THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittle
bemerkenswert
remarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpuls
impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenbesitz
possessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent
leser
readerortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withabeschreibung
descriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofinda
zuhörer
listenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,the
autor
authoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsof
offenbarung
revelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedivided
segment
segmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistenz
existencebybringinghimintogemeinschaft
communionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthe
redner
speakerstandinsometruebeziehung
relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenial
bewusstsein
consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsschleier
veil.Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
autor
author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutverletzen
violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House
skizze
sketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysanerkannt
recognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalargeteil
portionofthefollowingpagescameintomybesitz
possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofaerzählung
narrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
herausgeber
editor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonalbeziehung
relationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaint
darstellung
representationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheautor
authorhappenedtomakeone.InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;
except,perhaps,a
rinde
barkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylänge
length,discharginghides;or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther
ladung
cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningaussicht
prospect,andthenceacrossthehafen
harbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
genau
preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,schwebt
floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanner
banneroftherepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
dutzend
dozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalkon
balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.Overtheentrancehoversanenormous
exemplar
specimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,aschild
shieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachklaue
claw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher
schnabel
beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,todrohen
threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Nichtsdestotrotz
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toschützen
shelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down
kissen
pillow.Butshehasnogreat
zärtlichkeit
tenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherklaue
claw,adabofherschnabel
beak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa
hafen
portbyitself;notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
erlauben
permitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyflut
floodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheir
abreise
departurethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
begrüßen
greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinhafen
port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.Here,too,comeshisowner,
fröhlich
cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowvollendeten
accomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinwaren
merchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorin
suche
questofaprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankee
aspekt
aspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightbedeutung
importancetoourdecayingtrade.Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,but
gelegentlich
occasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandaschnarchen
snore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhoabhängen
dependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedarbeit
labor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Darüber
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyhöhe
height;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrow
gasse
lane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsas
heimsuchen
haunttheWappingofaseaport.Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathas
anderswo
elsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasyto
schließen
conclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisaheiligtum
sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebesen
broomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.Inthewayoffurniture,thereisa
herd
stovewithavoluminousfunnel;anoldpinedesk,withathree-legged
hocker
stoolbesideit;twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughthe
decke
ceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-legged
hocker
stool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredleser
reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesonnenschein
sunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
fragen
inquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.Thebesomof
reform
reformhasswepthimoutofoffice;andaworthiersuccessorwearshis
würde
dignity,andpocketshisemoluments.ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
Indeed,sofarasitsphysical
aspekt
aspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthehalbinsel
peninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter
ausdruck
phrase,Imustbecontenttocallzuneigung
affection.Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe
boden
soil.ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-bordered
siedlung
settlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehis
nachkommen
descendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstanz
substancewiththesoil;untilnosmall
teil
portionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalrahmen
framewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuous
sympathie
sympathyofdustfordust.Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit
wünschenswert
desirabletoknow.Butthe
gefühl
sentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstill
verfolgt
hauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminbezug
referencetothepresentphaseofthetown.Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa
wohnsitz
residencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyhafen
port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameisselten
seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
herrscher
rulerintheChurch;hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavelefta
fleck
stainuponhim.Sodeepa
fleck
stain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillbehalten
retainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledvöllig
utterlytodust!Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir
vertreter
representative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theold
stamm
trunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemoos
mossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethan
wertlos
worthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceableto
menschheit
mankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?Why,the
degenerierte
degeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthem
verachten
scornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.Planteddeep,inthetown’s
frühesten
earliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;
but
selten
seldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabletat
deed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.Allmählich
Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew
boden
soil.Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethe
mast
mast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe
hütte
cabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofany
charme
charminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatumgeben
surroundhim.Itisnotlove,but
instinkt
instinct.Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheis
müde
wearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,theschlamm
mudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
vertreter
representativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.Nichtsdestotrotz
Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbeabgebrochen
severed.Humannaturewillnot
blühen
flourish,anymorethanakartoffel
potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outboden
soil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitable
zentrum
centreoftheuniverse.So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothe
korps
corpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
The
aufenthaltsort
whereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the
unabhängige
independentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysozerbrechlich
fragile.Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestood
fest
firmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwasradically
konservativ
conservative;amanoverwhosekindlynature
gewohnheit
habithadnoslightinfluence;attachinghimself
stark
stronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableverbesserung
improvement.Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinally
getrieben
driftedintothisquietnook;where,withlittleto
stören
disturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallerwarben
acquiredanewleaseofexistence.Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
offenbar
evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
versichert
assured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;but,afteratorpidwinter,would
kriechen
creepoutintothewarmsonnenschein
sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownfreizeit
leisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe
republik
republic.Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapious
trost
consolationtome,that,throughmyeinmischung
interference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerable
bruderschaft
brotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitiker
politician,andthoughafaithfulDemokrat
Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyhinweis
referencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactive
politiker
politicianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigSammler
Collector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonalverwaltung
administrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldkorps
corpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
politiker
politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxt
axeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowed
wange
cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheblick
glanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto
erschrecken
frightenBoreashimselftosilence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,as
betrachteten
regardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofeffizienz
efficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodox
orthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and
erheblich
considerablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tokriechen
creepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairs
geneigt
tiltedbackagainstthewall;awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
The
entdeckung
discoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy
bewusstsein
consciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,and
wunderbar
marvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluable
waren
merchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlyunter
beneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheirprevious
nachlässigkeit
negligence,thecaseseemedrathertoerfordern
requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthyvorsicht
caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;agrateful
anerkennung
recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyheilmittel
remedy.Unlesspeoplearemorethan
gewöhnlich
commonlydisagreeable,itismytöricht
foolishhabittocontractafreundlichkeit
kindnessforthem.Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositionin
bezug
referencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasgünstig
favorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,
lediglich
merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
the
intellekt
intellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor
humor,haslittletodowiththematter;itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa
sonnigen
sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenzweig
branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,however,itisreal
sonnenschein
sunshine;intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbesad
ungerechtigkeit
injustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishand
abhängigen
dependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthe
mehrheit
majorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemallgemein
generallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden
korn
grainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanentInspector.
Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthe
wolle
wool,or,rather,borninthepurple;sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,and
früher
formerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andernannt
appointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto
entdecken
discoverinalifetime’ssearch.Withhisflorid
wange
cheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,insgesamt
altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethe
krähen
crowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.Lookingathim
nur
merelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular
einkommen
income,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofentfernung
removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepassleicht
lightlyoverhim.Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare
perfektion
perfectionofhisanimalnature,themäßigen
moderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
He
besaß
possessednopowerofthought,notiefe
depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrew
zwangsläufig
inevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralakzeptanz
acceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
reife
maturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen
trauer
sorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.NotsowithouroldInspector!
Onebrief
seufzer
sighsufficedtocarryofftheentirelast
burdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyfor
sport
sportasanyunbreechedinfant;farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior
angestellte
clerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
neugier
curiosity,thananyotherformofmenschlichkeit
humanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,intruth,arare
phänomen
phenomenon;soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan
absolute
absolutenonentity,ineveryother.My
schlussfolgerung
conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;