THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tis
ein
alittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtosprechen
talkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,und
andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulsesollte
shouldtwiceinmylifehaben
havetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.The
erste
firsttimewasthreeorvier
fouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,und
andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorkönnte
couldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.Und
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwasglücklich
happyenoughtofindalistenerorzwei
twoontheformeroccasion—Iwieder
againseizethepublicbydie
thebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinein
aCustom-House.Theexampleof
das
thefamous“P.P.,Clerkofdieser
thisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.The
wahrheit
truthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowerden
willflingasidehisvolume,ornie
nevertakeitup,butthefewwhowerden
willunderstandhim,betterthanmeisten
mostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.Einige
Someauthors,indeed,dofarmehr
morethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationaskönnten
couldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyund
andexclusively,totheoneherz
heartandmindofperfectsympathy;as
ob
iftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewidewelt
world,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,und
andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,to
sprechen
speakall,evenwherewesprechen
speakimpersonally.But,asthoughtsarefrozen
und
andutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience,itkann
maybepardonabletoimaginedass
thatafriend,akindund
andapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfreund
friend,islisteningtoourtalk;und
andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wekönnen
mayprateofthecircumstancesthatliegen
liearoundus,andevenofourself,aber
butstillkeeptheinmostMehinter
behinditsveil.Tothisextent,
und
andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,kann
maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingentweder
eitherthereader’srightsorhisown.It
wird
willbeseen,likewise,thatdiese
thisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofaart
kindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpageskam
cameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,or
sehr
verylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,und
andnoother,ismytruegrund
reasonforassumingapersonalrelationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,bya
paar
fewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,zusammen
togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatbewegen
moveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,half
ein
acenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasein
abustlingwharf,—butwhichisjetzt
nowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,und
andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommercialleben
life;except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-way
unten
downitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;or,nearerat
hand
hand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,und
andalongwhich,atthebaseund
andintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisgesehen
seeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withein
aviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotsehr
veryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsein
aspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiest
punkt
pointofitsroof,duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;aber
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,und
andthusindicatingthatacivil,und
andnotamilitarypostofOnkel
UncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.Its
vorderseite
frontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfeine
adozenwoodenpillars,supportingeine
abalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestraße
street.Overtheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenof
der
theAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldvor
beforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsund
andbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizes
dieses
thisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakund
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;und
andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingondie
thepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,
viele
manypeopleareseeking,atthisveryaugenblick
moment,toshelterthemselvesunderden
thewingofthefederaleagle;imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasall
der
thesoftnessandsnugnessofein
aneider-downpillow.Butshehasnogreattenderness,
selbst
eveninherbestofmoods,und
and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonals
thanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwe
können
mayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassgenug
enoughgrowinginitschinkstozeigen
showthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.Insomemonthsof
die
theyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.Solche
Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodvor
beforethelastwarwithEngland,als
whenSalemwasaportbyitself;notscorned,assheis
jetzt
now,byherownmerchantsund
andship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,während
whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyund
andimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.Onsomesuch
morgen
morning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupund
anddownthegranitesteps.Hier
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedihn
him,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,gerade
justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunter
underhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.Hier
Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthejetzt
nowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwerden
willreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunter
underabulkofincommodities,suchasniemand
nobodywillcaretoridhimvon
of.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—we
haben
havethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasein
awolf-cubdoesofblood,und
andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,wenn
whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponein
amill-pond.Anotherfigurein
der
thesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofeine
aprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,pale
und
andfeeble,seekingapassporttoder
thehospital.Normustwe
vergessen
forgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringen
bringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,
ohne
withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,aber
butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.Cluster
alle
alltheseindividualstogether,astheymanchmal
sometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,und
and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseeine
astirringscene.Morefrequently,however,onascending
die
thesteps,youwoulddiscern—indie
theentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,wenn
ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackgegen
againstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,
aber
butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoiceszwischen
betweenspeechandasnore,und
andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,und
andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,orirgendetwas
anythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,at
die
thereceiptofcustoms,butnotsehr
veryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.Furthermore,ontheleft
seite
handasyouenterthefrontdoor,isein
acertainroomoroffice,etwa
aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofein
aloftyheight;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommanding
eine
aviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,und
andthethirdlookingacrosseine
anarrowlane,andalongeine
aportionofDerbyStreet.Alle
Allthreegiveglimpsesofdie
theshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,und
andship-chandlers;aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobe
sehen
seen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,und
andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.Der
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,und
anddingywitholdpaint;itsfloorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;
und
anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,dass
thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomund
andmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.In
den
thewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
zwei
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitund
andinfirm;and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,
ein
ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,und
andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.Ein
Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,und
andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.Und
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,und
andhiseyeswanderingupund
anddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmightsein
haverecognized,honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wo
wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlydurch
throughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.Aber
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekihn
him,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.Der
Thebesomofreformhasswepthimaus
outofoffice;andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,
und
andpocketshisemoluments.Thisold
stadt
townofSalem—mynativeplace,obwohl
thoughIhavedweltmuchentfernt
awayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhavenie
neverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehier
here.Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,
wenige
fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,sondern
butonlytame,—itslongandlazystraße
street,loungingwearisomelythroughthegesamte
wholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillund
andNewGuineaatoneende
end,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Und
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,da
thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofein
abetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.Thesentimentis
wahrscheinlich
probablyassignabletothedeepund
andagedrootswhichmyfamilie
familyhasstruckintothesoil.Itis
jetzt
nownearlytwocenturiesandaquarterseit
sincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildund
andforest-borderedsettlement,whichhasseit
sincebecomeacity.And
hier
herehisdescendantshavebeenbornund
anddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;until
kein
nosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintoden
themortalframewherewith,foreine
alittlewhile,Iwalkden
thestreets.Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Wenige
Fewofmycountrymencanwissen
knowwhatitis;nor,asfrequenttransplantationis
vielleicht
perhapsbetterforthestock,müssen
needtheyconsideritdesirabletowissen
know.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
Thefigureof
so
thatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwitheine
adimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIkann
canremember.Itstillhaunts
mich
me,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththevergangenheit
past,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthestadt
town.Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidence
hier
hereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedund
andsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleund
andhissword,andtrodetheunwornstraße
streetwithsuchastatelyport,und
andmadesolargeafigure,asamann
manofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosename
nameisseldomheardandmygesicht
facehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewas
ein
arulerintheChurch;hehad
alle
allthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,
und
andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsafrau
womanoftheirsect,whichwird
willlastlonger,itistobefeared,thanjede
anyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughthesewereviele
many.Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,
und
andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,so
thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponihm
him.Sodeepastain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,in
der
theCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,wenn
iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,
und
andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;orwhethertheyare
jetzt
nowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.Atallevents,
Ich
I,thepresentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,und
andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,und
andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionofder
therace,formanyalongyearzurück
back,wouldarguetoexist—maybejetzt
nowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesestern
und
andblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,so
that,aftersolongalapseofyears,der
theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsoviel
muchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Kein
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,würde
wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;nosuccessofmine—ifmy
leben
life,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwiseals
thanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
What
art
kindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGott
God,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayund
andgeneration—maythatbe?Why,
der
thedegeneratefellowmightasgut
wellhavebeenafiddler!”Sucharethecomplimentsbandied
zwischen
betweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfofzeit
time!Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnature
haben
haveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancy
und
andchildhood,bythesetwoearnestund
andenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhier
here;always,too,inrespectability;
nie
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;aber
butseldomornever,ontheotherseite
hand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsoviel
muchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.Gradually,theyhavesunk
