THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tis
um
alittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtofalar
talkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,e
andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmyvida
lifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.Thefirst
vez
timewasthreeorfouryearssince,quando
whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,e
andfornoearthlyreason,que
thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorpudessem
couldimagine—withadescriptionofmymodo
wayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.E
Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwasfeliz
happyenoughtofindalistenerou
ortwoontheformeroccasion—Inovamente
againseizethepublicbyo
thebutton,andtalkofmytrês
threeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.O
Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnunca
nevermorefaithfullyfollowed.The
verdade
truthseemstobe,however,that,quando
whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemuitos
manywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ou
ornevertakeitup,mas
butthefewwhowillentenderão
understandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesou
orlifemates.Someauthors,indeed,
fazem
dofarmorethanthis,e
andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationaspoderiam
couldfittinglybeaddressed,onlye
andexclusively,totheonecoração
heartandmindofperfectsympathy;as
se
iftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeono
thewideworld,werecertaintofindouto
thedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,e
andcompletehiscircleofexistencebytrazendo
bringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,to
falar
speakall,evenwherewefalar
speakimpersonally.But,asthoughtsarefrozen
e
andutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationcom
withhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatum
afriend,akindandapprehensive,embora
thoughnottheclosestfriend,isouvindo
listeningtoourtalk;andthen,
uma
anativereservebeingthawedbyessa
thisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofo
thecircumstancesthatliearoundus,e
andevenofourself,butstillmanter
keeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.Tothisextent,
e
andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,pode
maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitheros
thereader’srightsorhisown.Itwillbe
ver
seen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchtem
hasacertainpropriety,ofatipo
kindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,e
andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.Este
This,infact,—adesiretocolocar
putmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,ou
orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesque
thatmakeupmyvolume,—this,e
andnoother,ismytruerazão
reasonforassumingapersonalrelationcom
withthepublic.Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,to
dar
giveafaintrepresentationofamodeofvida
lifenotheretoforedescribed,togethercom
withsomeofthecharactersthatmovem
moveinit,amongwhomtheauthoraconteceu
happenedtomakeone.Inmynative
cidade
townofSalem,atthecabeça
headofwhat,halfacenturyhá
ago,inthedaysofvelho
oldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisagora
nowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,e
andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommercialvida
life;except,perhaps,abark
ou
orbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;ou
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthecabeça
head,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,e
andalongwhich,atthebasee
andintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,com
withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownesta
thisnotveryenliveningprospect,e
andthenceacrosstheharbor,fica
standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.From
a
theloftiestpointofitsroof,duringpreciselytrês
threeandahalfhoursofcada
eachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeou
orcalm,thebannerofa
therepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,
e
andthusindicatingthatacivil,e
andnotamilitarypostofTio
UncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.Its
frente
frontisornamentedwithaporticoofmeia
halfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,beneathqual
whichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsa
thestreet.OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,
com
withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,e
and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltse
andbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Com
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperque
thatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeake
andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;e
andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,contra
againstintrudingonthepremisesque
whichsheovershadowswithherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,
muitas
manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymomento
moment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;imagining,Ipresume,
que
thatherbosomhasallthesoftnesse
andsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.Mas
Butshehasnogreattenderness,mesmo
eveninherbestofmoods,e
and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,com
withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,ou
oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwe
podemos
mayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrasssuficiente
enoughgrowinginitschinkstomostrar
showthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyqualquer
anymultitudinousresortofbusiness.In
alguns
somemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardcom
withaliveliertread.Suchoccasions
podem
mightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodantes
beforethelastwarwithEngland,quando
whenSalemwasaportbyitself;notscorned,assheis
agora
now,byherownmerchantse
andship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,enquanto
whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslye
andimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNova
NewYorkorBoston.Onsomesuchmorning,
quando
whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaou
orSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,lá
thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupe
anddownthegranitesteps.Aqui
Here,beforehisownwifetenha
hasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,apenas
justinport,withhisvessel’spaperssob
underhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.Aqui
Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulou
orsombre,graciousorino
thesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofo
thenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandiseque
thatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,ou
orhasburiedhimunderum
abulkofincommodities,suchasninguém
nobodywillcaretoridhimof.Aqui
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wetem
havethesmartyoungclerk,que
whogetsthetasteoftrafficasum
awolf-cubdoesofblood,e
andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,quando
whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponum
amill-pond.Anotherfigurein
o
thesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;ou
ortherecentlyarrivedone,palee
andfeeble,seekingapassporttoo
thehospital.Normustwe
esquecer
forgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersque
thatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;arough-looking
conjunto
setoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,mas
butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.Cluster
todos
alltheseindividualstogether,astheyàs vezes
sometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifyo
thegroup,and,forthetimebeing,ittornou
madetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.Mais
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youfosse
woulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,ou
orintheirappropriaterooms,se
ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackcontra
againstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,
mas
butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingjuntos
together,invoicesbetweenspeeche
andasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,e
andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,ou
oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Esses
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,mas
butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,como
likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefront
porta
door,isacertainroomou
oroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,e
andofaloftyheight;com
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandinguma
aviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,e
andthethirdlookingacrossuma
anarrowlane,andalonguma
aportionofDerbyStreet.Todos
Allthreegiveglimpsesofos
theshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,e
andship-chandlers;aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobe
visto
seen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,e
andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofum
aseaport.Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,
e
anddingywitholdpaint;itsfloorisstrewnwithgraysand,in
uma
afashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongo
longdisuse;anditis
fácil
easytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessofthelugar
place,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,com
withhertoolsofmagic,thebroome
andmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.Inthe
forma
wayoffurniture,thereisum
astovewithavoluminousfunnel;anoldpinedesk,
com
withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;duas
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepite
andinfirm;and—nottoforgetthelibrary—on
algumas
someshelves,ascoreorduas
twoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,e
andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.Um
Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,e
andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationcom
withotherpartsoftheedifice.E
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,ou
orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,com
withhiselbowonthedesk,e
andhiseyeswanderingupe
anddownthecolumnsofthemanhã
morningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredreader,themesmo
sameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerypequeno
littlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlyatravés
throughthewillowbranches,onthewesternlado
sideoftheOldManse.Mas
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainforo
theLocofocoSurveyor.Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
e
andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,e
andpocketshisemoluments.Thisold
cidade
townofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughItenha
havedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ou
ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,a
theforceofwhichItenha
haveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidenceaqui
here.Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,
com
withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflycom
withwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,mas
butonlytame,—itslongandlazyrua
street,loungingwearisomelythroughthetoda
wholeextentofthepeninsula,com
withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneextremidade
end,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativecidade
town,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.E
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,que
which,inlackofamelhor
betterphrase,Imustbecontenttochamar
callaffection.Thesentimentis
provavelmente
probablyassignabletothedeepe
andagedrootswhichmyfamília
familyhasstruckintothesoil.Itis
agora
nownearlytwocenturiesandaquarterdesde
sincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmynome
name,madehisappearanceino
thewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhasdesde
sincebecomeacity.And
aqui
herehisdescendantshavebeenborne
anddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancecom
withthesoil;untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,for
um
alittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.In
parte
part,therefore,theattachmentwhichIfalo
speakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.Poucos
Fewofmycountrymencansabem
knowwhatitis;nor,asfrequenttransplantationis
talvez
perhapsbetterforthestock,precisam
needtheyconsideritdesirabletosaber
know.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
Thefigureof
que
thatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithuma
adimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanme lembro
remember.Itstillhauntsme,
e
andinducesasortofhome-feelingcom
withthepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetoo
thepresentphaseofthecidade
town.Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidence
aqui
hereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakede
andsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,com
withhisBibleandhissword,e
andtrodetheunwornstreetcom
withsuchastatelyport,e
andmadesolargeafigure,asahomem
manofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenome
nameisseldomheardandmyrosto
facehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewas
um
arulerintheChurch;he
tinha
hadallthePuritanictraits,bothbons
goodandevil.Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohave
lembram
rememberedhimintheirhistories,e
andrelateanincidentofhisdura
hardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichfossem
willlastlonger,itistobefeared,thanqualquer
anyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughestes
theseweremany.Hisson,
também
too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,e
andmadehimselfsoconspicuousino
themartyrdomofthewitches,que
thattheirbloodmayfairlybedito
saidtohaveleftastainuponele
him.Sodeepastain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,in
o
theCharterStreetburial-ground,mustainda
stillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!I
sei
knownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,e
andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;ou
orwhethertheyarenowgroaningsob
undertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inoutro
anotherstateofbeing.At
todos
allevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebytomar
takeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,e
andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveouvi
heard,andasthedrearye
andunprosperousconditionoftherace,formuitos
manyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybeagora
nowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,however,
qualquer
eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitbastante
quiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,o
theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,com
withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Nenhum
Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;nosuccessofmine—ifmy
vida
life,beyonditsdomesticscope,tivesse
hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,se
ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmurs
uma
onegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.“Awriterofstory-books!
