The Scarlet Letter Gradually Hardening German B2

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.

INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”

tisalittle

bemerkenswert

remarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical

impuls

impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetaken

besitz

possessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.

Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent

leser

readerortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha

beschreibung

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,andcompletehiscircleof

existenz

existencebybringinghiminto

gemeinschaft

communionwithit.

Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.

But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthe

redner

speakerstandinsometrue

beziehung

relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;

andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenial

bewusstsein

consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits

schleier

veil.

Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an

autor

author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without

verletzen

violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.

Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House

skizze

sketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalways

anerkannt

recognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalarge

teil

portionofthefollowingpagescameintomy

besitz

possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofa

erzählung

narrativethereincontained.

This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas

herausgeber

editor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal

beziehung

relationwiththepublic.

Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaint

darstellung

representationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomthe

autor

authorhappenedtomakeone.

InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;

except,perhaps,a

rinde

barkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholy

länge

length,discharginghides;

or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther

ladung

cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenlivening

aussicht

prospect,andthenceacrossthe

hafen

harbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.

Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during

genau

preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,

schwebt

floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,the

banner

banneroftherepublic;

butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.

Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa

dutzend

dozenwoodenpillars,supportinga

balkon

balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.

Overtheentrancehoversanenormous

exemplar

specimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,a

schild

shieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineach

klaue

claw.

Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher

schnabel

beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to

drohen

threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;

andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.

Nichtsdestotrotz

Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,to

schützen

shelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;

imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down

kissen

pillow.

Butshehasnogreat

zärtlichkeit

tenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofher

klaue

claw,adabofher

schnabel

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,themighty

flut

floodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.

Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheir

abreise

departurethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.

Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay

begrüßen

greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justin

hafen

port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.

Here,too,comeshisowner,

fröhlich

cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenow

vollendeten

accomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedin

waren

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,butcontributinganitemofnoslight

bedeutung

importancetoourdecayingtrade.

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

Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.

Oftentimestheywereasleep,but

gelegentlich

occasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechanda

schnarchen

snore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswho

abhängen

dependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolized

arbeit

labor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.

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

Darüber

Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofalofty

höhe

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,thatthisisa

heiligtum

sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,the

besen

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,honored

leser

reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethe

sonnenschein

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,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthe

halbinsel

peninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.

Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter

ausdruck

phrase,Imustbecontenttocall

zuneigung

affection.

Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe

boden

soil.

ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-bordered

siedlung

settlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.

Andherehis

nachkommen

descendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthy

substanz

substancewiththesoil;

untilnosmall

teil

portionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortal

rahmen

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,whichIscarcelyclaimin

bezug

referencetothepresentphaseofthetown.

Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa

wohnsitz

residencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastately

hafen

port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis

selten

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,muststill

behalten

retainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbled

völlig

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,withsomuchvenerable

moos

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,performinganymemorable

tat

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

charminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthat

umgeben

surroundhim.

Itisnotlove,but

instinkt

instinct.

Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;

hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.

Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;

thatheis

müde

wearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,the

schlamm

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,shouldatlastbe

abgebrochen

severed.

Humannaturewillnot

blühen

flourish,anymorethana

kartoffel

potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-out

boden

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,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallyso

zerbrechlich

fragile.

Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestood

fest

firmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;

and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.

GeneralMillerwasradically

konservativ

conservative;

amanoverwhosekindlynature

gewohnheit

habithadnoslightinfluence;

attachinghimself

stark

stronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionable

verbesserung

improvement.

Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.

Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinally

getrieben

driftedintothisquietnook;

where,withlittleto

stören

disturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandall

erwarben

acquiredanewleaseofexistence.

Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad

offenbar

evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.

Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas

versichert

assured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;

but,afteratorpidwinter,would

kriechen

creepoutintothewarm

sonnenschein

sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirown

freizeit

leisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.

Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe

republik

republic.

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

Itisapious

trost

consolationtome,that,throughmy

einmischung

interference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.

NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.

ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.

Itwaswellfortheirvenerable

bruderschaft

brotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnota

politiker

politician,andthoughafaithful

Demokrat

Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany

hinweis

referencetopoliticalservices.

Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactive

politiker

politicianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhig

Sammler

Collector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonal

verwaltung

administrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheold

korps

corpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.

Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina

politiker

politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthe

axt

axeoftheguillotine.

Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.

Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;

toseeafurrowed

wange

cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleatthe

blick

glanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;

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

erschrecken

frightenBoreashimselftosilence.

Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,as

betrachteten

regardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackof

effizienz

efficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,more

orthodox

orthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.

Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.

Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and

erheblich

considerablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,to

kriechen

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,anddirectly

unter

beneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.

Insteadofareprimandfortheirprevious

nachlässigkeit

negligence,thecaseseemedratherto

erfordern

requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy

vorsicht

caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;

agrateful

anerkennung

recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany

heilmittel

remedy.

Unlesspeoplearemorethan

gewöhnlich

commonlydisagreeable,itismy

töricht

foolishhabittocontracta

freundlichkeit

kindnessforthem.

Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.

AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositionin

bezug

referencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was

günstig

favorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.

Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,

lediglich

merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;

whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.

Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;

the

intellekt

intellect,anymorethanadeepsenseof

humor

humor,haslittletodowiththematter;

itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa

sonnigen

sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreen

zweig

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,ifIcharacterizethem

allgemein

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,and

ernannt

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,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof

entfernung

removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepass

leicht

lightlyoverhim.

Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare

perfektion

perfectionofhisanimalnature,the

mäßigen

moderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;

theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.

besaß

possessednopowerofthought,no

tiefe

depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;

nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrew

zwangsläufig

inevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneral

akzeptanz

acceptance,inlieuofaheart.

Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;

thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor

reife

maturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.

Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen

trauer

sorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.

NotsowithouroldInspector!

Onebrief

seufzer

sighsufficedtocarryofftheentire

last

burdenofthesedismalreminiscences.

Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyfor

sport

sportasanyunbreechedinfant;

farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior

angestellte

clerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.

Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier

neugier

curiosity,thananyotherformof

menschlichkeit

humanitytherepresentedtomynotice.

Hewas,intruth,arare

phänomen

phenomenon;

soperfect,inonepointofview;

soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan

absolute

absolutenonentity,ineveryother.

schlussfolgerung

conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;

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