The Scarlet Letter Gradually Hardening Hungarian B2 Books

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.

INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”

tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical

impulzus

impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.

Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andforno

földi

earthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent

olvasó

readerortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.

Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.

Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.

Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,the

szerző

authoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.

Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuch

bizalmas

confidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;

asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.

Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.

But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthe

szónok

speakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthe

legközelebbi

closestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;

andthen,a

őshonos

nativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits

fátyol

veil.

Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an

szerző

author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.

Itwillbeseen,

ugyanígy

likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalarge

része

portionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.

This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas

szerkesztő

editor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonalrelationwiththepublic.

Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togivea

gyenge

faintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomthe

szerző

authorhappenedtomakeone.

InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayed

fából készült

woodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsof

kereskedelmi

commerciallife;

except,perhaps,a

kéreg

barkorbrig,half-waydownits

melankolikus

melancholylength,discharginghides;

or,

közelebb

nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther

rakomány

cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthe

dagály

tideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandinthe

hátsó

rearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenlivening

kilátás

prospect,andthenceacrossthe

kikötő

harbor,standsaspaciousedificeof

tégla

brick.

Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during

pontosan

preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebannerofthe

köztársaság

republic;

butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus

jelzi

indicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.

Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa

tucat

dozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,

alatt

beneathwhichaflightofwide

gránit

granitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.

Overtheentrancehoversan

óriási

enormousspecimenoftheAmerican

sas

eagle,withoutspreadwings,a

pajzs

shieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.

Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to

veszélyezteti

threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;

andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.

Mindazonáltal

Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederal

sas

eagle;

imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down

párna

pillow.

Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.

The

járdán

pavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.

Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.

SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa

kikötő

portbyitself;

notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,the

hatalmas

mightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.

Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof

gyakran

frequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthe

gránit

granitesteps.

Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.

Here,too,comeshisowner,

vidám

cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenow

befejezett

accomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.

Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung

hivatalnok

clerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.

Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound

tengerész

sailorinquestofaprotection;

ortherecentlyarrivedone,

sápadt

paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.

Normustweforgetthecaptainsofthe

rozsdás

rustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;

arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,but

hozzájárul

contributinganitemofno

enyhe

slightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.

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

Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheir

megfelelő

appropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.

Oftentimestheywereasleep,but

alkalmanként

occasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechanda

horkolás

snore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswho

függik

dependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirown

önálló

independentexertions.

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

Továbbá

Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyheight;

withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossa

keskeny

narrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.

Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;

aroundthedoorsofwhichare

általában

generallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.

Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;

itsfloorisstrewnwith

szürke

graysand,inafashionthathas

máshol

elsewherefallenintolongdisuse;

anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisa

szentély

sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.

Inthewayof

bútorok

furniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;

anold

fenyő

pinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;

twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;

and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulky

Digest

DigestoftheRevenueLaws.

Atinpipe

emelkedik

ascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.

Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-legged

széken

stool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honored

olvasó

reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethe

napfény

sunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthe

fűz

willowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.

Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.

Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;

andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.

ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhave

laktam

dweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.

Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongand

lusta

lazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthe

félsziget

peninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteas

ésszerű

reasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.

Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiest

máshol

elsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter

kifejezés

phrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.

The

érzés

sentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.

ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,the

legkorábbi

earliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.

Andherehis

leszármazottai

descendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;

untilnosmall

része

portionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothe

halandó

mortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.

Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.

Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;

nor,as

gyakori

frequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.

Butthesentimenthaslikewiseits

erkölcsi

moralquality.

Thefigureofthatfirst

ős

ancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwitha

homályos

dimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.

Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichI

alig

scarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown.

Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,

szakállas

bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis

ritkán

seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.

Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;

hewasarulerintheChurch;

hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.

Hewas

hasonlóképpen

likewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.

Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.

Sodeepa

folt

stain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,inthe

Charter

CharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbled

teljesen

utterlytodust!

Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;

orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.

Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.

Doubtless,however,eitherofthese

szigorú

sternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerable

moha

mossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.

Noaim,thatIhaveever

kedveltem

cherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;

nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.

“Whatishe?”

murmursone

szürke

grayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.

“Awriterofstory-books!

Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?

Why,the

degenerált

degeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”

Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!

Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.

Planteddeep,inthetown’s

legkorábbi

earliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwo

komoly

earnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;

always,too,inrespectability;

never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingle

méltatlan

unworthymember;

butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performingany

emlékezetes

memorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.