What
tipo
kindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingDeus
God,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdia
dayandgeneration—maythatbe?Porque
Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellter
havebeenafiddler!”Suchare
os
thecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsirese
andmyself,acrossthegulfoftempo
time!Andyet,letthemscornmeasthey
quiserem
will,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselvescom
withmine.Planteddeep,in
a
thetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,byestes
thesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,a
theracehaseversincesubsistedaqui
here;always,too,inrespectability;
nunca
never,sofarasIhavesei
known,disgracedbyasingleunworthymember;mas
butseldomornever,ontheoutro
otherhand,afterthefirstduas
twogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,ou
orsomuchasputtingforwarduma
aclaimtopublicnotice.Gradually,theyhavesunk
quase
almostoutofsight;asoldhouses,
aqui
hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnovo
newsoil.Fromfatherto
filho
son,foraboveahundredyears,theyseguiram
followedthesea;agray-headedshipmaster,in
cada
eachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,enquanto
whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditarylugar
placebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltspraye
andthegale,whichhadblusteredcontra
againsthissireandgrandsire.The
menino
boy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentuma
atempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,e
anddie,andminglehisdustcom
withthenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofa
família
familywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthe
andburial,createsakindredentre
betweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,completamente
quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryou
ormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.Itisnot
amor
love,butinstinct.Thenewinhabitant—who
veio
camehimselffromaforeignland,ou
orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haspouca
littleclaimtobecalleduma
aSalemite;hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacity
com
withwhichanoldsettler,sobre
overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotonde
wherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisno
importa
matterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themud
e
anddust,thedeadlevelofsitee
andsentiment,thechilleastwind,e
andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,e
andwhateverfaultsbesideshepossa
mayseeorimagine,arenada
nothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,
e
andjustaspowerfullyasse
ifthenatalspotwereum
anearthlyparadise.Sohasitbeeninmy
caso
case.Ifeltitalmostas
um
adestinytomakeSalemmycasa
home;sothatthemouldoffeatures
e
andcastofcharacterwhichtinha
hadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asum
onerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,outro
anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchao longo
alongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmypequeno
littledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldcidade
town.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhas
tornou
becomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Humannature
for
willnotflourish,anymorethanuma
apotato,ifitbeplantede
andreplanted,fortoolonguma
aseriesofgenerations,ina
thesameworn-outsoil.My
filhos
childrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,e
and,sofarastheirfortunespossam
maybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedterra
earth.OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschiefly
esse
thisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativecidade
town,thatbroughtmetofillum
aplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,quando
whenImightaswell,orbetter,ter
havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwason
mim
me.Itwasnotthefirst
vez
time,northesecond,thatItinha
hadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butainda
yetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;ou
orasifSalemwereformeo
theinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.So,
uma
onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,com
withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,e
andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenque
whoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitary
linha
line,haseverhadsuchum
apatriarchalbodyofveteranssob
underhisordersasmyself.O
ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIolhei
lookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyears
antes
beforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectortinha
hadkepttheSalemCustom-Housefora
outofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,que
whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.Um
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyono
thepedestalofhisgallantservices;e
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsatravés
throughwhichhehadheldoffice,hetinha
hadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmuitas
manyanhourofdangere
andheart-quake.GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
um
amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabittinha
hadnoslightinfluence;attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,
e
andwithdifficultymovedtomudar
change,evenwhenchangemightter
havebroughtunquestionableimprovement.Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,I
encontrei
foundfewbutagedmen.Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemost
parte
part,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,e
andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintoeste
thisquietnook;where,with
pouco
littletodisturbthem,exceptos
theperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandtodos
allacquiredanewleaseofexistence.Embora
Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoagee
andinfirmity,theyhadevidentlyalgum
sometalismanorotherthatmantinha
keptdeathatbay.Two
ou
orthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutye
andrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,nunca
neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringuma
alargepartoftheano
year;but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineof
Maio
MayorJune,golazilysobre
aboutwhattheytermedduty,e
and,attheirownleisuree
andconvenience,betakethemselvestocama
bedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathof
mais
morethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,to
descansar
restfromtheirarduouslabors,e
andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleofvida
lifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilyacredito
believeitwas—withdrewtoamelhor
betterworld.Itisapiousconsolationto
mim
me,that,throughmyinterference,um
asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevile
andcorruptpracticesintowhich,asum
amatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficerdeve
mustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-House
abrem
opensontheroadtoParadise.A
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.Itwas
bom
wellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenovo
newSurveyorwasnotapolitician,e
andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficecom
withanyreferencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumethe
fácil
easytaskofmakingheadcontra
againstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyahomem
manoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficialvida
life,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingto
o
thereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldteria
havebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,totrazer
bringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadssob
undertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplain
suficiente
enoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsometal
suchdiscourtesyatmyhands.Itpained,
e
andatthesametimeamusedme
me,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;to
ver
seeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbymeio
halfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;todetect,asone
ou
oranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,que
which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowatravés
throughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.They
sabiam
