THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THE
Scarlet
SCARLETLETTER.”tisalittle
bemerkelsesverdig
remarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpuls
impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenbesittelse
possessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent
leseren
readerortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withabeskrivelse
descriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagain
gripe
seizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsof
åpenbaring
revelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympati
sympathy;asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe
delt
dividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleofeksistens
existencebybringinghimintofellesskap
communionwithit.Itis
knapt
scarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometrue
forhold
relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthenærmeste
closestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,a
innfødt
nativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialbevissthet
consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsslør
veil.Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
forfatter
author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutkrenke
violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House
skisse
sketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalargedel
portionofthefollowingpagescameintomybesittelse
possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofafortelling
narrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
redaktør
editor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonalforhold
relationwiththepublic.In
oppnå
accomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveasvak
faintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforebeskrevet
described,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayed
tre
woodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;except,perhaps,a
bark
barkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelankolske
melancholylength,discharginghides;or,
nærmere
nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingoutherlast
cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetidevannet
tideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandinthebaksiden
rearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrossthehavnen
harbor,standsaspaciousedificeofmurstein
brick.Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
nøyaktig
preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,flyter
floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus
indikerer
indicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereetablert
established.Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
dusin
dozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalkong
balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitt
granitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.Overtheentrancehoversanenormous
eksemplar
specimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,askjold
shieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityof
temperament
temperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofhernebb
beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,totrue
threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,against
trenge
intrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.Likevel
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederalørnen
eagle;imagining,Ipresume,thather
bryst
bosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.Butshehasnogreat
ømhet
tenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofhernebb
beak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa
havn
portbyitself;notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
tillater
permitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotosvulme
swell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themektige
mightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthe
randen
vergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundofhyppige
frequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
hilse
greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinhavn
port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.Here,too,comeshisowner,
munter
cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,henhold
accordinglyashisschemeofthenowfullførte
accomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinvarer
merchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung
kontorist
clerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbeseile
sailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,
blek
paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.Normustweforgetthecaptainsofthe
rustne
rustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,but
bidrar
contributinganitemofnoliten
slightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,on
stige
ascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythat
skiller
distinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceonveldedighet
charity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthe
mottak
receiptofcustoms,butnotveryansvarlig
liabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.Videre
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyhøyde
height;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossa
smal
narrowlane,andalongadel
portionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhichare
generelt
generallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashjemsøker
haunttheWappingofaseaport.Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwith
grå
graysand,inafashionthathasandre steder
elsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasyto
konkludere
conclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisahelligdom
sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.Inthewayof
møbler
furniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;anold
furu
pinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipe
stiger
ascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamedium
mediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyes
vandrer
wanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredleser
reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthevestlige
westernsideoftheOldManse.Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
spørre
inquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthier
etterfølger
successorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewhole
omfanget
extentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasfornuftig
reasonabletoformasentimentalvedlegg
attachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiest
andre steder
elsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabettersetning
phrase,Imustbecontenttocallhengivenhet
affection.Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe
jorden
soil.ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,the
tidligste
earliestemigrantofmyname,madehisopptreden
appearanceinthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehis
etterkommere
descendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstans
substancewiththesoil;untilnosmall
del
portionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthe
bare
meresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,as
hyppig
frequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritønskelig
desirabletoknow.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseits
moralske
moralquality.Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,
investert
investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstill
hjemsøker
hauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIknapt
scarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown.Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa
bolig
residencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyhavn
port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameissjelden
seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
hersker
rulerintheChurch;hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewisea
bitre
bitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelatere
relateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,
arvet
inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftaflekk
stainuponhim.Sodeepa
flekk
stain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharter
CharterStreetburial-ground,muststillbeholde
retainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledhelt
utterlytodust!Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto
omvende
repent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;orwhethertheyarenow
stønner
groaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir
representant
representative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquitea
tilstrekkelig
sufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldstammen
trunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemoss
mossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits
innenlandske
domesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanverdiløs
worthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmursone
grå
grayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—what
måte
modeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomenneskeheten
mankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?Why,the
degenererte
degeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’s
tidligste
earliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;
but
sjelden
seldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganyminneverdig
memorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.Gradvis
Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcovered
halvveis
half-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewjord
soil.Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe
arvelig
hereditaryplacebeforethemast,konfrontere
confrontingthesaltsprayandthestormen
gale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe
hytta
cabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andblande
minglehisdustwiththenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand
begravelse
burial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteuavhengig
independentofanycharminthelandskapet
sceneryormoralcircumstancesthatomgir
surroundhim.Itisnotlove,but
instinkt
instinct.Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,the
gjørme
mudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
representant
representativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomean
usunn
unhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Humannaturewillnot
blomstre
flourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outjord
soil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’s
murstein
brickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.My
undergang
doomwasonme.Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitable
sentrum
centreoftheuniverse.So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’s
kommisjon
commissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretohjelpe
aidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
Thewhereaboutsofthe
Eldste
OldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofoffice
generelt
generallysofragile.Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestood
fast
firmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwas
radikalt
radicallyconservative;amanoverwhose
vennlige
kindlynaturehabithadnoliten
slightinfluence;attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionable
forbedring
improvement.Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinally
drevet
driftedintothisquietnook;where,withlittleto
forstyrre
disturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallskaffet
acquiredanewleaseofeksistens
existence.Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
åpenbart
evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
forsikret
assured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheiropptreden
appearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;but,afteratorpidwinter,would
krype
creepoutintothewarmsunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownfritid
leisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.
