THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoonthe
precedente
formeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillfling
da parte
asidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.Someauthors,
infatti
indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehis
cerchio
circleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhis
pubblico
audience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalways
riconosciuto
recognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.This,infact,—a
desiderio
desiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumere
assumingapersonalrelationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthe
principale
mainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,tra
amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfa
secolo
centuryago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthe
base
baseandintherearofthefila
rowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaconfine
borderofunthriftygrass,—here,withavista
viewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiestpointofits
tetto
roof,duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthata
civile
civil,andnotamilitaryposto
postofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescends
verso
towardsthestreet.OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthis
infelice
unhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofheratteggiamento
attitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecomunità
community;andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheir
sicurezza
safety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleare
cercando
seeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederale
federaleagle;imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.
Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,witha
graffio
scratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingferita
woundfromherbarbedarrows.Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—has
erba
grassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmight
ricordare
remindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodo
periodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbleto
rovina
ruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohave
arrivano
arrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,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,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteof
traffico
trafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofa
protezione
protection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,
cerca
seekingapassporttothehospital.NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—a
fila
rowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththat
mancanza
lackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyou
entra
enterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyheight;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandinga
vista
viewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywithold
vernice
paint;itsfloorisstrewnwithgray
sabbia
sand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequent
accesso
access.Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;
anoldpine
scrivania
desk,withathree-leggedstoolaccanto
besideit;twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfrom
angolo
cornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthescrivania
desk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthavericonoscere
recognized,honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
Indeed,sofarasits
fisico
physicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsuperficie
surface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andavista
viewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,in
mancanza
lackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhas
colpito
struckintothesoil.Itisnow
quasi
nearlytwocenturiesandaquarto
quartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;
untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,
quindi
therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofpolvere
dustfordust.Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthe
stock
stock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoral
qualità
quality.Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyish
immaginazione
imagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown.
Iseemtohavea
forte
strongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave
grave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibbia
Bibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—aforte
strongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameisseldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasa
soldato
soldier,legislator,judge;hewasarulerintheChurch;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,as
testimoniano
witnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidente
incidentofhishardseverityverso
towardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,anche se
althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.
Sodeepastain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlyto
polvere
dust!Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andask
perdono
pardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresent
scrittore
writer,astheirrepresentative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanymaledizione
curseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperouscondizione
conditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldsostenuto
arguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthrimosso
removed.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldthey
riconosciuto
recognizeaslaudable;nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“A
scrittore
writerofstory-books!Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthy
membro
member;butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,
eseguendo
performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardarivendicazione
claimtopublicnotice.Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutof
vista
sight;asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.
Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineach
generazione
generation,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehis
polvere
dustwiththenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceof
nascita
birthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.Itisnotlove,butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatheror
nonno
grandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthird
secolo
centuryiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudand
polvere
dust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment,thefreddo
chilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothescopo
purpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
Ifeltitalmostasa
destino
destinytomakeSalemmyhome;sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastof
carattere
characterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhistomba
grave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongtheprincipale
mainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandriconosciuto
recognizedintheoldtown.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.
Humannaturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolonga
serie
seriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmeto
riempire
fillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmy
tasca
pocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsabilità
responsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryofthe
Uniti
UnitedStates,eitherinthecivile
civilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himself
sicuro
secureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesicurezza
safetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofpericolo
dangerandheart-quake.GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;
attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.
Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpid
inverno
winter,wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineofMayorGiugno
June,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustplead
colpevole
guiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheufficiale
officialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neither
ricevette
receivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluential
posto
post,toassumetheeasycompito
taskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthefiato
breathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothe
ricevuto
receivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfa
secolo
centuryofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselfto
silenzio
silence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirown
mancanza
lackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitica
politics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoservire
serveourcommonUncle.Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactuponthe
conoscenza
knowledge.Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,
quindi
therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyufficiale
officialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersigns
tra
amongthem.Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreat
danno
harminhim.So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforour
amato
belovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronesto
scivolare
slipbetweentheirfingers!Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,and
direttamente
directlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsicuro
securewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
a
grato
gratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabitto
contrarre
contractakindnessforthem.Thebetterpartofmycompanion’s
carattere
character,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIriconosco
recognizetheman.AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthem
chiacchierare
chattinginthebackentry,afila
rowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,assolito
usual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwith
risate
laughterfromtheirlips.Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchin
comune
commonwiththemirthofchildren;theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthe
superficie
surface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,however,itisrealsunshine;
intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecaying
legno
wood.Itwouldbesadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremen
tra
amongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilità
abilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohad
raccolto
gatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmost
accuratamente
carefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhad
testimoni
witnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersalloverthe
Uniti
UnitedStates—wasacertainpermanentIspettore
Inspector.Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthepurple;
sincehissire,aRevolutionary
colonnello
colonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreato
createdanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodo
periodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.This
Ispettore
Inspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbeprobabile
likelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedblue
cappotto
coat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofa
gallo
cock,ortheblastofaclarion.Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactory
oggetto
object,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,orquasi
nearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadevermirato
aimedat,orconceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,ona
regolare
regularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherareperfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;
theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheold
signore
gentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhis
fisico
physicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedto
polvere
dust.Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
Notsowithourold
Ispettore
Inspector!Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’s
junior
juniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,a
raro
rarephenomenon;soperfect,inonepointof
vista
view;soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
Myconclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;