knew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedalguns
someofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttoter
havegivenplacetoyoungermen,mais
moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonTio
Uncle.Iknewittoo,
mas
butcouldneverquitefindinmycoração
hearttoactupontheknowledge.Muito
Muchanddeservedlytomypróprio
owndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepsobre
aboutthewharves,andloitercima
upanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspent
uma
agooddealoftime,também
also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,com
withtheirchairstiltedbackcontra
againstthewall;awaking,however,once
ou
ortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneoutro
anotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,e
andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordse
andcountersignsamongthem.Thediscoverywas
logo
soonmade,Iimagine,thatthenovo
newSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.So,
com
withlightsomehearts,andthefeliz
happyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirpróprio
ownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesebons
goodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,
sob
undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintoos
theholdsofvessels!Mightywastheirfuss
sobre
aboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,às vezes
sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipentre
betweentheirfingers!Wheneversuch
um
amischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisetinha
hadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,talvez
perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingpodia
couldexceedthevigilanceandalacritycom
withwhichtheyproceededtolock,e
anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapee
andsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,
o
thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,depois
afterthemischiefhadhappened;um
agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,o
themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.Unless
pessoas
peoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractuma
akindnessforthem.The
melhor
betterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,se
ifithaveabetterparte
part,isthatwhichusuallyvem
comesuppermostinmyregard,e
andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizethehomem
man.AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershad
bons
goodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetoeles
them,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Ilogo
soongrewtolikethemtodos
all.Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,that
quase
almostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamília
family,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttoouvi
hearthemchattinginthetrás
backentry,arowofthemtodos
alltippedagainstthewall,asusual;enquanto
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,e
andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.Externally,
a
thejollityofagedmentem
hasmuchincommonwitha
themirthofchildren;theintellect,any
mais
morethanadeepsenseofhumor,tem
haslittletodowiththeassunto
matter;itis,withboth,
um
agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,e
andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,e
andgray,moulderingtrunk.In
um
onecase,however,itisverdadeiro
realsunshine;intheother,it
mais
moreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.Itwouldbesadinjustice,thereader
deve
mustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.In
os
thefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;thereweremenamongthemintheirstrength
e
andprime,ofmarkedabilitye
andenergy,andaltogethersuperiortoos
thesluggishanddependentmodeofvida
lifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcasteles
them.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofagewere
às vezes
sometimesfoundtobethethatchofum
anintellectualtenementingoodrepair.Mas
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenão
nowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasum
asetofwearisomeoldsouls,que
whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceofvida
life.Theyseemedtohaveflung
fora
awayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,que
whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,e
andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemoriescom
withthehusks.Theyspoke
com
withfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,ou
oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sjantar
dinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyou
orfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedcom
withtheiryouthfuleyes.The
pai
fatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notsó
onlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,mas
but,Iamboldtodizer
say,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waiterstodos
allovertheUnitedStates—wasum
acertainpermanentInspector.He
poderia
mighttrulybetermedalegitimatefilho
sonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,ou
or,rather,borninthepurple;desde
sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,e
andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanescritório
officeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodofo
theearlyageswhichfewlivingmenpodem
cannowremember.ThisInspector,
quando
whenIfirstknewhim,wasahomem
manoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,e
andcertainlyoneofthemais
mostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenque
thatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.Com
Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriske
andvigorousstep,andhishalee
andheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butaespécie
kindofnewcontrivanceofMãe
MotherNatureintheshapeofhomem
man,whomageandinfirmitytinham
hadnobusinesstotouch.Hisvoice
e
andlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedatravés
throughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquavere
andcackleofanoldman’sutterance;theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,
como
likethecrowofacock,ou
ortheblastofaclarion.Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewas
muito
verylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamais
mostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnesse
andwholesomenessofhissystem,e
andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoytodos
all,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhetinha
hadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.Thecarelesssecurityofhis
vida
lifeintheCustom-House,onuma
aregularincome,andwithbutslighte
andinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadsem
nodoubtcontributedtomaketempo
timepasslightlyoverhim.As
Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layinas
therareperfectionofhisanimalnature,as
themoderateproportionofintellect,e
andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmorale
andspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarely
suficiente
enoughmeasuretokeepthevelho
oldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.Hepossessed
não
nopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,não
notroublesomesensibilities;nothing,inshort,
mas
butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbyo
thecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,faziam
diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofum
aheart.Hehadbeen
o
thehusbandofthreewives,todas
alllongsincedead;the
pai
fatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,attodas as
everyageofchildhoodormaturity,tinha
hadlikewisereturnedtodust.Aqui
Here,onewouldsuppose,mightter
havebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,através
throughandthrough,withasabletinge.Notso
com
withouroldInspector!Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryoff
o
theentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.O
Thenextmoment,hewasaspronto
readyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelder
e
andgravermanofthedois
two.Iusedtowatch
e
andstudythispatriarchalpersonagecom
with,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thanqualquer
anyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,in
verdade
truth,ararephenomenon;so
perfeito
perfect,inonepointofview;soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,
tão
suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryoutros
other.Myconclusionwasthathe
tinha
hadnosoul,noheart,não
nomind;