fast
almostoutofsight;asoldhouses,
hier
hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.From
vater
fathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfolgten
followedthesea;agray-headedshipmaster,in
jeder
eachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,während
whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplatz
placebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayund
andthegale,whichhadblusteredgegen
againsthissireandgrandsire.The
junge
boy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spenteine
atempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowalt
old,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalerde
earth.Thislongconnectionofa
familie
familywithonespot,asitsort
placeofbirthandburial,createsakindredzwischen
betweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,ganz
quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundihn
him.Itisnotlove,
sondern
butinstinct.Thenewinhabitant—who
kam
camehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosevater
fatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledein
aSalemite;hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhich
ein
anoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationssein
havebeenimbedded.Itisnomatter
dass
thattheplaceisjoylessforihn
him;thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themud
und
anddust,thedeadlevelofsiteund
andsentiment,thechilleastwind,und
andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,und
andwhateverfaultsbesideshekann
mayseeorimagine,arenichts
nothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,
und
andjustaspowerfullyasifder
thenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.Sohasitbeeninmy
fall
case.Ifeltitalmostas
ein
adestinytomakeSalemmyhome;sothatthemouldoffeatures
und
andcastofcharacterwhichhadallentlang
alongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeoftheracelag
laydowninhisgrave,anderer
anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchentlang
alongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybegesehen
seenandrecognizedintheoldstadt
town.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentis
ein
anevidencethattheconnection,whichhaswerden
becomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Humannature
wird
willnotflourish,anymorethaneine
apotato,ifitbeplantedund
andreplanted,fortoolongeine
aseriesofgenerations,indie
thesameworn-outsoil.My
kinder
childrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,und
and,sofarastheirfortuneskann
maybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomederde
earth.OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschiefly
diese
thisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplatz
placeinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightasgut
well,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwason
mir
me.Itwasnotthe
erste
firsttime,northesecond,dass
thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butdoch
yetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;oras
ob
ifSalemwereformedas
theinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,
und
andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryof
der
theUnitedStates,eitherinder
thecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsolche
suchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunter
underhisordersasmyself.Der
ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,als
whenIlookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyears
vor
beforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseaus
outofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.Ein
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonder
thepedestalofhisgallantservices;und
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsdurch
throughwhichhehadheldamt
office,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerund
andheart-quake.GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
ein
amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,
und
andwithdifficultymovedtochange,selbst
evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifound
wenige
fewbutagedmen.Theywereancientsea-captains,for
die
themostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,und
andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintodiese
thisquietnook;where,with
wenig
littletodisturbthem,exceptden
theperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyeiner
oneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.Obwohl
Thoughbynomeanslessliableals
thantheirfellow-mentoageund
andinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkepttod
deathatbay.Twoor
drei
threeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyund
andrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,nie
neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;aber
but,afteratorpidwinter,würde
wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineofMayorJune,gehen
golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,und
and,attheirownleisureund
andconvenience,betakethemselvestobett
bedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathof
mehr
morethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,
und
andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilyglaube
believeitwas—withdrewtoabetterwelt
world.Itisapiousconsolationto
mich
me,that,throughmyinterference,ein
asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceofdie
theevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asein
amatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermuss
mustbesupposedtofall.Neither
der
thefrontnorthebackentranceofder
theCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.Der
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.Itwas
gut
wellfortheirvenerablebrotherhooddass
thatthenewSurveyorwasnotein
apolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorhielt
heldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeen
stellen
putintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadgegen
againstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamann
manoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeen
nichts
nothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobringen
bringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunter
undertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplain
genug
enoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesolche
suchdiscourtesyatmyhands.Itpained,
und
andatthesametimeamusedmich
me,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;to
sehen
seeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleatdie
theglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;todetect,asoneoranotheraddressed
mich
me,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowdurch
throughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,
dass
that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedeinige
someofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplatz
placetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,und
andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonOnkel
Uncle.Iknewittoo,
aber
butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupondas
theknowledge.Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,
und
andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepüber
aboutthewharves,andloiterupund
anddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealof
zeit
time,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedzurück
backagainstthewall;awaking,however,
einmal
onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreeinem
oneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,und
andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsund
andcountersignsamongthem.Thediscoverywas
bald
soonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminihm
him.So,withlightsomehearts,
und
andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,wenn
ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemengingen
wentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,
unter
undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!Mightywastheirfuss
über
aboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,manchmal
sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipzwischen
betweentheirfingers!Wheneversuch
ein
amischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,vielleicht
perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingkonnte
couldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,und
anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeund
andsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,the
fall
caseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadgeschehen
happened;agratefulrecognitionof
der
thepromptitudeoftheirzeal,der
themomentthattherewaskein
nolongeranyremedy.Unless
menschen
peoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontracteine
akindnessforthem.Thebetter
teil
partofmycompanion’scharacter,wenn
ifithaveabetterteil
part,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,und
andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizethemann
man.AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,
und
andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalund
andprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Ibald
soongrewtolikethemalle
all.Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,that
fast
almostliquefiedtherestofthemenschlichen
humanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohören
hearthemchattinginthebackentry,eine
arowofthemalltippedgegen
againstthewall,asusual;während
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,und
andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.Externally,thejollityofagedmenhas
viel
muchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;der
theintellect,anymorethanein
adeepsenseofhumor,haswenig
littletodowiththematter;itis,withboth,
ein
agleamthatplaysuponder
thesurface,andimpartsasunnyund
andcheeryaspectaliketoder
thegreenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.In
einem
onecase,however,itisrealsunshine;in
der
theother,itmoreresemblesder
thephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.Itwouldbesadinjustice,
der
thereadermustunderstand,torepresentalle
allmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariably
alt
old;thereweremenamongthemintheirstrength
und
andprime,ofmarkedabilityund
andenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishund
anddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofagewere
manchmal
sometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.Aber
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewird
willbenowrongdone,wenn
ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyaseine
asetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednichts
nothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedto
haben
haveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsoviele
manyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohaben
havestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfar
mehr
moreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,als
thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsvor
ago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.The
vater
fatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notnur
onlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,sondern
but,Iamboldtosagen
say,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasein
acertainpermanentInspector.He
könnte
mighttrulybetermedalegitimatesohn
sonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinder
thewool,or,rather,borninder
thepurple;sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,
und
andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanamt
officeforhim,andappointedhimtofilles
it,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichwenige
fewlivingmencannowremember.Dieser
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewihn
him,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,und
andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenso
thatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinein
alifetime’ssearch.Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedin
eine
abright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskund
andvigorousstep,andhishaleund
andheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—buteine
akindofnewcontrivanceofMutter
MotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageund
andinfirmityhadnobusinesstoberühren
touch.Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoed
durch
throughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverund
andcackleofanoldman’sutterance;they
kamen
camestruttingoutofhislungs,likedas
thecrowofacock,ordas
theblastofaclarion.Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewas
sehr
verylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessund
andwholesomenessofhissystem,und
andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyalle
all,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,
und
andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtomakezeit
timepasslightlyoverhim.Theoriginal
und
andmorepotentcauses,however,lagen
layintherareperfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,und
andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralund
andspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nichts
nothing,inshort,butapaar
fewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyaus
outofhisphysicalwell-being,tat
diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofein
aheart.Hehadbeen
der
thehusbandofthreewives,alle
alllongsincedead;the
vater
fatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.Hier
Here,onewouldsuppose,mightsein
havebeensorrowenoughtoimbuedie
thesunniestdisposition,throughanddurch
through,withasabletinge.NotsowithouroldInspector!
Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryoff
die
theentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Den
Thenextmoment,hewasasbereit
readyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;farreadier
als
thantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasviel
muchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.Iusedto
beobachtete
watchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Iglaube
think,liveliercuriosity,thananyandere
otherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,in
wahrheit
truth,ararephenomenon;so
perfekt
perfect,inonepointofview;soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,such
eine
anabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.Myconclusionwas
dass
thathehadnosoul,kein
noheart,nomind;