THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical
impulso
impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossesso
possessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent
lettore
readerortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescrizione
descriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofinda
ascoltatore
listenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehis
volume
volume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,and
indulgono
indulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrivelazione
revelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandesclusivamente
exclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsimpatia
sympathy;asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe
diviso
dividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleofesistenza
existencebybringinghimintocomunione
communionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometrue
relazione
relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,anative
riserva
reservebeingthawedbythisgenialcoscienza
consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsvelo
veil.Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
autore
author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolare
violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House
disegno
sketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinletteratura
literature,asexplaininghowalargeparte
portionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossesso
possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrazione
narrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
redattore
editor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonalrapporto
relationwiththepublic.In
compiere
accomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveadebole
faintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescritto
described,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsof
commerciale
commerciallife;except,perhaps,a
corteccia
barkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylunghezza
length,discharginghides;or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther
carico
cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthemarea
tideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintheposteriore
rearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospettiva
prospect,andthenceacrosstheporto
harbor,standsaspaciousedificeofdi mattoni
brick.Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
esattamente
preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,galleggia
floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebandiera
banneroftherepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus
indicando
indicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentisherestabilito
established.Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
dozzina
dozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcone
balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranito
granitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.Overtheentrancehoversan
enorme
enormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ascudo
shieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachartiglio
claw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher
becco
beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tominacciare
threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;
imagining,I
presumo
presume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downcuscino
pillow.Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofher
artiglio
claw,adabofherbecco
beak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.The
marciapiede
pavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousricorso
resortofbusiness.Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmove
avanti
onwardwithaliveliertread.Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly
cittadino
citizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaporto
portbyitself;notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
permettono
permitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotogonfiarsi
swell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,thepotente
mightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof
frequenti
frequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranito
granitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
salutare
greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinporto
port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.Here,too,comeshisowner,
allegro
cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedviaggio
voyagehasbeenrealizedinmerce
merchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung
impiegato
clerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbenavigasse
sailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound
marinaio
sailorinquestofaprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,
pallido
paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,but
contribuendo
contributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
More
frequentemente
frequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriate
appropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirposteriori
hindlegsbackagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechanda
russare
snore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistingue
distinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodipendono
dependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlavoro
labor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthe
ricevimento
receiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyheight;
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalonga
parte
portionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhichare
generalmente
generallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathas
altrove
elsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasyto
concludere
conclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasantuario
sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.Inthewayof
mobili
furniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousimbuto
funnel;anoldpinedesk,withathree-legged
sgabello
stoolbesideit;twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsof
Congresso
Congress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.A
stagno
tinpipeascendsthroughthesoffitto
ceiling,andformsamediumofvocale
vocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-legged
sgabello
stool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyesvagavano
wanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredlettore
reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesole
sunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthesalice
willowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
chiederete
inquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.Thebesomof
riforma
reformhasswepthimoutofoffice;andaworthier
successore
successorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsof
reale
actualresidencehere.Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewhole
estensione
extentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasragionevole
reasonabletoformasentimentalattaccamento
attachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Andyet,thoughinvariably
felice
happiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterfrase
phrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffetto
affection.Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe
suolo
soil.ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehis
apparizione
appearanceinthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhave
mescolato
mingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesuolo
soil;untilnosmallportionofitmust
necessariamente
necessarilybeakintothemortale
mortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthe
semplice
meresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,as
frequente
frequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesiderabile
desirabletoknow.Butthe
sentimento
sentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.Thefigureofthatfirst
antenato
ancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaimin
riferimento
referencetothepresentphaseofthetown.Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa
residenza
residencehereonaccountofthisgrave,barbuto
bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyporto
port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameisraramente
seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
sovrano
rulerintheChurch;hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,and
raccontano
relateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,
ereditò
inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftamacchia
stainuponhim.Sodeepa
macchia
stain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto
pentirsi
repent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;orwhethertheyarenow
gemono
groaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir
rappresentante
representative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquitea
sufficiente
sufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtronco
trunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemuschio
mossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Noaim,thatIhaveever
amato
cherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits
domestico
domesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethaninutile
worthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—what
modo
modeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?Why,the
degenerato
degeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthe
golfo
