The Scarlet Letter Progressive French B1 Translation Books

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.

INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”

tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.

Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.

Andnow—because,

au-delà

beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythe

bouton

button,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.

Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.

Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.

Someauthors,

en effet

indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;

asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthe

large

wideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehis

cercle

circleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.

Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.

But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhis

auditoire

audience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;

andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.

Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.

Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalways

reconnu

recognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.

This,infact,—a

désir

desiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonalrelationwiththepublic.

Inaccomplishingthe

principal

mainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,

parmi

amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.

InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfa

siècle

centuryago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;

except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;

or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthe

base

baseandintherearofthe

rangée

rowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseenina

frontière

borderofunthriftygrass,—here,witha

vue

viewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.

Fromtheloftiestpointofits

toit

roof,duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;

butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthata

civil

civil,andnotamilitary

poste

postofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.

Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescends

vers

towardsthestreet.

OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.

Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthis

malheureux

unhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofher

attitude

attitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensive

communauté

community;

andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheir

sécurité

safety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.

Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleare

cherchent

seeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthe

fédéral

federaleagle;

imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.

Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,witha

égratignure

scratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,orarankling

plaie

woundfromherbarbedarrows.

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

Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.

Suchoccasionsmight

rappeler

remindtheelderlycitizenofthat

période

periodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;

notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbleto

ruine

ruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.

Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohave

arrivés

arrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.

Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.

Here,too,comeshis

propriétaire

owner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhas

enterré

buriedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.

Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteof

trafic

trafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.

Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofa

protection

protection;

ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,

cherchant

seekingapassporttothehospital.

NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;

arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecaying

commerce

trade.

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

Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—a

rangée

rowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.

Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetween

parole

speechandasnore,andwiththat

manque

lackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.

Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.

Furthermore,onthelefthandasyou

entrez

enterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyheight;

withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandinga

vue

viewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.

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

aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.

Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywithold

peinture

paint;

itsfloorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;

anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequent

accès

access.

Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;

anoldpine

bureau

desk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;

twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;

and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.

Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.

Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfrom

coin

cornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthe

bureau

desk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthave

reconnu

recognized,honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.

Butnow,shouldyougothitherto

chercher

seekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.

Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;

andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,and

empoche

pocketshisemoluments.

ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.

En effet

Indeed,sofarasits

physique

physicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvaried

surface

surface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhich

prétend

pretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallows

Hill

HillandNewGuineaatoneend,anda

vue

viewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.

Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.

Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.

Itisnow

près de

nearlytwocenturiesanda

quart

quartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.

Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;

untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.

Inpart,

par conséquent

therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyof

poussière

dustfordust.

Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;

nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthe

stock

stock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.

Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoral

qualité

quality.

Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyish

imagination

imagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.

Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcely

prétends

claiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown.

Iseemtohaveastronger

revendication

claimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthis

grave

grave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhis

Bible

Bibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astronger

revendication

claimthanformyself,whosenameisseldomheardandmyface

à peine

hardlyknown.

Hewasa

soldat

soldier,legislator,judge;

hewasarulerintheChurch;

hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.

Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,as

témoignent

witnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelatean

incident

incidentofhishardseverity

envers

towardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,

bien que

althoughtheseweremany.

Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.

Sodeepastain,

en effet

indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlyto

poussière

dust!

Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andask

pardon

pardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;

orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.

Atallevents,I,thepresent

écrivain

writer,astheirrepresentative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatany

malédiction

curseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperous

condition

conditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.

Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.

but

aim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldthey

reconnu

recognizeaslaudable;

nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,

au-delà

beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.

“Whatishe?”

murmursonegray

ombre

shadowofmyforefatherstotheother.

“A

écrivain

writerofstory-books!

Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?

Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”

Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!

Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.

Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;

always,too,inrespectability;

never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthy

membre

member;

butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,

accomplissant

performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.

Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutof

vue

sight;

asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.

Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;

agray-headedshipmaster,ineach

génération

generation,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthe

sel

saltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.

Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehis

poussière

dustwiththenatalearth.

Thislong

connexion

connectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceof

naissance

birthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.

Itisnotlove,butinstinct.

Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatheror

grand-père

grandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;

hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthird

siècle

centuryiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.

Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;

thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudand

poussière

dust,thedeadlevelof

site

siteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestof

sociale

socialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothe

but

purpose.

Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.

Sohasitbeeninmycase.

Ifeltitalmostasa

destin

destinytomakeSalemmyhome;

sothatthemouldoffeaturesand

moule

castofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeen

familier

familiarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhis

tombe

grave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenand

reconnu

recognizedintheoldtown.

Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.

Humannaturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolonga

série

seriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.

Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.

OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.

Mydoomwasonme.

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

orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.

So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmy

poche

pocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweighty

responsabilité

responsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.

Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthe

civile

civilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.

ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatonce

réglé

settled,whenIlookedatthem.

Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.

Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;

and,himself

sûr

secureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthe

sécurité

safetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.

GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;

amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;

attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.

Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.

Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;

where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.

Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.

Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;

but,afteratorpid

hiver

winter,wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineofMayor

Juin

June,golazilyaboutwhatthey

appelaient

termedduty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.

Imustplead

coupable

guiltytothechargeofabbreviatingthe

officiel

officialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.

Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.

Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.

NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.

ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.

ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neither

reçu

receivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferenceto

politique

politicalservices.

Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluential

poste

post,toassumetheeasy

tâche

taskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhave

tiré

drawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.

Accordingtothe

reçu

receivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.

Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.

Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;

toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfa

siècle

centuryofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;

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

silence

silence.

Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirown

manque

lackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxin

politique

politics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvesto

servir

serveourcommonUncle.

Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactuponthe

connaissance

knowledge.

Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,

donc

therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.

Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;

réveillant

awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersigns

parmi

amongthem.

Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreat

mal

harminhim.

So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.

Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!

Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowed

plus

greateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!

Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,and

directement

directlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,and

sécuriser

securewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.

Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;

agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.

Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabitto

contracter

contractakindnessforthem.

Thebetterpartofmycompanion’s

caractère

character,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyI

reconnais

recognizetheman.

AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.

Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthem

bavarder

chattinginthebackentry,a

rangée

rowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;

whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwith

rire

laughterfromtheirlips.

Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchin

commun

commonwiththemirthofchildren;

theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;

itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthe

surface

surface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.

Inonecase,however,itisrealsunshine;

intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecaying

bois

wood.

Itwouldbesadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.

Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;

thereweremen

parmi

amongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarked

capacité

abilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.

Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.

But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohad

rassemblé

gatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.

Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmost

soigneusement

carefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.

Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.

ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanent

Inspecteur

Inspector.

Hemighttrulybe

appelé

termedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthepurple;

sincehissire,aRevolutionary

colonel

colonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,had

créé

createdanofficeforhim,andappointedhimto

remplir

fillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.

This

Inspecteur

Inspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.

Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedblue

manteau

coat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureinthe

forme

shapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.

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

theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofa

coq

cock,ortheblastofaclarion.

Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactory

objet

object,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,or

presque

nearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.

ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,ona

régulier

regularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.

Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layinthe

rare

rareperfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;

theselatterqualities,

en effet

indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheold

monsieur

gentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.

Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;

nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhis

physique

physicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaheart.

Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;

thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedto

poussière

dust.

Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.

Notsowithourold

Inspecteur

Inspector!

Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.

Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyfor

sport

sportasanyunbreechedinfant;

farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.

Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.

Hewas,intruth,a

rare

rarephenomenon;

soperfect,inonepointof

vue

view;

soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.

Myconclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;

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