THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshould
dos veces
twiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepúblico
public.Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenI
favorecí
favoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethe
público
publicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experiencia
experienceinaCustom-House.Theexampleofthe
famoso
famous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.Thetruth
parece
seemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthupontheviento
wind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;
asiftheprintedbook,
arrojado
thrownatlargeonthewideworld,wereseguro
certaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnaturaleza
nature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,
a menos que
unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginar
imaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,as
explicando
explaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasofreciendo
offeringproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytrue
posición
positionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal
personalrelationwiththepublic.Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;
excepto
except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.
Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,
durante
duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnota
militar
militarypostofUncleSam’sgobierno
governmentishereestablished.Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,beneathwhicha
vuelo
flightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,a
montón
bunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakand
ojo
eye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;and
especialmente
especiallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;
imaginando
imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.
Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenough
creciendo
growinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenusado
wornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaor
Sur
SouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentpies
feet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhis
brazo
arm,inatarnishedtinbox.Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedto
oro
gold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethe
inteligente
smartyoungclerk,whogetsthesabor
tasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.Another
figura
figureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.
NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythe
grupo
group,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringescena
scene.Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitwere
verano
summertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthepared
wall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteen
pies
feetsquare,andofaloftyheight;withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthe
tercera
thirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
its
suelo
floorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasytoconclude,fromthe
general
generalslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagia
magic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,and
forma
formsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,
honrado
honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittleestudio
study,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthiersuccessor
lleva
wearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,the
fuerza
forceofwhichIhaveneverrealizeddurante
duringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonableto
formar
formasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.
ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthe
salvaje
wildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehisdescendantshavebeen
nacido
bornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
ni
nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.
The
figura
figureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresente
presenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothe
actual
presentphaseofthetown.I
parece
seemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesotemprano
early,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadesogrande
largeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,cuyo
whosenameisseldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,
juez
judge;hewasarulerinthe
Iglesia
Church;hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodand
mal
evil.Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobe
temer
feared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecuting
espíritu
spirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.Sodeepastain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!
Iknownot
si
whethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonofCielo
Heavenfortheircruelties;or
si
whethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherestado
stateofbeing.Atallevents,I,the
presente
presentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebytakevergüenza
shameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andrezo
praythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftheraza
race,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamily
árbol
tree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.
“Awriterofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheir
naturaleza
naturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,the
raza
racehaseversincesubsistedhere;always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbya
solo
singleunworthymember;butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,get
cubren
coveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.Fromfathertoson,forabovea
cien
hundredyears,theyfollowedthemar
sea;agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,
pasó
passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,pasó
spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.
Itisnotlove,butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeign
tierra
land,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhis
tercer
thirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudanddust,thedead
nivel
levelofsiteandsentiment,thechilleste
eastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsademás de
besideshemayseeorimaginar
imagine,arenothingtothepurpose.Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeofthe
raza
racelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisan
evidencia
evidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.Human
naturaleza
naturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythis
extraño
strange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,
ni
northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitparecía
seemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.
I
dudo
doubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdudo
doubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitar
militaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependent
posición
positionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
General
GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;amanover
cuya
whosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontaking
cargo
chargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostonevery
mar
sea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinalmente
finallydriftedintothisquietnook;where,withlittletodisturbthem,
excepto
excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.Thoughbynomeans
menos
lessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,
durante
duringalargepartoftheyear;but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintothe
cálido
warmsunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermeddeber
duty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothe
cargo
chargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.Theywere
permitió
allowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservicio
service,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficient
espacio
spacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseoficial
officermustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-Houseopensonthe
camino
roadtoParadise.ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,
cuyas
whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonal
personaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinames
monthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Acuerdo
Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofdeber
duty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;
toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;
todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofa
voz
voice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyheartto
actuar
actupontheknowledge.Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,they
continuaron
continued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.They
pasaron
spentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthepared
wall;awaking,however,onceor
dos veces
twiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththevarios
severalthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadcrecido
growntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.Thediscoverywassoonmade,I
imagino
imagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthat
permitía
allowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewith
cinta
tapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecase
parecía
seemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.
A menos que
Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,and
forma
formsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmy
posición
positioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthe
pared
wall,asusual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethana
profundo
deepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothe
verde
greenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,however,itisrealsunshine;
intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.
Itwouldbe
triste
sadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.
Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvaried
experiencia
experienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhad
disfrutado
enjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohavealmacenado
storedtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmore
interés
interestandunctionoftheirmorning’sdesayuno
breakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasa
cierto
certainpermanentInspector.Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenue
sistema
system,dyedinthewool,or,rather,nacido
borninthepurple;sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,and
ciertamente
certainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’sbúsqueda
search.Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompact
figura
figure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedazul
bluecoat,hisbriskandvigorouspaso
step,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNaturaleza
Natureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.His
voz
voiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhis
sistema
system,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,todisfrutar
enjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.Thecareless
seguridad
securityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnoduda
doubtcontributedtomaketimepasara
passlightlyoverhim.Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherareperfectionofhis
animal
animalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthat
creció
grewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddeber
dutyveryrespectably,andtogeneral
generalacceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.
Here,onewould
suponer
suppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.NotsowithouroldInspector!
Onebriefsighsufficedto
carga
carryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchand
estudiar
studythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyotherforma
formofhumanitytherepresentedtomyobservar
notice.Hewas,intruth,ararephenomenon;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
Myconclusionwasthathehadno
alma
soul,noheart,nomind;