THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittle
notável
remarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulso
impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenposse
possessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andforno
terrena
earthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentleitor
readerortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescrição
descriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagain
agarro
seizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,the
autor
authoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume
volume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsof
revelação
revelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusivamente
exclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsimpatia
sympathy;asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe
dividido
dividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistência
existencebybringinghimintocomunhão
communionwithit.Itis
dificilmente
scarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthe
orador
speakerstandinsometruerelação
relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthepróximo
closestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,anative
reserva
reservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciência
consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsvéu
veil.Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
autor
author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolar
violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.Itwillbeseen,
igualmente
likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliteratura
literature,asexplaininghowalargeparte
portionofthefollowingpagescameintomyposse
possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativa
narrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
editor
editor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonalrelação
relationwiththepublic.In
realizar
accomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafraca
faintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescrito
described,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheautor
authorhappenedtomakeone.InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,and
exibe
exhibitsfewornosymptomsofcomercial
commerciallife;except,perhaps,a
casca
barkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancólico
melancholylength,discharginghides;or,
perto
nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercarga
cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthemaré
tideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandinthetrás
rearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningperspectiva
prospect,andthenceacrosstheporto
harbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
precisamente
preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,flutua
floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebandeira
banneroftherepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus
indicando
indicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestabelecido
established.Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
dúzia
dozenwoodenpillars,supportingavaranda
balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranito
granitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.Overtheentrance
paira
hoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericanáguia
eagle,withoutspreadwings,aescudo
shieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachgarra
claw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityof
temperamento
temperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbico
beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,toameaçar
threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
No entanto
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaláguia
eagle;imagining,Ipresume,thather
peito
bosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downalmofada
pillow.Butshehasnogreat
ternura
tenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofhergarra
claw,adabofherbico
beak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.The
pavimento
pavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresort
resortofbusiness.Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly
cidadão
citizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaporto
portbyitself;notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
permitem
permitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyinundação
floodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthe
prestes
vergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentes
frequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranito
granitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
cumprimentar
greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinporto
port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedlata
tinbox.Here,too,comeshisowner,
alegre
cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisesquema
schemeofthenowaccomplishedviagem
voyagehasbeenrealizedinmercadoria
merchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung
funcionário
clerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbenavegando
sailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound
marinheiro
sailorinquestofaprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,
pálido
paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankee
aspecto
aspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportância
importancetoourdecayingtrade.Cluster
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.Morefrequently,however,on
subir
ascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentrada
entry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirtraseiras
hindlegsbackagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,but
ocasionalmente
occasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandaronco
snore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistingue
distinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependem
dependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedtrabalho
labor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthe
recepção
receiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.Além disso
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyaltura
height;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossa
estreita
narrowlane,andalongaparte
portionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhichare
geralmente
generallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsasassombrar
haunttheWappingofaseaport.Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;
anditiseasyto
concluir
conclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasantuário
sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thevassoura
broomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.Inthewayof
móveis
furniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunil
funnel;anoldpinedesk,withathree-legged
banquinho
stoolbesideit;twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsof
Congresso
Congress,andabulkyDigestoftheReceita
RevenueLaws.Atinpipe
sobe
ascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsameio
mediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-legged
banco
stool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyesvagando
wanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredleitor
reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesol
sunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthesalgueiro
willowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
perguntar
inquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.Thebesomof
reforma
reformhasswepthimoutofoffice;andaworthier
sucessor
successorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordid
possuía
possess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofreal
actualresidencehere.Indeed,sofarasitsphysical
aspecto
aspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextensão
extentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Andyet,thoughinvariably
feliz
happiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterfrase
phrase,Imustbecontenttocallafeição
affection.Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe
solo
soil.ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehis
aparição
appearanceinthewildandforest-borderedassentamento
settlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehis
descendentes
descendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemisturaram
mingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesolo
soil;untilnosmallportionofitmust
necessariamente
necessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.Inpart,therefore,the
apego
attachmentwhichIspeakofisthemera
meresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,as
frequente
frequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesejável
desirabletoknow.Butthe
sentimento
sentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.Thefigureofthatfirst
antepassado
ancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstill
assombra
hauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichImal
scarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentfase
phaseofthetown.Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa
residência
residencehereonaccountofthisgrave,barbudo
bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyporto
port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameisraramente
seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
governante
rulerintheChurch;hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewas
igualmente
likewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,
herdou
inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftamancha
stainuponhim.Sodeepa
mancha
stain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledcompletamente
utterlytodust!Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto
arrepender
repent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;orwhethertheyarenow
gemendo
groaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir
representante
representative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquitea
suficiente
sufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtronco
trunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemusgo
mossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits
doméstico
domesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethaninútil
worthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—what
modo
modeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletohumanidade
mankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?Why,the
degenerado
degeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthe
abismo
gulfoftime!Andyet,letthem
desprezar
scornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingle
indigno
unworthymember;butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performingany
memorável
memorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.Gradualmente
Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew
solo
soil.Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,
retirando
retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditário
hereditaryplacebeforethemast,enfrentando
confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe
cabana
cabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andmisturar
minglehisdustwiththenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand
sepultamento
burial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependente
independentofanycharminthecenário
sceneryormoralcircumstancesthatrodeiam
surroundhim.Itisnotlove,but
instinto
instinct.Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyis
rastejando
creeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheis
cansado
wearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,thelama
mudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentimento
sentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwerean
terrestre
earthlyparadise.Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone
representante
representativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.No entanto
Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeaninsalubre
unhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Humannaturewillnot
prosperará
flourish,anymorethanabatata
potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsolo
soil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous
apego
attachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformethe
inevitável
inevitablecentreoftheuniverse.So,onefinemorning,I
subi
ascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scomissão
commissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpo
corpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutivo
executiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
The
paradeiro
whereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the
independente
independentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegeralmente
generallysofragile.Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestood
firmemente
firmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwas
radicalmente
radicallyconservative;amanoverwhosekindlynature
hábito
habithadnoslightinfluence;attachinghimself
fortemente
stronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdificuldade
difficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionablemelhoria
improvement.Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofa
Presidencial
Presidentialelection,theyoneandalladquiriram
acquiredanewleaseofexistência
existence.Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
evidentemente
evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
assegurado
assured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheiraparição
appearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;but,afteratorpidwinter,would
rastejando
creepoutintothewarmsol
sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownleisureandconveniência
convenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imust
declarar
pleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepública
republic.Theywereallowed,onmy
representação
representation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirúnico
soleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.Itisapious
consolo
consolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asuficiente
sufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerable
irmandade
brotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafiel
faithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferência
referencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan
ativo
activepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluente
influentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigColetor
Collector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministração
administrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpo
corpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
político
politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthemachado
axeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametime
divertia
amusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;toseeafurrowed
bochecha
cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheolhar
glanceofsoharmlessanindivíduo
individualasmyself;todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto
assustar
frightenBoreashimselftosilence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,as
considerado
regardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofeficiência
efficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andcompletamente
altogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and
consideravelmente
considerablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconsciência
conscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,torastejar
creepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
The
descoberta
discoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy
consciência
consciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownnome
behalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Poderoso
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmaravilhoso
marvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeen
contrabandeado
smuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlydebaixo
beneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceder
exceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyprosseguiram
proceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquente
delinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheir
anterior
previousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertoexigir
requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycautela
caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;agrateful
reconhecimento
recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremédio
remedy.Unlesspeoplearemorethan
comumente
commonlydisagreeable,itismytolo
foolishhabittocontractabondade
kindnessforthem.Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmy
consideração
regard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was
favorável
favorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.Itwas
agradável
pleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,apenas
merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwasagradável
pleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentrada
entry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
the
intelecto
intellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor
humor,haslittletodowiththematter;itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa
ensolarado
sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenramo
branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,however,itisreal
sol
sunshine;intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescent
brilho
glowofdecayingwood.Itwouldbesad
injustiça
injustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentar
representallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,and
completamente
altogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependente
dependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan
intelectual
intellectualtenementingoodrepair.But,asrespectsthe
maioria
majorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgeralmente
generallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservação
preservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden
grão
grainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittle
esquadrão
squadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespeitável
respectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanente
permanentInspector.Hemighttrulybetermeda
legítimo
legitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,tingido
dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthepúrpura
purple;sincehissire,a
Revolucionário
Revolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectoroftheporto
port,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andnomeou
appointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto
descobriria
discoverinalifetime’ssearch.Withhisflorid
bochecha
cheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspecto
aspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethe
corvo
crowofacock,ortheexplosão
blastofaclarion.Lookingathim
meramente
merelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfatório
satisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacidade
capacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconcebido
conceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular
renda
income,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoção
removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslevemente
lightlyoverhim.Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare
perfeição
perfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderada
moderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenough
medida
measuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.He
possuía
possessednopowerofthought,noprofundidade
depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythe
alegre
cheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralaceitação
acceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
maturidade
maturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen
tristeza
sorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposição
disposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.NotsowithouroldInspector!
One
breve
briefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentirefardo
burdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreeched
bebê
infant;farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchthe
mais velho
elderandgravermanofthetwo.Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
curiosidade
curiosity,thananyotherformofhumanidade
humanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,intruth,arare
fenómeno
phenomenon;soperfect,inonepointofview;
so
superficial
shallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.My
conclusão
conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;