THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittle
opmerkelijk
remarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpuls
impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenbezit
possessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent
lezer
readerortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withabeschrijving
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,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathie
sympathy;asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe
verdeelde
dividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleofbestaan
existencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itis
nauwelijks
scarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthe
spreker
speakerstandinsometruerelatie
relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthenaaste
closestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,a
inheemse
nativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialbewustzijn
consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditssluier
veil.Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
auteur
author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutschenden
violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House
schets
sketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliteratuur
literature,asexplaininghowalargedeel
portionofthefollowingpagescameintomybezit
possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofaverhaal
narrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
redacteur
editor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonalrelatie
relationwiththepublic.In
vervullen
accomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveazwakke
faintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforebeschreven
described,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauteur
authorhappenedtomakeone.InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwith
vervallen
decayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommercieel
commerciallife;except,perhaps,a
schors
barkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholische
melancholylength,discharginghides;or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther
lading
cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthegetij
tideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintheachterzijde
rearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningvooruitzicht
prospect,andthenceacrossthehaven
harbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbakstenen
brick.Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
precies
preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,drijft
floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepubliek
republic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
dozijn
dozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalkon
balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.Overtheentrancehoversan
enorm
enormousspecimenoftheAmericanadelaar
eagle,withoutspreadwings,aschild
shieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachklauw
claw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher
snavel
beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,todreigen
threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Niettemin
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaladelaar
eagle;imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down
kussen
pillow.Butshehasnogreat
tederheid
tenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherklauw
claw,adabofhersnavel
beak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.The
trottoir
pavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly
burger
citizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasahaven
portbyitself;notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
toestaan
permitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themachtige
mightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof
frequente
frequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
begroeten
greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinhaven
port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,
genadig
graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedreis
voyagehasbeenrealizedingoederen
merchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulk
bulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung
klerk
clerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbezeilen
sailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound
zeeman
sailorinquestofaprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,
bleek
paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankee
aspect
aspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightbelang
importancetoourdecayingtrade.Cluster
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.More
vaak
frequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheingang
entry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirjuiste
appropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,but
af en toe
occasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnurken
snore,andwiththatlackofenergythatonderscheidt
distinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceonliefdadigheid
charity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownonafhankelijke
independentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthe
ontvangst
receiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.Bovendien
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyhoogte
height;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossa
smalle
narrowlane,andalongadeel
portionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhichare
algemeen
generallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsasachtervolgen
haunttheWappingofaseaport.Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwith
grijs
graysand,inafashionthathaselders
elsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasyto
concluderen
conclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisaheiligdom
sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebezem
broomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.Inthewayof
meubels
furniture,thereisastovewithavoluminoustrechter
funnel;anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughthe
plafond
ceiling,andformsamediumofvocale
vocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhis
elleboog
elbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredlezer
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,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualverblijf
residencehere.Indeed,sofarasitsphysical
aspect
aspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentoftheschiereiland
peninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiest
elders
elsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetteruitdrukking
phrase,Imustbecontenttocallgenegenheid
affection.Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,the
vroegste
earliestemigrantofmyname,madehisverschijning
appearanceinthewildandforest-borderednederzetting
settlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehis
nakomelingen
descendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavevermengd
mingledtheirearthysubstancewiththebodem
soil;untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothe
sterfelijke
mortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.Inpart,therefore,the
gehechtheid
attachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathie
sympathyofdustfordust.Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,as
frequente
frequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritwenselijk
desirabletoknow.Butthe
sentiment
sentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.Thefigureofthatfirst
voorouder
ancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstill
achtervolgt
hauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichInauwelijks
scarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentfase
phaseofthetown.Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastately
haven
port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameiszelden
seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
heerser
rulerintheChurch;hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewisea
bittere
bitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,
erfde
inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftavlek
stainuponhim.Sodeepa
vlek
