The Scarlet Letter Progressive Translation Books for Spanish B2 Learners

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.

INTRODUCTORYTO“THE

Escarlata

SCARLETLETTER.”

tisalittle

notable

remarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical

impulso

impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.

Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andforno

terrenal

earthlyreason,thateithertheindulgent

lector

readerortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha

descripción

descriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.

Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofinda

oyente

listenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagain

agarrar

seizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.

Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,

Secretario

ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.

Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,the

autor

authoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehis

volumen

volume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.

Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,and

entregan

indulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsof

revelación

revelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfect

simpatía

sympathy;

asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe

dividido

dividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleof

existencia

existencebybringinghiminto

comunión

communionwithit.

Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.

But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthe

orador

speakerstandinsometrue

relación

relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthe

más cercano

closestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;

andthen,anative

reserva

reservebeingthawedbythisgenial

conciencia

consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits

velo

veil.

Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an

autor

author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without

violar

violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.

Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House

boceto

sketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedin

literatura

literature,asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomy

posesión

possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofa

narración

narrativethereincontained.

This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas

editor

editor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonal

relación

relationwiththepublic.

lograr

accomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togivea

débil

faintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretofore

descrito

described,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomthe

autor

authorhappenedtomakeone.

Inmy

natal

nativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,and

exhibe

exhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;

except,perhaps,a

corteza

barkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholy

longitud

length,discharginghides;

or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther

carga

cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthe

marea

tideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenlivening

perspectiva

prospect,andthenceacrossthe

puerto

harbor,standsaspaciousedificeof

ladrillo

brick.

Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during

precisamente

preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,

flota

floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,the

bandera

banneroftherepublic;

butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus

indicando

indicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishere

establecido

established.

Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa

docena

dozenwoodenpillars,supportinga

balcón

balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwide

granito

granitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.

Overtheentrance

flota

hoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmerican

águila

eagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeher

pecho

breast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineach

garra

claw.

Withthecustomaryinfirmityof

temperamento

temperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher

pico

beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to

amenazar

threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;

andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.

Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederal

águila

eagle;

imagining,Ipresume,thather

pecho

bosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down

almohada

pillow.

Butshehasnogreat

ternura

tenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofher

garra

claw,adabofher

pico

beak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.

The

pavimento

pavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinous

resort

resortofbusiness.

Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.

Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly

ciudadano

citizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa

puerto

portbyitself;

notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who

permiten

permitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgoto

hincharse

swell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themighty

inundación

floodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.

Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof

frecuentes

frequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthe

granito

granitesteps.

Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay

saludar

greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justin

puerto

port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.

Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,

en consecuencia

accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplished

viaje

voyagehasbeenrealizedin

mercancía

merchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimundera

bulto

bulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.

Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung

empleado

clerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbe

navegara

sailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.

Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound

marinero

sailorinquestofaprotection;

ortherecentlyarrivedone,

pálido

paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.

NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;

arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,but

contribuyendo

contributinganitemofnoslight

importancia

importancetoourdecayingtrade.

Agrupa

Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.

Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—inthe

entrada

entry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheir

traseras

hindlegsbackagainstthewall.

Oftentimestheywereasleep,but

ocasionalmente

occasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechanda

ronquido

snore,andwiththatlackofenergythat

distingue

distinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswho

dependen

dependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolized

trabajo

labor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.

Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.

Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyheight;

withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrow

carril

lane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.

Allthreegive

vislumbres

glimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;

aroundthedoorsofwhichare

generalmente

generallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsas

perseguir

haunttheWappingofaseaport.

Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;

itsfloorisstrewnwith

gris

graysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;

anditiseasyto

concluir

conclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisa

santuario

sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,the

escoba

broomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.

Inthewayof

muebles

furniture,thereisastovewithavoluminous

embudo

funnel;

anoldpinedesk,withathree-legged

taburete

stoolbesideit;

twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;

and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsof

Congreso

Congress,andabulkyDigestofthe

Ingresos

RevenueLaws.

Atinpipe

asciende

ascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumof

vocal

vocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.

Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-legged

taburete

stool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyes

vagando

wanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honored

lector

reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethe

sol

sunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthe

sauce

willowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.

Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould

preguntarías

inquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.

Thebesomof

reforma

reformhasswepthimoutofoffice;

andaworthier

sucesor

successorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.

ThisoldtownofSalem—my

natal

nativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsof

real

actualresidencehere.

Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewhole

extensión

extentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmy

natal

nativetown,itwouldbequiteas

razonable

reasonabletoformasentimental

apego

attachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.

Andyet,thoughinvariably

feliz

happiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter

frase

phrase,Imustbecontenttocall

afecto

affection.

Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe

suelo

soil.

ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehis

aparición

appearanceinthewildandforest-bordered

asentamiento

settlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.

Andherehis

descendientes

descendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhave

mezclado

mingledtheirearthysubstancewiththe

suelo

soil;

untilnosmallportionofitmust

necesariamente

necessarilybeakintothe

mortal

mortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.

Inpart,therefore,the

apego

attachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuous

simpatía

sympathyofdustfordust.

Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;

nor,as

frecuente

frequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit

deseable

desirabletoknow.

Butthe

sentimiento

sentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.

Thefigureofthatfirst

antepasado

ancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.

Itstill

persigue

hauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaimin

referencia

referencetothepresentphaseofthetown.

Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa

residencia

residencehereonaccountofthisgrave,

barbudo

bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastately

puerto

port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis

rara vez

seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.

Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;

hewasa

gobernante

rulerintheChurch;

hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.

Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.

Hisson,too,

heredó

inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavelefta

mancha

stainuponhim.

Sodeepa

mancha

stain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!

Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto

arrepentirse

repent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;

orwhethertheyarenow

gimiendo

groaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.

Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir

representante

representative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.

Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquitea

suficiente

sufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolonga

lapso

lapseofyears,theold

tronco

trunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerable

musgo

mossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.

Noaim,thatIhaveever

apreciado

cherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;

nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits

doméstico

domesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethan

inútil

worthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.

“Whatishe?”

murmursone

gris

grayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.

“Awriterofstory-books!

Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceableto

humanidad

mankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?

Why,the

degenerado

degeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”

Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthe

abismo

gulfoftime!

Andyet,letthem

desprecien

scornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.

Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;

always,too,inrespectability;

never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingle

indigno

unworthymember;

butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performingany

memorable

memorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.

Gradually,theyhave

hundido

sunkalmostoutofsight;

asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcovered

mitad

half-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew

tierra

soil.

Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;

agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,

retirándose

retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthe

hereditario

hereditaryplacebeforethemast,

enfrentando

confrontingthesaltsprayandthe

vendaval

gale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.

Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe

cabaña

cabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.

Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand

entierro

burial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quite

independiente

independentofanycharminthe

paisaje

sceneryormoralcircumstancesthat

rodean

surroundhim.

Itisnotlove,but

instinto

instinct.

Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;

hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyis

arrastra

creeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.

Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;

thatheis

cansado

wearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,the

barro

mudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteand

sentimiento

sentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.

Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwerean

terrenal

earthlyparadise.

Sohasitbeeninmycase.

IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;

sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone

representante

representativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.

Nevertheless,thisvery

sentimiento

sentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.

Humannaturewillnot

florecerá

flourish,anymorethana

patata

potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-out

suelo

soil.

Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.

OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous

apego

attachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’s

ladrillo

brickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.

perdición

doomwasonme.

Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;

orasifSalemwereformethe

inevitable

inevitablecentreoftheuniverse.

So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightof

granito

granitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothe

cuerpo

corpsofgentlemenwhowereto

ayudar

aidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschief

ejecutivo

executiveofficeroftheCustom-House.

Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.

The

paradero

whereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.

Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the

independiente

independentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofoffice

generalmente

generallysofragile.

Asoldier,—NewEngland’smost

distinguido

distinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthe

pedestal

pedestalofhisgallantservices;

and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.

GeneralMillerwas

radicalmente

radicallyconservative;

amanoverwhosekindlynature

hábito

habithadnoslightinfluence;

attachinghimself

fuertemente

stronglytofamiliarfaces,andwith

dificultad

difficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionable

mejora

improvement.

Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbut

ancianos

agedmen.

Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;

where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofa

Presidencial

Presidentialelection,theyoneandall

adquirieron

acquiredanewleaseof

existencia

existence.

Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad

evidentemente

evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.

Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas

aseguraron

assured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheir

aparición

appearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;

but,afteratorpidwinter,would

arrastraban

creepoutintothewarm

sol

sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirown

ocio

leisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.

Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe

república

republic.

Theywereallowed,onmy

representación

representation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheir

único

soleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.

Itisa

piadoso

piousconsolationtome,that,throughmy

interferencia

interference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.

NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.

ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.

Itwaswellfortheirvenerable

hermandad

brotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithful

Demócrata

Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany

referencia

referencetopoliticalservices.

Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan

activo

activepoliticianbeenputintothis

influyente

influentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhig

Coleccionista

Collector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonal

administración

administrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheold

cuerpo

corpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.

Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina

político

politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthe

hacha

axeoftheguillotine.

Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellows

temían

dreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.

Itpained,andatthesametime

divirtió

amusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;

toseeafurrowed

mejilla

cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleatthe

mirada

glanceofsoharmlessan

individuo

individualasmyself;

todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughto

asustar

frightenBoreashimselftosilence.

Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackof

eficiencia

efficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.

Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.

Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and

considerablemente

considerablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,to

arrastrarse

creepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.

Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;

awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.

The

descubrimiento

discoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.

So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy

conciencia

consciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirown

nombre

behalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.

Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!

Mightywastheir

alboroto

fussaboutlittlematters,and

maravilloso

marvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!

Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluable

mercancías

merchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcould

exceder

exceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichthey

procedían

proceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.

Insteadofareprimandfortheir

previousnegligence,thecaseseemedratherto

requerir

requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy

precaución

caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;

agrateful

reconocimiento

recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany

remedio

remedy.

Unlesspeoplearemorethan

comúnmente

commonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolish

hábito

habittocontractakindnessforthem.

Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.

AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was

favorable

favorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.

Itwas

agradable

pleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merely

comunicaba

communicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwas

agradable

pleasanttohearthemchattingintheback

entrada

entry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;

whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.

Externally,thejollityof

ancianos

agedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;

the

intelecto

intellect,anymorethanadeepsenseof

humor

humor,haslittletodowiththematter;

itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa

soleado

sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreen

rama

branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.

Inonecase,however,itisreal

sol

sunshine;

intheother,itmore

asemeja

resemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.

Itwouldbesad

injusticia

injustice,thereadermustunderstand,to

representar

representallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.

Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;

thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishand

dependiente

dependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.

Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan

intelectual

intellectualtenementingoodrepair.

But,asrespectsthe

mayoría

majorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethem

generalmente

generallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworth

preservación

preservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.

Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden

grano

grainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesof

cosecha

harvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.

Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.

ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittle

escuadrón

squadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,ofthe

respetable

respectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertain

permanente

permanentInspector.

Hemighttrulybetermeda

legítimo

legitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,

teñido

dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthe

púrpura

purple;

sincehissire,a

Revolucionario

Revolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectorofthe

puerto

port,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,and

nombró

appointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.

ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto

descubra

discoverinalifetime’ssearch.

Withhisflorid

mejilla

cheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.

Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;

theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,orthe

explosión

blastofaclarion.

Lookingathim

meramente

merelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamost

satisfactorio

satisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhis

capacidad

capacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,or

concebido

conceivedof.

ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof

eliminación

removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepass

ligeramente

lightlyoverhim.

Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare

perfección

perfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderate

proporción

proportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;

theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenough

medida

measuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.

poseía

possessednopowerofthought,no

profundidad

depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;

nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerful

temperamento

temperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneral

aceptación

acceptance,inlieuofaheart.

Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;

thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor

madurez

maturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.

Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen

tristeza

sorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniest

disposición

disposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.

NotsowithouroldInspector!

One

breve

briefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentire

carga

burdenofthesedismalreminiscences.

Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreeched

bebé

infant;

farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior

empleado

clerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.

Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier

curiosidad

curiosity,thananyotherformof

humanidad

humanitytherepresentedtomynotice.

Hewas,intruth,arare

fenómeno

phenomenon;

soperfect,inonepointofview;

superficial

shallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan

absoluta

absolutenonentity,ineveryother.

conclusión

conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;

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