Fokozatosan

Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;

asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcovered

félig

half-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew

talaj

soil.

Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;

agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,

visszavonult

retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe

örökletes

hereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesalt

spray

sprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.

Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentatempestuous

férfiasság

manhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.

Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand

temetkezési

burial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthe

táj

sceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.

Itisnotlove,but

ösztön

instinct.

Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;

hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.

Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;

thatheiswearyoftheold

fából készült

woodenhouses,themudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.

Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwerean

földi

earthlyparadise.

Sohasitbeeninmycase.

IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;

sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone

képviselője

representativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.

Mindazonáltal

Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.

Humannaturewillnotflourish,anymorethana

krumpli

potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.

Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.

OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.

Mydoomwasonme.

Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;

orasifSalemwereformethe

elkerülhetetlen

inevitablecentreoftheuniverse.

So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightof

gránit

granitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.

Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.

Thewhereaboutsofthe

Legrégebbi

OldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.

Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the

független

independentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofoffice

általában

generallysofragile.

Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestood

szilárdan

firmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;

and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.

GeneralMillerwas

radikálisan

radicallyconservative;

amanoverwhose

kedves

kindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;

attachinghimself

erősen

stronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.

Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.

Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;

where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofa

Elnöki

Presidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.

Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.

Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;

but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.

Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.

Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheir

egyetlen

soleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.

Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,a

elegendő

sufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheeviland

korrupt

corruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.

NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.

ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.

ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnota

politikus

politician,andthoughafaithful

Demokrata

Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.

Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan

aktív

activepoliticianbeenputintothis

befolyásos

influentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhig

Gyűjtő

Collector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheold

testület

corpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.

Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthe

fejsze

axeoftheguillotine.

Itwas

egyszerű

plainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.

Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;

toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofso

ártalmatlan

harmlessanindividualasmyself;

todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.

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

tekintettek

regardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,and

teljesen

altogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.

Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.

Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and

jelentősen

considerablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.

Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;

awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.

The

felfedezés

discoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.

So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirown

nevében

behalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthe

különböző

variousformalitiesofoffice.

Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!

Hatalmas

Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,and

csodálatos

marvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!

Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadof

értékes

valuablemerchandisehadbeensmuggled

partra

ashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectly

alatt

beneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquent

hajó

vessel.

Insteadofareprimandfortheir

korábbi

previousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;

agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.

Unlesspeoplearemorethan

általában

commonlydisagreeable,itismy

bolond

foolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.

Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.

AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was

kedvező

favorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.

Itwas

kellemes

pleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwas

kellemes

pleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;

whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.

Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;

theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;

itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa

napsütéses

sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreen

ág

branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.

Inonecase,however,itisreal

napfény

sunshine;

intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.

Itwouldbesad

igazságtalanság

injustice,thereadermustunderstand,to

ábrázolnám

representallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.

Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;

thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,and

teljesen

altogethersuperiortothesluggishand

függő

dependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.

Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan

intellektuális

intellectualtenementingoodrepair.

But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.

Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainof

gyakorlati

practicalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.

Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.

ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertain

állandó

permanentInspector.

Hemighttrulybetermeda

törvényes

legitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthe

lila

purple;

sincehissire,a

Forradalmi

Revolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectorofthe

kikötő

port,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.

ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto

felfedezni

discoverinalifetime’ssearch.

Withhisfloridcheek,his

kompakt

compactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.

Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;

theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.

Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthat

szélsőséges

extremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.

The

gondatlan

carelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular

jövedelem

income,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof

eltávolítása

removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepass

könnyedén

lightlyoverhim.

Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherareperfectionofhisanimalnature,the

mérsékelt

moderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureof

erkölcsi

moralandspiritualingredients;

these

utóbbi

latterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.

Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,no

zavaró

troublesomesensibilities;

nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythe

vidám

cheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneral

elfogadás

acceptance,inlieuofaheart.

Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;

thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodormaturity,had

ugyanígy

likewisereturnedtodust.

Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen

szomorúság

sorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.

NotsowithouroldInspector!

One

rövid

briefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentire

terhet

burdenofthesedismalreminiscences.

Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreeched

csecsemő

infant;

farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchthe

idősebb

elderandgravermanofthetwo.

Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.

Hewas,intruth,arare

jelenség

phenomenon;

soperfect,inonepointofview;

sekély

shallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan

abszolút

absolutenonentity,ineveryother.

Myconclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;

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