stain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharter
CharterStreetburial-ground,muststillbehouden
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,withsomuchvenerablemos
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,whileaboyoffourteentooktheerfelijke
hereditaryplacebeforethemast,geconfronteerd
confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe
hut
cabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andvermengen
minglehisdustwiththenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand
begrafenis
burial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteonafhankelijk
independentofanycharminthelandschap
sceneryormoralcircumstancesthatomringen
surroundhim.Itisnotlove,but
instinct
instinct.Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyis
kruipt
creeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheis
moe
wearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themodder
mudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment
sentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
vertegenwoordiger
representativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.Niettemin
Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanongezonde
unhealthyone,shouldatlastbeverbroken
severed.Humannaturewillnot
bloeien
flourish,anymorethanaaardappel
potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outbodem
soil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous
gehechtheid
attachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbakstenen
brickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitable
centrum
centreoftheuniverse.So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’s
commissie
commissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothekorps
corpsofgentlemenwhoweretohelpen
aidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
The
verblijfplaats
whereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the
onafhankelijke
independentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficealgemeen
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,theyoneandallverwierven
acquiredanewleaseofbestaan
existence.Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
blijkbaar
evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
verzekerd
assured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirverschijning
appearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;but,afteratorpidwinter,would
kruipen
creepoutintothewarmzon
sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownleisureandgemak
convenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imust
pleiten
pleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepubliek
republic.Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheir
enige
soleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.Itisa
vroom
piousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinmenging
interference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorrupte
corruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerable
broederschap
brotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapoliticus
politician,andthoughafaithfulDemocraat
Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyverwijzing
referencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan
actieve
activepoliticianbeenputintothisinvloedrijke
influentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigVerzamelaar
Collector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldkorps
corpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
politicus
politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthebijl
axeoftheguillotine.Itwas
duidelijk
plainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsvreesden
dreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.Itpained,andatthesametime
vermaakte
amusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;toseeafurrowed
wang
cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashybleek
paleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividu
individualasmyself;todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto
schrikken
frightenBoreashimselftosilence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,as
beschouwden
regardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiëntie
efficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodox
orthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficial
geweten
conscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tokruipen
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,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughtheverschillende
variousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheir
ophef
fussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadof
waardevolle
valuablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldovertreffen
exceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentschip
vessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheir
eerdere
previousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertovereisen
requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthyvoorzichtigheid
caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;agrateful
erkenning
recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedie
remedy.Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismy
dwaze
foolishhabittocontractavriendelijkheid
kindnessforthem.Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was
gunstig
favorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.Itwas
aangenaam
pleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwasaangenaam
pleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
the
intellect
intellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor
humor,haslittletodowiththematter;itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa
zonnig
sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreentak
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,ifIcharacterizethemalgemeen
generallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainof
praktische
practicalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofoogsten
harvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanofthe
schipbreuk
shipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeirjeugdige
youthfuleyes.ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,ofthe
respectabele
respectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanente
permanentInspector.Hemighttrulybetermeda
wettige
legitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewol
wool,or,rather,borninthepurple;sincehissire,a
Revolutionaire
Revolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectorofthehaven
port,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andbenoemde
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,atthatextreme
extremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orbedacht
conceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular
inkomen
income,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofverwijdering
removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.Theoriginalandmore
krachtige
potentcauses,however,layintherareperfectie
perfectionofhisanimalnature,thegematigde
moderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmorele
moralandspiritualingredients;these
laatste
latterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.He
bezat
possessednopowerofthought,nodiepte
depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,
geholpen
aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewonvermijdelijk
inevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptatie
acceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
volwassenheid
maturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
NotsowithouroldInspector!
One
korte
briefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentirelast
burdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreeched
baby
infant;farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior
klerk
clerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheoudere
elderandgravermanofthetwo.Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
nieuwsgierigheid
curiosity,thananyotherformofmenselijkheid
humanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,intruth,arare
fenomeen
phenomenon;soperfect,inonepointofview;
so
oppervlakkig
shallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolute
absolutenonentity,ineveryother.My
conclusie
conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;