonecase,however,itisreal

zonneschijn

sunshine;

intheother,itmore

lijkt

resemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.

Itwouldbesad

onrechtvaardigheid

injustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.

Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;

thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.

Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan

intellectuele

intellectualtenementingoodrepair.

But,asrespectsthemajorityofmy

korps

corpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethem

algemeen

generallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.

Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainof

praktische

practicalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesof

oogsten

harvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.

Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanofthe

schipbreuk

shipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeir

jeugdige

youthfuleyes.

ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,ofthe

respectabele

respectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertain

permanente

permanentInspector.

Hemighttrulybetermeda

wettige

legitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthe

wol

wool,or,rather,borninthepurple;

sincehissire,a

Revolutionaire

Revolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectorofthe

haven

port,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,and

benoemde

appointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.

ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto

ontdekken

discoverinalifetime’ssearch.

Withhisflorid

wang

cheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.

Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;

theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.

Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamost

bevredigend

satisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthat

extreme

extremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,or

bedacht

conceivedof.

ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular

inkomen

income,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof

verwijdering

removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.

Theoriginalandmore

krachtige

potentcauses,however,layintherare

perfectie

perfectionofhisanimalnature,the

gematigde

moderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureof

morele

moralandspiritualingredients;

these

laatste

latterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.

bezat

possessednopowerofthought,no

diepte

depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;

nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,

geholpen

aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrew

onvermijdelijk

inevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneral

acceptatie

acceptance,inlieuofaheart.

Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;

thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor

volwassenheid

maturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.

Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.

NotsowithouroldInspector!

One

korte

briefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentire

last

burdenofthesedismalreminiscences.

Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreeched

baby

infant;

farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior

klerk

clerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchthe

oudere

elderandgravermanofthetwo.

Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier

nieuwsgierigheid

curiosity,thananyotherformof

menselijkheid

humanitytherepresentedtomynotice.

Hewas,intruth,arare

fenomeen

phenomenon;

soperfect,inonepointofview;

oppervlakkig

shallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan

absolute

absolutenonentity,ineveryother.

conclusie

conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;

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