THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomy
személyes
personalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldkétszer
twiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthe
mély
deepquietudeofanOldManse.Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.
Theexampleofthe
híres
famous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.Thetruthseemstobe,
azonban
however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;
asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.
Itisscarcelydecorous,
azonban
however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,
hacsak
unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoelképzelni
imaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasa
bizonyos
certainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asmegmagyarázza
explaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassuminga
személyes
personalrelationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;
kivéve
except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetide
gyakran
oftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnota
katonai
militarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,a
csomó
bunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakandeye,andthe
általános
generaltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;and
különösen
especiallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;
imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.
Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,
azonban
however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaor
Dél
SouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentlábak
feet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethe
okos
smartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.Another
alak
figureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
Sem
NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythe
csoport
group,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringjelenet
scene.Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitwere
nyár
summertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isa
bizonyos
certainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenláb
feetsquare,andofaloftyheight;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthe
harmadik
thirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
its
padló
floorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.
Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhavenever
észre
realizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothe
mély
deepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthe
vad
wildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;
untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
sem
nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,was
jelen
presenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown.
Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocameso
korán
early,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadesonagy
largeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,akinek
whosenameisseldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,
bíró
judge;hewasarulerinthe
Egyház
Church;hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodand
rossz
evil.Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thanany
feljegyzés
recordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.
So
mély
deepastain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
or
hogy
whethertheyarenowgroaningunderthesúlyos
heavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.Atallevents,I,the
jelen
presentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionofthefaj
race,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,
erős
strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,the
faj
racehaseversincesubsistedhere;always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbya
egyetlen
singleunworthymember;butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.
Fromfathertoson,forabovea
száz
hundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.
Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.
Itisnotlove,butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,or
akinek
whosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhis
harmadik
thirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.
Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeofthe
faj
racelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisan
bizonyíték
evidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Human
természet
naturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythis
furcsa
strange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,
sem
northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitlátszott
seemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.
Idoubtgreatly—or,
inkább
rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilorkatonai
militaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
amanover
akinek
whosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,had
végül
finallydriftedintothisquietnook;where,withlittletodisturbthem,
kivéve
excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.Thoughbynomeans
kevésbé
lessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringa
nagy
largepartoftheyear;but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintothe
meleg
warmsunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.
Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceofthe
gonosz
evilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-Houseopensonthe
úton
roadtoParadise.ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,
akinek
whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromtheszemélyes
personaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangyal
angelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Szerint
Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;
todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofa
hang
voice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.Theyknew,these
kiváló
excellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,they
továbbra is
continued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;
awaking,
azonban
however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththetöbb
severalthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededto
zár
lock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.
Hacsak
Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhich
általában
usuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwaspleasant,inthe
nyári
summerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethana
mély
deepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothe
zöld
greenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,
azonban
however,itisrealsunshine;intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbe
szomorú
sadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmykiváló
excellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheir
gonosz
evilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksof
kor
ageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.
Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’s
reggeli
breakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasa
bizonyos
certainpermanentInspector.Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,or,
inkább
rather,borninthepurple;sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodofthe
korai
earlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,and
minden bizonnyal
certainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’skeresés
search.Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttoned
kék
bluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whoméletkor
ageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.His
hangja
voiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthatextreme
korban
age,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,
azonban
however,layintherareperfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andto
általános
generalacceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,atevery
korban
ageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.Here,onewould
feltételezné
suppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.NotsowithouroldInspector!
Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryoffthe
egész
entireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,ararephenomenon;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
Myconclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;