THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisa
peu
littleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtoparler
talkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,et
andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulsedevrait
shouldtwiceinmylifeavoir
havetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.The
première
firsttimewasthreeorquatre
fouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,et
andfornoearthlyreason,que
thateithertheindulgentreaderou
ortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayofvie
lifeinthedeepquietudeofanVieux
OldManse.Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwas
heureux
happyenoughtofindalistenerou
ortwoontheformeroccasion—Inouveau
againseizethepublicbyle
thebutton,andtalkofmytrois
threeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,Clerkof
cette
thisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullysuivi
followed.Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,
quand
whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthenombreux
manywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ou
ornevertakeitup,mais
butthefewwhowillcomprendront
understandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesou
orlifemates.Someauthors,indeed,
font
dofarmorethanthis,et
andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationaspourraient
couldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyet
andexclusively,totheonecœur
heartandmindofperfectsympathy;as
si
iftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewidemonde
world,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’spropre
ownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionavec
withit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,to
parlons
speakall,evenwhereweparlons
speakimpersonally.But,asthoughtsarefrozen
et
andutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationavec
withhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatun
afriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestami
friend,islisteningtoourtalk;et
andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbycette
thisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofle
thecircumstancesthatliearoundus,et
andevenofourself,buttoujours
stillkeeptheinmostMederrière
behinditsveil.Tothisextent,
et
andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,peut
maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherles
thereader’srightsorhisown.Itwillbe
verra
seen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasune
acertainpropriety,ofakindtoujours
alwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplainingcomment
howalargeportionofla
thefollowingpagescameintomypossession,et
andasofferingproofsofla
theauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.Cela
This,infact,—adesiretomettre
putmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,ou
orverylittlemore,ofle
themostprolixamongthetalesqui
thatmakeupmyvolume,—this,et
andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingune
apersonalrelationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,to
donner
giveafaintrepresentationofamodeofvie
lifenotheretoforedescribed,togetheravec
withsomeofthecharactersqui
thatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorarrivé
happenedtomakeone.Inmynative
ville
townofSalem,atthetête
headofwhat,halfacenturyago,inla
thedaysofoldKingDerby,wasun
abustlingwharf,—butwhichismaintenant
nowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,et
andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommercialvie
life;except,perhaps,abark
ou
orbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;ou
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthetête
head,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,et
andalongwhich,atthebaseet
andintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,avec
withaviewfromitsavant
frontwindowsadownthisnottrès
veryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiest
point
pointofitsroof,duringpreciselytrois
threeandahalfhoursofchaque
eachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeou
orcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;mais
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,et
andthusindicatingthatacivil,et
andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentisici
hereestablished.Itsfrontisornamentedwith
un
aporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingun
abalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsla
thestreet.OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,
avec
withoutspreadwings,ashielddevant
beforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltset
andbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Avec
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperqui
thatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeaket
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;et
andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,contre
againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowsavec
withherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshe
cherchent
looks,manypeopleareseeking,atce
thisverymoment,toshelterthemselvessous
underthewingofthefederaleagle;imagining,Ipresume,
que
thatherbosomhasallthesoftnesset
andsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.Mais
Butshehasnogreattenderness,même
eveninherbestofmoods,et
and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,avec
withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,ou
oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwe
pourrions
mayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstomontrer
showthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.In
certains
somemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesun
aforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardavec
withaliveliertread.Suchoccasions
pourraient
mightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodavant
beforethelastwarwithEngland,quand
whenSalemwasaportbyitself;notscorned,assheis
maintenant
now,byherownmerchantset
andship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,tandis que
whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyet
andimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkou
orBoston.Onsomesuchmorning,
quand
whenthreeorfourvesselsarrivés
happentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaou
orSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisun
asoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupet
anddownthegranitesteps.Ici
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youpouvez
maygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,juste
justinport,withhisvessel’spaperssous
underhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.Ici
Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulou
orsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthemaintenant
nowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatété
willreadilybeturnedtogold,ou
orhasburiedhimunderune
abulkofincommodities,suchasnobodyété
willcaretoridhimof.Ici
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartjeune
youngclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasun
awolf-cubdoesofblood,et
andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadmieux
betterbesailingmimic-boatsuponun
amill-pond.Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestof
une
aprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,pale
et
andfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.Nor
devons
mustweforgetthecaptainsofles
therustylittleschoonersthatapportent
bringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;arough-looking
ensemble
setoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessofla
theYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofpas
noslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.Cluster
tous
alltheseindividualstogether,astheyparfois
sometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,et
and,forthetimebeing,itfait
madetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.Plus
