THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,
além
beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheanterior
formeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythebotão
button,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.The
exemplo
exampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,
fato
indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehis
círculo
circleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhis
audiência
audience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalways
reconhecido
recognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.This,infact,—a
desejo
desiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixentre
amongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumir
assumingapersonalrelationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthe
principal
mainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,entre
amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfa
século
centuryago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthe
base
baseandintherearofthefileira
rowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninafronteira
borderofunthriftygrass,—here,withavista
viewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiestpointofits
telhado
roof,duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthata
civil
civil,andnotamilitaryposto
postofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
Overthe
entrada
entrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthis
infeliz
unhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofheratitude
attitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecomunidade
community;andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheir
segurança
safety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleare
procurando
seeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesundertheasa
wingofthefederaleagle;imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.
Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,witha
arranhão
scratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingferida
woundfromherbarbedarrows.Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—has
grama
grassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmight
lembrar
remindtheelderlycitizenofthatperíodo
periodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohave
chegam
arrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,comeshis
dono
owner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteof
tráfego
trafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofa
proteção
protection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,
procura
seekingapassporttothehospital.NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecaying
comércio
trade.Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—a
fileira
rowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetween
fala
speechandasnore,andwiththatfalta
lackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyou
entra
enterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetquadrados
square,andofaloftyheight;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandinga
vista
viewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywithold
pintura
paint;itsfloorisstrewnwithgray
areia
sand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequent
acesso
access.Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;
anoldpine
mesa
desk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,a
pontuação
scoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfrom
canto
cornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthesecretária
desk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthavereconhecido
recognized,honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,and
embolsa
pocketshisemoluments.ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
Fato
Indeed,sofarasitsfísico
physicalaspectisconcerned,withitsplana
flat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHill
HillandNewGuineaatoneend,andavista
viewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,in
falta
lackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.
Itisnow
quase
nearlytwocenturiesandaquarto
quartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;
untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,
portanto
therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofpó
dustfordust.Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthe
estoque
stock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoral
qualidade
quality.Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyish
imaginação
imagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcely
afirmo
claiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown.Iseemtohavea
forte
strongerclaimtoaresidencehereonconta
accountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBíblia
Bibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—aforte
strongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameisseldomheardandmyfacemal
hardlyknown.Hewasa
soldado
soldier,legislator,judge;hewasarulerintheChurch;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,as
testemunham
witnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidente
incidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,embora
althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.
Sodeepastain,
fato
indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytopó
dust!Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andask
perdão
pardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresent
escritor
writer,astheirrepresentative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanymaldição
curseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperouscondição
conditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldargumentaria
arguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremovido
removed.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
No
objectivo
aim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyreconhecido
recognizeaslaudable;nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,
além
beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmursonegray
sombra
shadowofmyforefatherstotheother.“A
escritor
writerofstory-books!Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,thedegenerate
sujeito
fellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthy
membro
member;butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,
realizando
performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardareivindicação
claimtopublicnotice.Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutof
vista
sight;asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.
Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineach
geração
generation,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesal
saltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.Theboy,also,in
devido
duetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehispó
dustwiththenatalearth.Thislong
ligação
connectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofnascimento
birthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.Itisnotlove,butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatheror
avô
grandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthird
século
centuryiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudand
poeira
dust,thedeadleveloflocal
siteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepropósito
purpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthly
paraíso
paradise.Sohasitbeeninmycase.
Ifeltitalmostasa
destino
destinytomakeSalemmyhome;sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastof
caráter
characterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliar
familiarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhistúmulo
grave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongtheprincipal
mainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandreconhecido
recognizedintheoldtown.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethatthe
conexão
connection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Humannaturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolonga
série
seriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreofthe
universo
universe.So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmy
bolso
pocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsabilidade
responsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryofthe
Unidos
UnitedStates,eitherinthecivil
civilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatonce
resolvido
settled,whenIlookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himself
seguro
secureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesegurança
safetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofperigo
dangerandheart-quake.GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;
attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.
Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpid
inverno
winter,wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineofMayorJunho
June,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustplead
culpado
guiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheoficial
officialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.
Neitherthefrontnortheback
entrada
entranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParaíso
Paradise.ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neither
recebeu
receivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluential
posto
post,toassumetheeasytarefa
taskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthefôlego
breathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothe
recebido
receivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfa
século
centuryofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselfto
silêncio
silence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirown
falta
lackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetojovens
youngermen,moreorthodoxinpolítica
politics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoservir
serveourcommonUncle.Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactuponthe
conhecimento
knowledge.Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,
portanto
therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyoficial
officialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersigns
entre
amongthem.Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreat
mal
harminhim.So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforour
amado
belovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronesto
escorregassem
slipbetweentheirfingers!Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,and
diretamente
directlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andproteger
securewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
a
grato
gratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’s
caráter
character,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIreconheço
recognizetheman.AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthem
conversar
chattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,ascostume
usual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwith
riso
laughterfromtheirlips.Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchin
comum
commonwiththemirthofchildren;theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthe
superfície
surface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,however,itisrealsunshine;
intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecaying
madeira
wood.Itwouldbesadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremen
entre
amongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedhabilidade
abilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohad
reuniram
gatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthe
dourado
goldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcuidadosamente
carefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhad
testemunhado
witnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersalloverthe
Unidos
UnitedStates—wasacertainpermanentInspetor
Inspector.Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthepurple;
sincehissire,aRevolutionary
coronel
colonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcriado
createdanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperíodo
periodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbe
provavelmente
likelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedblue
casaco
coat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheforma
shapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofa
galo
cock,ortheblastofaclarion.Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactory
objeto
object,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,orquase
nearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,ona
regular
regularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layinthe
rara
rareperfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beingin
apenas
barelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldcavalheiro
gentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhis
físico
physicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageof
infância
childhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtopó
dust.Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
NotsowithouroldInspector!
Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyfor
esporte
sportasanyunbreechedinfant;farreadierthantheCollector’s
júnior
juniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,a
raro
rarephenomenon;soperfect,inonepointof
vista
view;soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
Myconclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;