gulfoftime!Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,
disonorato
disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;but
raramente
seldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabile
memorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew
suolo
soil.Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,
ritirava
retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentooktheereditario
hereditaryplacebeforethemast,affrontando
confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe
cabina
cabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand
sepoltura
burial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindipendente
independentofanycharminthepaesaggio
sceneryormoralcircumstancesthatcircondano
surroundhim.Itisnotlove,but
istinto
instinct.Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyis
strisciando
creeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheis
stanco
wearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,thefango
mudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentimento
sentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwerean
terrestre
earthlyparadise.Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
rappresentante
representativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.Nevertheless,thisvery
sentimento
sentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanmalsano
unhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Humannaturewillnot
fiorirà
flourish,anymorethanapatata
potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsuolo
soil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous
attaccamento
attachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sdi mattoni
brickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.My
destino
doomwasonme.Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitable
centro
centreoftheuniverse.So,onefinemorning,I
salii
ascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissione
commissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpo
corpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaiutato
aidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the
indipendente
independentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegeneralmente
generallysofragile.Asoldier,—NewEngland’smost
distinto
distinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepiedistallo
pedestalofhisgallantservices;and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwasradically
conservatore
conservative;amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnoslight
influenza
influence;attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwith
difficoltà
difficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionablemiglioramento
improvement.Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofa
Presidenziale
Presidentialelection,theyoneandallacquisito
acquiredanewleaseofesistenza
existence.Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
evidentemente
evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
assicurato
assured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirapparizione
appearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;but,afteratorpidwinter,would
strisciare
creepoutintothewarmsole
sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirowntempo libero
leisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe
repubblica
republic.Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsole
principio
principleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.Itisapious
consolazione
consolationtome,that,throughmyinterferenza
interference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthougha
fedele
faithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyriferimento
referencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan
attivo
activepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluente
influentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollezionista
Collector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpo
corpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
politico
politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellows
temevano
dreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.Itpained,andatthesametime
divertiva
amusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;toseeafurrowed
guancia
cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleatthesguardo
glanceofsoharmlessanindividuo
individualasmyself;todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto
spaventare
frightenBoreashimselftosilence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byall
stabilite
establishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,pesati
weighedbytheirownlackofefficienza
efficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,anddel tutto
altogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and
considerevolmente
considerablytothedetrimentofmyofficialcoscienza
conscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tostrisciare
creepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairs
inclinate
tiltedbackagainstthewall;awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy
coscienza
consciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownfavore
behalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Potente
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluable
merce
merchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlysotto
beneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceduto
proceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquente
delinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheir
precedente
previousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertorichiedere
requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycautela
caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;agrateful
riconoscimento
recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyrimedio
remedy.Unlesspeoplearemorethan
comunemente
commonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishabitudine
habittocontractakindnessforthem.Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was
favorevole
favorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.Itwas
piacevole
pleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,semplicemente
merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspiacevole
pleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa
soleggiato
sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenramo
branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,however,itisreal
sole
sunshine;intheother,itmore
assomiglia
resemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.Itwouldbesad
ingiustizia
injustice,thereadermustunderstand,torappresentare
representallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,and
del tutto
altogethersuperiortothesluggishanddipendente
dependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan
intellettuale
intellectualtenementingoodrepair.But,asrespectsthemajorityofmy
corpo
corpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgeneralmente
generallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthconservazione
preservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden
grano
grainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofraccogliere
harvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittle
squadra
squadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherispettabile
respectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanente
permanentInspector.Hemighttrulybetermeda
legittimo
legitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,tinto
dyedinthewool,or,rather,bornintheporpora
purple;sincehissire,a
Rivoluzionario
Revolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectoroftheporto
port,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andnominato
appointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto
scoprire
discoverinalifetime’ssearch.Withhisflorid
guancia
cheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathim
semplicemente
merelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsoddisfacente
satisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacità
capacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconcepito
conceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular
reddito
income,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofrimozione
removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepassleggermente
lightlyoverhim.Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare
perfezione
perfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproporzione
proportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenough
misura
measuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.He
possedeva
possessednopowerofthought,noprofondità
depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythe
allegro
cheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
maturità
maturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen
dolore
sorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposizione
disposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.NotsowithouroldInspector!
One
breve
briefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyfor
sport
sportasanyunbreechedinfant;farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior
impiegato
clerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheanziano
elderandgravermanofthetwo.Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
curiosità
curiosity,thananyotherformofumanità
humanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,intruth,arare
fenomeno
phenomenon;soperfect,inonepointofview;
so
superficiale
shallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.My
conclusione
conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;