THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tis
egy
alittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtobeszélni
talkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,és
andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofengem
me,inaddressingthepublic.The
első
firsttimewasthreeornégy
fouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,és
andfornoearthlyreason,amit
thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanRégi
OldManse.Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwas
boldog
happyenoughtofindalistenerorkét
twoontheformeroccasion—Iismét
againseizethepublicbythebutton,és
andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinegy
aCustom-House.Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
The
igazság
truthseemstobe,however,that,amikor
whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanyakik
whowillflingasidehisvolume,vagy
ornevertakeitup,hanem
butthefewwhowillunderstandőt
him,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesvagy
orlifemates.Someauthors,indeed,do
sokkal
farmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinolyan
suchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyés
andexclusively,totheoneszív
heartandmindofperfectsympathy;asiftheprinted
könyv
book,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’ssaját
ownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
De
But,asthoughtsarefrozenés
andutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinvalamilyen
sometruerelationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethategy
afriend,akindandapprehensive,bár
thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;és
andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbyezt
thisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,és
andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMemögött
behinditsveil.Tothisextent,
és
andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhissaját
own.Itwillbeseen,likewise,
hogy
thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasegy
acertainpropriety,ofakindmindig
alwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghogyan
howalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,és
andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofegy
anarrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmy
valódi
truepositionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,és
andnoother,ismyvalódi
truereasonforassumingapersonalrelationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,to
adjuk
giveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmozognak
moveinit,amongwhomtheauthorvéletlenül
happenedtomakeone.InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,
fél
halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKirály
KingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichismost
nowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,és
andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommercialélet
life;except,perhaps,abark
vagy
orbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;vagy
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingki
outhercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Imondom
say,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,amely
whichthetideoftenoverflows,és
andalongwhich,atthebaseés
andintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofsok
manylanguidyearsisseeninegy
aborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withegy
aviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownez
thisnotveryenliveningprospect,és
andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsegy
aspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,duringprecisely
három
threeandahalfhoursofminden
eachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezevagy
orcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;de
butwiththethirteenstripesfordították
turnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,és
andthusindicatingthatacivil,és
andnotamilitarypostofBácsi
UncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.Its
elülső
frontisornamentedwithaporticooffél
halfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingegy
abalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardstheutca
street.OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,
és
and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsés
andbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizes
ezt
thisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakés
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;és
andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,ellen
againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,
sokan
manypeopleareseeking,atthisverypillanatban
moment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;imagining,Ipresume,
hogy
thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessés
andsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.De
Butshehasnogreattenderness,még
eveninherbestofmoods,és
and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonmint
thanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withegy
ascratchofherclaw,egy
adabofherbeak,vagy
oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayas
is
wellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrasselég
enoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofüzleti
business.Insomemonthsof
az
theyear,however,thereoftenchancesegy
aforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithegy
aliveliertread.Suchoccasionsmightremind
az
theelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforeaz
thelastwarwithEngland,amikor
whenSalemwasaportbyitself;notscorned,assheis
most
now,byherownmerchantsés
andship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,míg
whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyés
andimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkvagy
orBoston.Onsomesuchmorning,
amikor
whenthreeorfourvesselshappentovagy
havearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricavagy
orSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisegy
asoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyfel
upanddownthegranitesteps.Here,
mielőtt
beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersalatt
underhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.Here,
is
too,comeshisowner,cheerfulvagy
orsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthemost
nowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,vagy
orhasburiedhimunderegy
abulkofincommodities,suchassenki sem
nobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmart
fiatal
youngclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasegy
awolf-cubdoesofblood,és
andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadjobb
betterbesailingmimic-boatsuponegy
amill-pond.Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestof
egy
aprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,pale
és
andfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.Normustweforgetthecaptainsoftherusty
kis
littleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,
de
butcontributinganitemofnem
noslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.Clusteralltheseindividuals
együtt
together,astheysometimeswere,withmás
othermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,és
and,forthetimebeing,ithogy
madetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,
ha
ifitweresummertime,vagy
orintheirappropriaterooms,ha
ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,ültek
sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,
de
butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingegyütt
together,invoicesbetweenspeechés
andasnore,andwithamely
thatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,és
andallotherhumanbeingsakik
whodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,vagy
oranythingelse,buttheirsaját
ownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,
mint
likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,de
butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,mint
likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthe
bejárati
frontdoor,isacertainszoba
roomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,és
andofaloftyheight;with
két
twoofitsarchedwindowscommandingegy
aviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,és
andthethirdlookingacrossegy
anarrowlane,andalongegy
aportionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,
és
andship-chandlers;aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughing
és
andgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,és
andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.The
szoba
roomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywithrégi
oldpaint;itsfloorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashion
amely
thathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;és
anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisegy
asanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomés
andmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.Inthewayoffurniture,thereis
egy
astovewithavoluminousfunnel;an
régi
oldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;két
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepités
andinfirm;and—nottoforgetthelibrary—on
néhány
someshelves,ascoreorkét
twoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,és
andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.Egy
Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,és
andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithmás
otherpartsoftheedifice.És
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,vagy
orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,és
andhiseyeswanderingupés
anddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmightvagy
haverecognized,honoredreader,thesameindividualaki
whowelcomedyouintohischeerykis
littlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.De
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
és
andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,és
andpocketshisemoluments.This
régi
oldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,bár
thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,mind
bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,vagy
ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIvagy
haveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,few
vagy
ornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,hanem
butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillés
andNewGuineaatonevégén
end,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itlenne
wouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.És
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeegy
afeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofegy
abetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.Thesentimentis
valószínűleg
probablyassignabletothedeepés
andagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.Itisnownearly
két
twocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,hogy
madehisappearanceinthewildés
andforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincelett
becomeacity.Andherehisdescendantshavebeenborn
és
anddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;amíg
untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foregy
alittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.In
részben
part,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.Kevés
Fewofmycountrymencantudja
knowwhatitis;nor,asfrequenttransplantationis
talán
perhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletotudni
know.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
Thefigureofthat
első
firstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimés
andduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanemlékszem
remember.Itstillhauntsme,
és
andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththemúltban
past,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentphaseoftheváros
town.Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidence
itt
hereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedés
andsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleés
andhissword,andtrodetheunwornutcán
streetwithsuchastatelyport,és
andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofháború
warandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenevét
nameisseldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasarulerin
az
theChurch;hehadallthePuritanictraits,
egyaránt
bothgoodandevil.Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,
akik
whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,és
andrelateanincidentofhiskemény
hardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisjobb
betterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.His
fia
son,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,és
andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavehagyott
leftastainuponhim.Sodeep
egy
astain,indeed,thathisrégi
olddrybones,intheCharterStreet
Streetburial-ground,muststillretainit,ha
iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!I
tudom
knownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,és
andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;vagy
orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.Atallevents,
Én
I,thepresentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,és
andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,és
andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,forsok
manyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybemost
nowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,however,
sem
eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldvolna
havethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,hogy
that,aftersolongalapseofyears,therégi
oldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponez
it,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Nincs
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;nem
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,volna
hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ha
ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmurs
egyik
onegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,
vagy
orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayés
andgeneration—maythatbe?Why,thedegeneratefellowmightas
is
wellhavebeenafiddler!”Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsires
és
andmyself,acrossthegulfofidő
time!Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancy
és
andchildhood,bythesetwoearnestés
andenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;mindig
always,too,inrespectability;never,sofarasIhave
tudom
