The Scarlet Letter | Gradually Hardening Norwegian B2

The Scarlet Letter | Gradually Hardening Norwegian B2

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THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THE
Scarlet
SCARLET
LETTER.”
tisalittle
bemerkelsesverdig
remarkable
,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical
impuls
impulse
shouldtwiceinmylifehavetaken
besittelse
possession
ofme,inaddressingthepublic.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent
leseren
reader
ortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha
beskrivelse
description
ofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagain
gripe
seize
thepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.
Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsof
åpenbaring
revelation
ascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfect
sympati
sympathy
;
asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe
delt
divided
segmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleof
eksistens
existence
bybringinghiminto
fellesskap
communion
withit.
Itis
knapt
scarcely
decorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometrue
forhold
relation
withhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthe
nærmeste
closest
friend,islisteningtoourtalk;
andthen,a
innfødt
native
reservebeingthawedbythisgenial
bevissthet
consciousness
,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits
slør
veil
.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
forfatter
author
,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without
krenke
violating
eitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House
skisse
sketch
hasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalarge
del
portion
ofthefollowingpagescameintomy
besittelse
possession
,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofa
fortelling
narrative
thereincontained.
This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
redaktør
editor
,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal
forhold
relation
withthepublic.
In
oppnå
accomplishing
themainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togivea
svak
faint
representationofamodeoflifenotheretofore
beskrevet
described
,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayed
tre
wooden
warehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;
except,perhaps,a
bark
bark
orbrig,half-waydownits
melankolske
melancholy
length,discharginghides;
or,
nærmere
nearer
athand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther
last
cargo
offirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthe
tidevannet
tide
oftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandinthe
baksiden
rear
oftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrossthe
havnen
harbor
,standsaspaciousedificeof
murstein
brick
.
Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
nøyaktig
precisely
threeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,
flyter
floats
ordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus
indikerer
indicating
thatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishere
etablert
established
.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
dusin
dozen
woodenpillars,supportinga
balkong
balcony
,beneathwhichaflightofwide
granitt
granite
stepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
Overtheentrancehoversanenormous
eksemplar
specimen
oftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,a
skjold
shield
beforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityof
temperament
temper
thatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher
nebb
beak
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to
true
threaten
mischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;
andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,against
trenge
intruding
onthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Likevel
Nevertheless
,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederal
ørnen
eagle
;
imagining,Ipresume,thather
bryst
bosom
hasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.
Butshehasnogreat
ømhet
tenderness
,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofher
nebb
beak
,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa
havn
port
byitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
tillater
permit
herwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgoto
svulme
swell
,needlesslyandimperceptibly,the
mektige
mighty
floodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthe
randen
verge
oftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof
hyppige
frequent
feet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
hilse
greet
thesea-flushedshipmaster,justin
havn
port
,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,comeshisowner,
munter
cheerful
orsombre,graciousorinthesulks,
henhold
accordingly
ashisschemeofthenow
fullførte
accomplished
voyagehasbeenrealizedin
varer
merchandise
thatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung
kontorist
clerk
,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbe
seile
sailing
mimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,
blek
pale
andfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
Normustweforgetthecaptainsofthe
rustne
rusty
littleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,but
bidrar
contributing
anitemofno
liten
slight
importancetoourdecayingtrade.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,on
stige
ascending
thesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythat
skiller
distinguishes
theoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceon
veldedighet
charity
,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthe
mottak
receipt
ofcustoms,butnotvery
ansvarlig
liable
tobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Videre
Furthermore
,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofalofty
høyde
height
;
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossa
smal
narrow
lane,andalonga
del
portion
ofDerbyStreet.
Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhichare
generelt
generally
tobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsas
hjemsøker
haunt
theWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwith
grå
gray
sand,inafashionthathas
andre steder
elsewhere
fallenintolongdisuse;
anditiseasyto
konkludere
conclude
,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisa
helligdom
sanctuary
intowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.