Theywereallowed,onmy
representasjon
representation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheireneste
soleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.Itisa
from
piousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinnblanding
interference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandkorrupte
corruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerable
brorskap
brotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitiker
politician,andthoughafaithfulDemokrat
Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferanse
referencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan
aktiv
activepoliticianbeenputintothisinnflytelsesrike
influentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrasjon
administrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
politiker
politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheøksen
axeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametime
underholdt
amusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;toseeafurrowed
kinn
cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoufarlig
harmlessanindividualasmyself;to
oppdage
detect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtoskremme
frightenBoreashimselftosilence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byall
etablerte
establishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofeffektivitet
efficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreortodokse
orthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and
betydelig
considerablytothedetrimentofmyofficialsamvittighet
conscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tokrype
creepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairs
vippet
tiltedbackagainstthewall;awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
The
oppdagelsen
discoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthe
ulike
variousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheir
oppstyr
fussaboutlittlematters,andvidunderlig
marvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadof
verdifulle
valuablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlyunder
beneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyfortsatte
proceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheir
tidligere
previousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertokreve
requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthyforsiktighet
caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;agrateful
anerkjennelse
recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranymiddel
remedy.Unlesspeoplearemorethan
vanligvis
commonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishvane
habittocontractakindnessforthem.Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmy
hensyn
regard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternaland
beskyttende
protective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.Itwas
hyggelig
pleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,bare
merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwashyggelig
pleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseof
humor
humor,haslittletodowiththematter;itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsasunnyandcheery
aspekt
aspectaliketothegreengrenen
branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,however,itisreal
solskinn
sunshine;intheother,itmore
ligner
resemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.Itwouldbesad
urettferdighet
injustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentere
representallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,and
helt
altogethersuperiortothesluggishandavhengige
dependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan
intellektuell
intellectualtenementingoodrepair.But,asrespectsthe
flertallet
majorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerelt
generallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthbevaring
preservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden
kornet
grainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofhøste
harvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittle
troppen
squadofofficials,but,Iamdristig
boldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanent
permanentInspector.Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,
farget
dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthelilla
purple;sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,and
tidligere
formerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andutnevnt
appointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto
oppdage
discoverinalifetime’ssearch.Withhisflorid
kinn
cheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspekt
aspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathim
bare
merelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamosttilfredsstillende
satisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhisevne
capacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orunnfanget
conceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular
inntekt
income,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsoffjerning
removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslett
lightlyoverhim.Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare
perfeksjon
perfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellekt
intellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralske
moralandspiritualingredients;these
sistnevnte
latterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmål
measuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.He
besatt
possessednopowerofthought,nodybde
depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,
hjulpet
aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewuunngåelig
inevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralaksept
acceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
modenhet
maturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen
sorg
sorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposisjon
disposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.NotsowithouroldInspector!
One
kort
briefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentirebyrden
burdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreeched
spedbarn
infant;farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior
kontorist
clerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheeldre
elderandgravermanofthetwo.Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
nysgjerrighet
curiosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,intruth,arare
fenomen
phenomenon;soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan
absolutt
absolutenonentity,ineveryother.My
konklusjon
conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;