known,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;de
butseldomornever,onaz
theotherhand,aftertheelső
firsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,vagy
orsomuchasputtingforwardegy
aclaimtopublicnotice.Gradually,theyhavesunk
szinte
almostoutofsight;as
régi
oldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofúj
newsoil.Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
egy
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,míg
whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplaceelőtt
beforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayés
andthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireés
andgrandsire.Theboy,also,indue
időben
time,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentegy
atempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,és
anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalföld
earth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asits
hely
placeofbirthandburial,createsakindredközött
betweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryvagy
ormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.Itisnot
szerelem
love,butinstinct.Thenewinhabitant—who
jött
camehimselffromaforeignland,vagy
orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haskevés
littleclaimtobecalledegy
aSalemite;hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhich
egy
anoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotahol
wherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itis
nem
nomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforneki
him;thatheiswearyofthe
régi
oldwoodenhouses,themudés
anddust,thedeadlevelofsiteés
andsentiment,thechilleastwind,és
andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,és
andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseevagy
orimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.A
Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifa
thenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.So
volt
hasitbeeninmycase.Ifeltit
majdnem
almostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;sothatthemouldoffeatures
és
andcastofcharacterwhichhadallvégig
alongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,másik
anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchvégig
alongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmykis
littledaybeseenandrecognizedintherégi
oldtown.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidence
amely
thattheconnection,whichhasvált
becomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Emberi
Humannaturewillnotflourish,anymoremint
thanapotato,ifitbeplantedés
andreplanted,fortoolongegy
aseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.Mychildren
voltak
havehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,that
hogy
broughtmetofillaplaceinBácsi
UncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightasis
well,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthe
első
firsttime,northesecond,hogy
thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,mint
likethebadhalf-penny;orasifSalemwereforme
az
theinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.So,
egy
onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,és
andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenakik
whoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhad
olyan
suchapatriarchalbodyofveteransalatt
underhisordersasmyself.ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,
amikor
whenIlookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyears
előtt
beforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,ami
whichmakesthetenureofhivatal
officegenerallysofragile.Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
és
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofaz
thesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhevolt
hadheldoffice,hehadbeenaz
thesafetyofhissubordinatesinsok
manyanhourofdangerés
andheart-quake.GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
egy
amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnem
noslightinfluence;attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,
és
andwithdifficultymovedtováltozás
change,evenwhenchangemightvolna
havebroughtunquestionableimprovement.Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,I
találtam
foundfewbutagedmen.Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,
akik
who,afterbeingtostonminden
everysea,andstandingupsturdilyellen
againstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothiscsendes
quietnook;where,withlittletodisturbthem,except
az
theperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredaúj
newleaseofexistence.Thoughbynomeanslessliable
mint
thantheirfellow-mentoageés
andinfirmity,theyhadevidentlyvalamilyen
sometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Két
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyés
andrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofhogy
makingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheév
year;but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreep
ki
outintothewarmsunshineofMayvagy
orJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,és
and,attheirownleisureés
andconvenience,betakethemselvestobedújra
again.Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathof
több
morethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,
és
andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoegy
abetterworld.Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,
révén
throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilés
andcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatteroftermészetesen
course,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtoesnie
fall.Neitherthefrontnorthe
hátsó
backentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthe
új
newSurveyorwasnotapolitician,és
andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumethe
könnyű
easytaskofmakingheadellen
againstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftherégi
oldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficialélet
life,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceivedcodein
ilyen
suchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosefehér
whiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplain
elég
enoughtodiscern,thattheöreg
oldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.Itpained,
és
andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;to
látni
seeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyfél
halfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;todetect,asone
vagy
oranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,amely
which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowkeresztül
throughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.They
tudták
knew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byminden
allestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirsaját
ownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttovolna
havegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,és
andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.I
tudtam
knewittoo,butcouldneverquitetaláltam
findinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.Sok
Muchanddeservedlytomysaját
owndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,és
andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealof
időt
time,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedvissza
backagainstthewall;awaking,however,
egyszer
onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofrégi
oldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thatvagy
hadgrowntobepasswordsés
andcountersignsamongthem.Thediscoverywas
hamarosan
soonmade,Iimagine,thattheúj
newSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.So,withlightsomehearts,
és
andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirsaját
ownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesejó
goodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,
alatt
undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,
és
andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipközött
betweentheirfingers!Wheneversuch
egy
amischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,talán
perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingtudta
couldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,és
anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeés
andsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,the
ügy
caseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,miután
afterthemischiefhadhappened;agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,the
pillanatban
momentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.Unless
emberek
peoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.The
jobb
betterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ha
ifithaveabetterrésze
part,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,és
andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.Asmostofthese
régi
oldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,és
andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalés
andprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Ihamarosan
soongrewtolikethemall.Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,
amely
thatalmostliquefiedtherestoftheemberi
humanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohallani
hearthemchattinginthehátsó
backentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;míg
whilethefrozenwitticismsofmúlt
pastgenerationswerethawedout,és
andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.Externally,thejollityofagedmen
van
hasmuchincommonwiththemirthofgyerekek
children;theintellect,anymore
mint
thanadeepsenseofhumor,van
haslittletodowiththematter;itis,with
egyaránt
both,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,és
andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,és
andgray,moulderingtrunk.In
egy
onecase,however,itisigazi
realsunshine;intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
It
lenne
wouldbesadinjustice,thereaderkell
mustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentrégi
oldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthe
először
firstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;thereweremenamongthemintheirstrength
és
andprime,ofmarkedabilityés
andenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishés
anddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarsvoltak
hadcastthem.Then,moreover,the
fehér
whitelocksofagewerenéha
sometimesfoundtobethethatchofegy
anintellectualtenementingoodrepair.De
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therelenne
willbenowrongdone,ha
ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasegy
asetofwearisomeoldsouls,akik
whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungaway
összes
allthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsosok
manyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewith
sokkal
farmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,vagy
oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,mint
thanoftheshipwreckoffortyvagy
orfiftyyearsago,andminden
alltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.The
apja
fatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthiskis
littlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtomondani
say,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasegy
acertainpermanentInspector.Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,
vagy
or,rather,borninthepurple;sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,
és
andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforneki
him,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichkevés
fewlivingmencannowemlékezni
remember.ThisInspector,whenI
először
firstknewhim,wasaember
manoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,és
andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbrisk
és
andvigorousstep,andhishaleés
andheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notfiatal
young,indeed—butakindofúj
newcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageés
andinfirmityhadnobusinesstoérint
touch.Hisvoiceandlaugh,
amely
whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,volt
hadnothingofthetremulousquaverés
andcackleofanoldman’sutterance;theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,
mint
likethecrowofacock,vagy
ortheblastofaclarion.Nézni
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasnagyon
verylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessés
andwholesomenessofhissystem,és
andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyösszes
all,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,vagy
orconceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,on
egy
aregularincome,andwithbutslightés
andinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtomakeidő
timepasslightlyoverhim.Az
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layinaz
therareperfectionofhisanimalnature,az
themoderateproportionofintellect,és
andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralés
andspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarely
elég
enoughmeasuretokeeptheöreg
oldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.Hepossessed
nem
nopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,nem
notroublesomesensibilities;nothing,inshort,buta
néhány
fewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperamely
thatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutynagyon
veryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaszív
heart.Hehadbeenthe
férje
husbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;the
apja
fatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,atminden
everyageofchildhoodormaturity,vagy
hadlikewisereturnedtodust.Itt
Here,onewouldsuppose,mightvolt
havebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughés
andthrough,withasabletinge.Notso
a
withouroldInspector!Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenof
ezek
thesedismalreminiscences.Thenext
pillanatban
moment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;farreadier
mint
thantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,aki
who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderés
andgravermanofthekettő
two.Iusedtowatch
és
andstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Iszerintem
think,liveliercuriosity,thananymás
otherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,in
igazság
truth,ararephenomenon;so
tökéletes
perfect,inonepointofview;soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,
olyan
suchanabsolutenonentity,inminden
everyother.Myconclusionwas
hogy
thathehadnosoul,nincs
noheart,nomind;