Inthewayof
møbler
furniture
,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;
anold
furu
pine
desk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipe
stiger
ascends
throughtheceiling,andformsa
medium
medium
ofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyes
vandrer
wandering
upanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honored
leser
reader
,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthe
vestlige
western
sideoftheOldManse.
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
spørre
inquire
invainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthier
etterfølger
successor
wearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewhole
omfanget
extent
ofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteas
fornuftig
reasonable
toformasentimental
vedlegg
attachment
toadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiest
andre steder
elsewhere
,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter
setning
phrase
,Imustbecontenttocall
hengivenhet
affection
.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe
jorden
soil
.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,the
tidligste
earliest
emigrantofmyname,madehis
opptreden
appearance
inthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.
Andherehis
etterkommere
descendants
havebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthy
substans
substance
withthesoil;
untilnosmall
del
portion
ofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthe
bare
mere
sensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,as
hyppig
frequent
transplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit
ønskelig
desirable
toknow.
Butthesentimenthaslikewiseits
moralske
moral
quality.
Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,
investert
invested
byfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstill
hjemsøker
haunts
me,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichI
knapt
scarcely
claiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown.
Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa
bolig
residence
hereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastately
havn
port
,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis
sjelden
seldom
heardandmyfacehardlyknown.
Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
hersker
ruler
intheChurch;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewisea
bitre
bitter
persecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,and
relatere
relate
anincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
Hisson,too,
arvet
inherited
thepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavelefta
flekk
stain
uponhim.
Sodeepa
flekk
stain
,indeed,thathisolddrybones,inthe
Charter
Charter
Streetburial-ground,muststill
beholde
retain
it,iftheyhavenotcrumbled
helt
utterly
todust!
Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto
omvende
repent
,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenow
stønner
groaning
undertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir
representant
representative
,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.
Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquitea
tilstrekkelig
sufficient
retributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theold
stammen
trunk
ofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerable
moss
moss
uponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits
innenlandske
domestic
scope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethan
verdiløs
worthless
,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursone
grå
gray
shadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—what
måte
mode
ofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceableto
menneskeheten
mankind
inhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,the
degenererte
degenerate
fellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’s
tidligste
earliest
infancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;
but
sjelden
seldom
ornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performingany
minneverdig
memorable
deed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Gradvis
Gradually
,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcovered
halvveis
half-way
totheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew
jord
soil
.
Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe
arvelig
hereditary
placebeforethemast,
konfrontere
confronting
thesaltsprayandthe
stormen
gale
,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe
hytta
cabin
,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,and
blande
mingle
hisdustwiththenatalearth.
Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand
begravelse
burial
,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quite
uavhengig
independent
ofanycharminthe
landskapet
scenery
ormoralcircumstancesthat
omgir
surround
him.
Itisnotlove,but
instinkt
instinct
.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,the
gjørme
mud
anddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.
Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
representant
representative
oftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.
Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomean
usunn
unhealthy
one,shouldatlastbesevered.
Humannaturewillnot
blomstre
flourish
,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-out
jord
soil
.
Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’s
murstein
brick
edifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
My
undergang
doom
wasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitable
sentrum
centre
oftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’s
kommisjon
commission
inmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhowereto
hjelpe
aid
meinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.
Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
Thewhereaboutsofthe
Eldste
Oldest
Inhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofoffice
generelt
generally
sofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestood
fast
firmly
onthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwas
radikalt
radically
conservative;
amanoverwhose
vennlige
kindly
naturehabithadno
liten
slight
influence;
attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionable
forbedring
improvement
.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinally
drevet
drifted
intothisquietnook;
where,withlittleto
forstyrre
disturb
them,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandall
skaffet
acquired
anewleaseof
eksistens
existence
.
Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
åpenbart
evidently
sometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
forsikret
assured
,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheir
opptreden
appearance
attheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpidwinter,would
krype
creep
outintothewarmsunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirown
fritid
leisure
andconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.
Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.
Theywereallowed,onmy
representasjon
representation
,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheir
eneste
sole
principleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisa
from
pious
consolationtome,that,throughmy
innblanding
interference
,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheeviland
korrupte
corrupt
practicesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.
NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerable
brorskap
brotherhood
thatthenewSurveyorwasnota
politiker
politician
,andthoughafaithful
Demokrat
Democrat
inprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany
referanse
reference
topoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan
aktiv
active
politicianbeenputintothis
innflytelsesrike
influential
post,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonal
administrasjon
administration
ofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.
Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
politiker
politician
,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthe
øksen
axe
oftheguillotine.
Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametime
underholdt
amused
me,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowed
kinn
cheek
,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofso
ufarlig
harmless
anindividualasmyself;
to
oppdage
detect
,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto
skremme
frighten
Boreashimselftosilence.
Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byall
etablerte
established
rule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackof
effektivitet
efficiency
forbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,more
ortodokse
orthodox
inpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and
betydelig
considerably
tothedetrimentofmyofficial
samvittighet
conscience
,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,to
krype
creep
aboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.
Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairs
vippet
tilted
backagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
The
oppdagelsen
discovery
wassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthe
ulike
various
formalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheir
oppstyr
fuss
aboutlittlematters,and
vidunderlig
marvellous
,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadof
verdifulle
valuable
merchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectly
under
beneath
theirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichthey
fortsatte
proceeded
tolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.
Insteadofareprimandfortheir
tidligere
previous
negligence,thecaseseemedratherto
kreve
require
aneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy
forsiktighet
caution
,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agrateful
anerkjennelse
recognition
ofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany
middel
remedy
.
Unlesspeoplearemorethan
vanligvis
commonly
disagreeable,itismyfoolish
vane
habit
tocontractakindnessforthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmy
hensyn
regard
,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternaland
beskyttende
protective
,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwas
hyggelig
pleasant
,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,
bare
merely
communicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwas
hyggelig
pleasant
tohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseof
humor
humor
,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsasunnyandcheery
aspekt
aspect
aliketothegreen
grenen
branch
,andgray,moulderingtrunk.
Inonecase,however,itisreal
solskinn
sunshine
;
intheother,itmore
ligner
resembles
thephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbesad
urettferdighet
injustice
,thereadermustunderstand,to
representere
represent
allmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,and
helt
altogether
superiortothesluggishand
avhengige
dependent
modeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.
Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan
intellektuell
intellectual
tenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthe
flertallet
majority
ofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethem
generelt
generally
asasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworth
bevaring
preservation
fromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden
kornet
grain
ofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesof
høste
harvesting
,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.
Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittle
troppen
squad
ofofficials,but,Iam
dristig
bold
tosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertain
permanent
permanent
Inspector.
Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,
farget
dyed
inthewool,or,rather,borninthe
lilla
purple
;
sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,and
tidligere
formerly
collectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,and
utnevnt
appointed
himtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto
oppdage
discover
inalifetime’ssearch.
Withhisflorid
kinn
cheek
,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandhearty
aspekt
aspect
,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.
Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathim
bare
merely
asananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamost
tilfredsstillende
satisfactory
object,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhis
evne
capacity
,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,or
unnfanget
conceived
of.
ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular
inntekt
income
,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof
fjerning
removal
,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepass
lett
lightly
overhim.
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare
perfeksjon
perfection
ofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionof
intellekt
intellect
,andtheverytriflingadmixtureof
moralske
moral
andspiritualingredients;
these
sistnevnte
latter
qualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenough
mål
measure
tokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
He
besatt
possessed
nopowerofthought,no
dybde
depth
offeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,
hjulpet
aided
bythecheerfultemperthatgrew
uunngåelig
inevitably
outofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneral
aksept
acceptance
,inlieuofaheart.
Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
modenhet
maturity
,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.
Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen
sorg
sorrow
enoughtoimbuethesunniest
disposisjon
disposition
,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
NotsowithouroldInspector!
One
kort
brief
sighsufficedtocarryofftheentire
byrden
burden
ofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreeched
spedbarn
infant
;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior
kontorist
clerk
,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchthe
eldre
elder
andgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
nysgjerrighet
curiosity
,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,arare
fenomen
phenomenon
;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan
absolutt
absolute
nonentity,ineveryother.
My
konklusjon
conclusion
wasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;