The Scarlet Letter Gradually Hardening Norwegian A2 Translation Books

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.

INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”

tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomy

personlige

personalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshould

to ganger

twiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthe

publikum

public.

Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenI

favoriserte

favoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthe

dype

deepquietudeofanOldManse.

Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethe

publikum

publicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’

erfaring

experienceinaCustom-House.

Theexampleofthe

berømte

famous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.

Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.

Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;

asiftheprintedbook,

kastet

thrownatlargeonthewideworld,were

sikker

certaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sown

natur

nature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.

Itisscarcelydecorous,

imidlertid

however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.

But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonableto

forestille seg

imaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;

andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.

Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.

Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,as

forklarer

explaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andas

tilbyr

offeringproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.

This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytrue

posisjon

positionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassuminga

personlig

personalrelationwiththepublic.

Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.

InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;

bortsett fra

except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;

or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetide

ofte

oftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthence

over

acrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.

Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;

butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnota

militær

militarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.

Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,

støtter

supportingabalcony,beneathwhicha

fly

flightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.

OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,a

haug

bunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.

Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakand

øye

eye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;

and

spesielt

especiallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.

Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;

forestille

imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.

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

Thepavement

rundt

roundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenough

vokser

growinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.

Insomemonthsoftheyear,

imidlertid

however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.

SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;

notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.

Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaor

Sør

SouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequent

føtter

feet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.

Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhis

armen

arm,inatarnishedtinbox.

Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeen

realisert

realizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedto

gull

gold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.

Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthe

smaken

tasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.

Another

figur

figureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;

ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.

Heller

NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;

arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.

Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirring

scene

scene.

Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthe

veggen

wall.

Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackof

energi

energythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.

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

Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteen

fot

feetsquare,andofaloftyheight;

withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthe

tredje

thirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.

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

aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,

laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.

Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;

its

gulvet

floorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;

anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsof

magi

magic,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,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittle

studie

study,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.

Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.

Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;

andaworthiersuccessor

bærer

wearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.

ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.

Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,

dekket

coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewor

ingen

noneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichis

verken

neitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonableto

danne

formasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.

Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.

Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothe

dype

deepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.

ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.

Andherehisdescendantshavebeen

født

bornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;

untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.

Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.

Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;

heller

nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.

Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.

Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,was

stede

presenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.

Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown.

ser ut

seemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocameso

tidlig

early,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadeso

stor

largeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,

hvis

whosenameisseldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.

Hewasasoldier,legislator,

dommer

judge;

hewasarulerinthe

Kirken

Church;

hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodand

onde

evil.

Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobe

frykte

feared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.

Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecuting

ånd

spirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.

dyp

deepastain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!

Iknownot

whethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonof

Himmelen

Heavenfortheircruelties;

whethertheyarenowgroaningunderthe

tunge

heavyconsequencesofthem,inanother

tilstand

stateofbeing.

Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebytake

skam

shameuponmyselffortheirsakes,and

praythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.

Doubtless,

men

however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamily

treet

tree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhave

båret

borne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.

Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;

nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeem

annet

otherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.

“Whatishe?”

murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.

“Awriterofstory-books!

Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?

Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”

Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,

over

acrossthegulfoftime!

Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheir

natur

naturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.

Planted

dypt

deep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;

always,too,inrespectability;

never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbya

enkelt

singleunworthymember;

butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputting

frem

forwardaclaimtopublicnotice.

Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;

asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,get

dekket

coveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.

Fromfathertoson,for

over

aboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthe

havet

sea;

agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.

Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,

tilbrakte

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

Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.

Itisnotlove,butinstinct.

Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeign

land

land,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;

hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhis

tredje

thirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothe

stedet

spotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.

Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;

thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeor

forestille seg

imagine,arenothingtothepurpose.

Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.

Sohasitbeeninmycase.

IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;

sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.

Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisan

bevis

evidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.

Human

natur

naturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.

Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.

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

Mydoomwasonme.

Itwasnotthefirsttime,

heller

northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asit

virket

seemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;

orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.

So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,as

administrerende

chiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.

tviler

doubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonot

tviler

doubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilor

militær

militaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.

ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.

Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.

Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;

and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.

GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;

amanover

hvis

whosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;

attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.

Thus,ontakingchargeofmy

avdeling

department,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.

Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,had

endelig

finallydriftedintothisquietnook;

where,withlittletodisturbthem,

bortsett fra

excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.

Thoughbynomeans

mindre

lessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.

Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringa

stor

largepartoftheyear;

but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintothe

varme

warmsunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermed

plikt

duty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.

Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.

Theywere

tillatt

allowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.

Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficient

plass

spacewasallowedthemforrepentanceofthe

onde

evilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-House

offiser

officermustbesupposedtofall.

Verken

NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-Houseopensonthe

veien

roadtoParadise.

ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.

ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,

verken

neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.

Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,

hvis

whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthe

personlig

personaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withina

måned

monthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.

Henhold

Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortof

plikt

duty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.

Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.

Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;

toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;

todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofa

stemme

voice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.

Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.

Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyheartto

handle

actupontheknowledge.

Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,they

fortsatte

continued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.

They

tilbrakte

spentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthe

veggen

wall;

awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththe

flere

severalthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.

Thediscoverywassoonmade,I

forestiller

imagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.

So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.

Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!

Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthat

tillot

allowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!

Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewith

tape

tapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.

Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecase

syntes

seemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;

agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.

Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.

Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhich

vanligvis

usuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthe

typen

typewherebyIrecognizetheman.

AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmy

posisjon

positioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoon

vokste

grewtolikethemall.

Itwaspleasant,inthe

sommeren

summerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthe

veggen

wall,asusual;

whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.

Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;

theintellect,anymorethana

dyp

deepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;

itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.

Inonecase,

imidlertid

however,itisrealsunshine;

intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.

Itwouldbe

trist

sadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.

Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;

thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,of

markert

markedabilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheir

onde

evilstarshadcastthem.

Then,moreover,thewhitelocksof

alder

ageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.

But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothing

verdt

worthpreservationfromtheirvaried

erfaring

experienceoflife.

Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohave

lagret

storedtheirmemorieswiththehusks.

Theyspokewithfarmore

interesse

interestandunctionoftheirmorning’s

frokost

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

ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanentInspector.

Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,or,

snarere

rather,borninthepurple;

sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.

ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,and

absolutt

certainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’s

søk

search.

Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompact

figur

figure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttoned

blå

bluecoat,hisbriskandvigorous

skritt

step,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMother

Natur

Natureintheshapeofman,whom

alder

ageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.

His

stemme

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

theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.

Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhis

system

system,andhiscapacity,atthatextreme

alder

age,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.

Thecareless

sikkerhet

securityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadno

tvil

doubtcontributedtomaketime

passere

passlightlyoverhim.

Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,

imidlertid

however,layintherareperfectionofhisanimal

natur

nature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;

theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.

Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;

nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthat

vokste

grewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,did

plikt

dutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaheart.

Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;

thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,atevery

alder

ageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.

Here,onewould

anta

suppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.

NotsowithouroldInspector!

Onebriefsighsufficedto

bære

carryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.

Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;

farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.

Iusedtowatchand

studere

studythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyotherformofhumanitythere

presentert

presentedtomynotice.

Hewas,intruth,ararephenomenon;

soperfect,inonepointofview;

soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.

Myconclusionwasthathehadno

sjel

soul,noheart,nomind;

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