THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,
über
beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbytheknopf
button,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.The
beispiel
exampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillfling
beiseite
asidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.Someauthors,
tat
indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehis
kreis
circleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhis
publikum
audience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.
This,infact,—a
wunsch
desiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixunter
amongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonalrelationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,
unter
amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfa
jahrhundert
centuryago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthe
basis
baseandintherearofthereihe
rowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninagrenze
borderofunthriftygrass,—here,withablick
viewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
Overthe
eingang
entrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,she
erscheint
appears,bythefiercenessofherbeakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherhaltung
attitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivegemeinschaft
community;andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheir
sicherheit
safety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleare
suchen
seeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.
Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,witha
kratzer
scratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingwunde
woundfromherbarbedarrows.Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—has
gras
grassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmight
erinnern
remindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohave
angekommen
arrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,comeshis
besitzer
owner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasbegraben
buriedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofa
schutz
protection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,
sucht
seekingapassporttothehospital.NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecaying
handel
trade.Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—a
reihe
rowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththat
mangel
lackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyou
betreten
enterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyheight;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandinga
blick
viewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywithold
farbe
paint;itsfloorisstrewnwithgray
sand
sand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequent
zugang
access.Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;
anoldpine
schreibtisch
desk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfrom
ecke
cornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowontheschreibtisch
desk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.Butnow,shouldyougothitherto
suchen
seekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
Indeed,sofarasits
physischen
physicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedoberfläche
surface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andablick
viewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.
Itisnow
fast
nearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;
untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,
daher
therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofstaub
dustfordust.Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthe
bestand
stock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcely
behaupten
claiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown.Iseemtohaveastronger
anspruch
claimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibel
Bibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongeranspruch
claimthanformyself,whosenameisseldomheardandmyfacekaum
hardlyknown.Hewasa
soldat
soldier,legislator,judge;hewasarulerintheChurch;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelatean
vorfall
incidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,obwohl
althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.
Sodeepastain,
tat
indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytostaub
dust!Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresent
schriftsteller
writer,astheirrepresentative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanyfluch
curseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperouszustand
conditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldargumentieren
arguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthentfernt
removed.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
No
ziel
aim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;no
erfolg
successofmine—ifmylife,über
beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmursonegray
schatten
shadowofmyforefatherstotheother.“A
schriftsteller
writerofstory-books!Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,thedegenerate
kerl
fellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyand
kindheit
childhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthy
mitglied
member;butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.
Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineach
generation
generation,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehis
staub
dustwiththenatalearth.Thislong
verbindung
connectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,schafft
createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.Itisnotlove,butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatheror
großvater
grandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthird
jahrhundert
centuryiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudand
staub
dust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsozialen
socialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothezweck
purpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthly
paradies
paradise.Sohasitbeeninmycase.
Ifeltitalmostasa
schicksal
destinytomakeSalemmyhome;sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastof
charakter
characterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrab
grave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethatthe
verbindung
connection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Humannaturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolonga
reihe
seriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shall
schlagen
striketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmeto
besetzen
fillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmy
tasche
pocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyverantwortung
responsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatonce
geklärt
settled,whenIlookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolof
politischen
politicalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthe
sicherheit
safetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofgefahr
dangerandheart-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
winter
winter,wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineofMayorJuni
June,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustplead
schuldig
guiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialatem
breathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.
Neitherthefrontnortheback
eingang
entranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadies
Paradise.ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthe
atem
breathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceived
kodex
codeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfa
jahrhundert
centuryofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselfto
schweigen
silence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirown
mangel
lackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitik
politics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestodienen
serveourcommonUncle.Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactuponthe
wissen
knowledge.Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,
daher
therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersigns
unter
amongthem.Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreat
schaden
harminhim.So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,and
direkt
directlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.
Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthem
plaudern
chattinginthebackentry,areihe
rowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwith
lachen
laughterfromtheirlips.Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthe
oberfläche
surface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,however,itisrealsunshine;
intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbesadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremen
unter
amongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedfähigkeit
abilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadgeworfen
castthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.
Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanent
Inspektor
Inspector.Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthepurple;
sincehissire,aRevolutionary
oberst
colonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadgeschaffen
createdanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtobesetzen
fillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.This
Inspektor
Inspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbewahrscheinlich
likelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedblue
mantel
coat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheform
shapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactory
objekt
object,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,orfast
nearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherareperfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;
theselatterqualities,
tat
indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentleman
gentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaheart.
Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageof
kindheit
childhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtostaub
dust.Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
Notsowithourold
Inspektor
Inspector!Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,ararephenomenon;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
Myconclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;