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,si
ifitweresummertime,ou
orintheirappropriaterooms,si
ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,assises
sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsarrière
backagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,
mais
butoccasionallymightbeheardparler
talkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechet
andasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,et
andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,ou
oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Ces
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atla
thereceiptofcustoms,butnottrès
veryliabletobesummonedthence,comme
likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.Furthermore,on
la
thelefthandasyouenterla
thefrontdoor,isacertainroomou
oroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,et
andofaloftyheight;avec
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingune
aviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,et
andthethirdlookingacrossune
anarrowlane,andalongune
aportionofDerbyStreet.All
trois
threegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,et
andship-chandlers;aroundthedoorsof
qui
whicharegenerallytobevoit
seen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofvieux
oldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashauntle
theWappingofaseaport.Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,
et
anddingywitholdpaint;itsfloorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashion
qui
thathaselsewherefallenintolongtemps
longdisuse;anditis
facile
easytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,que
thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,avec
withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomet
andmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.In
les
thewayoffurniture,thereisun
astovewithavoluminousfunnel;an
vieux
oldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;deux
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitet
andinfirm;and—nottoforget
la
thelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreou
ortwoofvolumesofla
theActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestofla
theRevenueLaws.Atinpipeascends
travers
throughtheceiling,andformsun
amediumofvocalcommunicationavec
withotherpartsoftheedifice.Et
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,ou
orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,avec
withhiselbowonthedesk,et
andhiseyeswanderingupet
anddownthecolumnsofthematin
morningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredreader,themême
sameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerypetit
littlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlytravers
throughthewillowbranches,onthewesterncôté
sideoftheOldManse.Mais
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youalliez
wouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
et
andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,et
andpocketshisemoluments.Thisold
ville
townofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchloin
awayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ou
ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,la
theforceofwhichIhavejamais
neverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidenceici
here.Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,
avec
withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflyavec
withwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,mais
butonlytame,—itslongandlazyrue
street,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,avec
withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneextrémité
end,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativeville
town,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Et
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeun
afeelingforoldSalem,qui
which,inlackofameilleure
betterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.Le
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletole
thedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamille
familyhasstruckintothesoil.Itis
maintenant
nownearlytwocenturiesandaquarterdepuis
sincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmynom
name,madehisappearanceinthewildet
andforest-borderedsettlement,whichhasdepuis
sincebecomeacity.And
ici
herehisdescendantshavebeenbornet
anddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstanceavec
withthesoil;untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,for
un
alittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.In
partie
part,therefore,theattachmentwhichIparle
speakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.Peu
Fewofmycountrymencansavent
knowwhatitis;nor,asfrequenttransplantationis
peut-être
perhapsbetterforthestock,doivent
needtheyconsideritdesirabletosavoir
know.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
La
Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimet
andduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asloin
farbackasIcanremember.It
toujours
stillhauntsme,andinducesune
asortofhome-feelingwiththepassé
past,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentphaseoftheville
town.Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidence
ici
hereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedet
andsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,avec
withhisBibleandhissword,et
andtrodetheunwornstreetavec
withsuchastatelyport,et
andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofguerre
warandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenom
nameisseldomheardandmyvisage
facehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewas
un
arulerintheChurch;hehad
tous
allthePuritanictraits,bothbien
goodandevil.Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,
et
andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsafemme
womanoftheirsect,whichété
willlastlonger,itistobefeared,thann'importe quel
anyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughthesewerenombreux
many.Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,
et
andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,que
thattheirbloodmayfairlybedire
saidtohaveleftastainuponhim.Sodeep
une
astain,indeed,thathisvieux
olddrybones,intheCharterRue
Streetburial-ground,muststillretainit,si
iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!I
sais
knownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,et
andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;ou
orwhethertheyarenowgroaningsous
undertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inautre
anotherstateofbeing.Atallevents,
Je
I,thepresentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebyprends
takeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,et
andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveentendu
heard,andasthedrearyet
andunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,être
wouldarguetoexist—maybemaintenant
nowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,however,eitherof
ces
thesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavepensé
thoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,après
aftersolongalapseofyears,thevieux
oldtrunkofthefamilytree,avec
withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Aucun
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;aucun
nosuccessofmine—ifmyvie
life,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,si
ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmurs
une
onegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifying
Dieu
God,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayet
andgeneration—maythatbe?Why,thedegeneratefellow
pu
mightaswellhavebeenun
afiddler!”Sucharethecomplimentsbandied
entre
betweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftemps
time!Andyet,letthemscornmeasthey
veulent
will,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselvesavec
withmine.Planteddeep,in
la
thetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,byces
thesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,la
theracehaseversincesubsistedici
here;always,too,inrespectability;
jamais
never,sofarasIhavesache
known,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;mais
butseldomornever,onles
theotherhand,afterthefirstdeux
twogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,ou
orsomuchasputtingforwardune
aclaimtopublicnotice.Gradually,they
ont
havesunkalmostoutofsight;asoldhouses,
ici
hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytoles
theeavesbytheaccumulationofnouveau
newsoil.Fromfatherto
fils
son,foraboveahundredyears,theysuivi
followedthesea;agray-headedshipmaster,in
chaque
eachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileun
aboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplace
placebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayet
andthegale,whichhadblusteredcontre
againsthissireandgrandsire.The
garçon
boy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentune
atempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,et
anddie,andminglehisdustavec
withthenatalearth.This
longue
longconnectionofafamilyavec
withonespot,asitsplaceofbirthet
andburial,createsakindredentre
betweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,tout à fait
quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryou
ormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.Itisnotlove,
mais
butinstinct.Thenewinhabitant—who
venu
camehimselffromaforeignland,ou
orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haspeu
littleclaimtobecalledun
aSalemite;hehasnoconceptionof
la
theoyster-liketenacitywithwhichun
anoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstola
thespotwherehissuccessivegenerationsont
havebeenimbedded.Itisno
importe
matterthattheplaceisjoylessforlui
him;thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themud
et
anddust,thedeadlevelofsiteet
andsentiment,thechilleastwind,et
andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,et
andwhateverfaultsbesideshepuisse
mayseeorimagine,arerien
nothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,
et
andjustaspowerfullyassi
ifthenatalspotwereun
anearthlyparadise.Sohasitbeeninmy
cas
case.Ifeltitalmostas
un
adestinytomakeSalemmymaison
home;sothatthemouldoffeatures
et
andcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asun
onerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,autre
anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mighttoujours
stillinmylittledaybevu
seenandrecognizedintheoldville
town.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethat
le
theconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,devrait
shouldatlastbesevered.Humannaturewillnotflourish,any
plus
morethanapotato,ifitbeplantedet
andreplanted,fortoolongune
aseriesofgenerations,inthemême
sameworn-outsoil.Mychildren
ont
havehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrôle
control,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedterre
earth.Onemergingfromthe
Vieux
OldManse,itwaschieflycet
thisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativeville
town,thatbroughtmetofillune
aplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenIpu
mightaswell,orbetter,havealler
gonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwason
moi
me.Itwasnotthe
première
firsttime,northesecond,que
thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,comme
likethebadhalf-penny;oras
si
ifSalemwereformele
theinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.So,
un
onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,avec
withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,et
andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenqui
whoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,I
ne
donotdoubtatall—whethertout
anypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,soit
eitherinthecivilormilitaryligne
line,haseverhadsuchun
apatriarchalbodyofveteranssous
underhisordersasmyself.ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,
quand
whenIlookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyears
avant
beforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadgardé
kepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,qui
whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.Un
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hetenait
stoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;et
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationstravers
throughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangeret
andheart-quake.GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
un
amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadpas
noslightinfluence;attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,
et
andwithdifficultymovedtochanger
change,evenwhenchangemighthaveapporter
broughtunquestionableimprovement.Thus,on
prenant
takingchargeofmydepartment,Itrouvai
foundfewbutagedmen.Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,
qui
who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,et
andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,avoir
hadfinallydriftedintothistranquille
quietnook;where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneand
tous
allacquiredanewleaseofexistence.Thoughby
pas
nomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageet
andinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanou
orotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Deux
Twoorthreeoftheirnombre
number,asIwasassured,beinggoutyet
andrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,jamais
neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceatla
theCustom-House,duringalargepartie
partoftheyear;but,
après
afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintole
thewarmsunshineofMayou
orJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,et
and,attheirownleisureet
andconvenience,betakethemselvestolit
bedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathof
plus
morethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,to
reposer
restfromtheirarduouslabors,et
andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleofvie
lifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilycrois
believeitwas—withdrewtoabettermonde
world.Itisapiousconsolationto
moi
me,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceofla
theevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,chaque
everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtotomber
fall.Neitherthefrontnor
la
thebackentranceoftheCustom-Houseopensonla
theroadtoParadise.ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwas
bien
wellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodque
thatthenewSurveyorwasnotun
apolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficeavec
withanyreferencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeen
mis
putintothisinfluentialpost,toassumethefacile
easytaskofmakingheadcontre
againstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyahomme
manoftheoldcorpsété
wouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficialvie
life,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,it
été
wouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadssous
undertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,
que
thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.Itpained,
et
andatthesametimeamusedme
me,tobeholdtheterrorsqui
thatattendedmyadvent;to
voir
seeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbydemi
halfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;todetect,asone
ou
oranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,qui
which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowtravers
throughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.They
savaient
knew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedcertains
someofthem,weighedbytheirpropre
ownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttodû
havegivenplacetoyoungermen,plus
moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonOncle
Uncle.Iknewittoo,
mais
butcouldneverquitefindinmycœur
hearttoactupontheknowledge.Beaucoup
Muchanddeservedlytomypropre
owndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepsur
aboutthewharves,andloiterupet
anddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealof
temps
time,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,avec
withtheirchairstiltedbackcontre
againstthewall;awaking,however,
fois
onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotheravec
withtheseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,et
andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordset
andcountersignsamongthem.Thediscoverywas
bientôt
soonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadpas
nogreatharminhim.So,
avec
withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirpropre
ownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodvieux
oldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,
sous
undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintoles
theholdsofvessels!Mightywastheirfuss
sur
aboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,parfois
sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipentre
betweentheirfingers!Wheneversuch
un
amischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,peut-être
perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceet
andalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,et
anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeet
andsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,
le
thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,après
afterthemischiefhadhappened;une
agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthatil
therewasnolongeranyremedy.Unless
gens
peoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractune
akindnessforthem.The
meilleure
betterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveune
abetterpart,isthatwhichusuallyvient
comesuppermostinmyregard,et
andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.Asmostof
ces
theseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,et
andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalet
andprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Ibientôt
soongrewtolikethemtous
all.Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,
qui
thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamille
family,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttoentendre
hearthemchattinginthearrière
backentry,arowofthemtous
alltippedagainstthewall,asusual;tandis que
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,et
andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.Externally,
la
thejollityofagedmenhasbeaucoup
muchincommonwiththemirthofenfants
children;theintellect,anymorethan
un
adeepsenseofhumor,haspeu
littletodowiththequestion
matter;itis,withboth,agleam
qui
thatplaysuponthesurface,et
andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,et
andgray,moulderingtrunk.In
un
onecase,however,itisvrai
realsunshine;intheother,it
plus
moreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.Itwouldbesadinjustice,
le
thereadermustunderstand,torepresenttous
allmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthe
premier
firstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyvieux
old;thereweremenamongthemintheirstrength
et
andprime,ofmarkedabilityet
andenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishet
anddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofagewere
parfois
sometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementinbon
goodrepair.But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,
il
therewillbenowrongfait
done,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasun
asetofwearisomeoldsouls,qui
whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceofvie
life.Theyseemedtohaveflungaway
tout
allthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyavoir
hadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,et
andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemoriesavec
withthehusks.Theyspoke
avec
withfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,ou
oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanofles
theshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,et
andalltheworld’swondersdont
whichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.The
père
fatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofcette
thislittlesquadofofficials,mais
but,Iamboldtodire
say,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waiterstous
allovertheUnitedStates—wasun
acertainpermanentInspector.He
pourrait
mighttrulybetermedalegitimatefils
sonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,ou
or,rather,borninthepurple;depuis
sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,et
andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanbureau
officeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichpeu
fewlivingmencannowremember.Cet
ThisInspector,whenIfirstconnu
knewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,ou
orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofla
themostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenque
thatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.Avec
Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinune
abright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbrisket
andvigorousstep,andhishaleet
andheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notjeune
young,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMère
MotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageet
andinfirmityhadnobusinesstotoucher
touch.Hisvoiceandlaugh,
qui
whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadrien
nothingofthetremulousquaveret
andcackleofanoldman’sutterance;theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,
comme
likethecrowofacock,ou
ortheblastofaclarion.Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewas
très
verylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnesset
andwholesomenessofhissystem,et
andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoytous
all,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,ou
orconceivedof.Thecarelesssecurityofhis
vie
lifeintheCustom-House,onun
aregularincome,andwithmais
butslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtofaire
maketimepasslightlyoverhim.Theoriginal
et
andmorepotentcauses,however,layintherareperfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,et
andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralet
andspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeep
le
theoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.Hepossessed
aucun
nopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,aucun
notroublesomesensibilities;nothing,inshort,
mais
butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,faisaient
diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofacœur
heart.Hehadbeenthe
mari
husbandofthreewives,alllongtemps
longsincedead;thefatheroftwenty
enfants
children,mostofwhom,attous
everyageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewiseretournés
returnedtodust.Here,one
être
wouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuela
thesunniestdisposition,throughandtravers
through,withasabletinge.NotsowithouroldInspector!
Un
Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryoffle
theentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Le
Thenextmoment,hewasasprêt
readyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;farreadier
que
thantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,qui
who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderet
andgravermanofthedeux
two.Iusedtowatch
et
andstudythispatriarchalpersonageavec
with,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,que
thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,in
vérité
truth,ararephenomenon;so
parfait
perfect,inonepointofview;soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,such
une
anabsolutenonentity,ineveryautre
other.Myconclusionwasthathehad
pas
nosoul,noheart,nomind;