THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THE
Escarlata
SCARLETLETTER.”tisalittle
notable
remarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulso
impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andforno
terrenal
earthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentlector
readerortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescripción
descriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofinda
oyente
listenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainagarrar
seizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,
Secretario
ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,the
autor
authoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolumen
volume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,and
entregan
indulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelación
revelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsimpatía
sympathy;asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthe
dividido
dividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencia
existencebybringinghimintocomunión
communionwithit.Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthe
orador
speakerstandinsometruerelación
relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthemás cercano
closestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;andthen,anative
reserva
reservebeingthawedbythisgenialconciencia
consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsvelo
veil.Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an
autor
author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolar
violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House
boceto
sketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliteratura
literature,asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomyposesión
possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarración
narrativethereincontained.This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas
editor
editor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassumingapersonalrelación
relationwiththepublic.In
lograr
accomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveadébil
faintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescrito
described,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheautor
authorhappenedtomakeone.Inmy
natal
nativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibe
exhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;except,perhaps,a
corteza
barkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylongitud
length,discharginghides;or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther
carga
cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthemarea
tideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningperspectiva
prospect,andthenceacrossthepuerto
harbor,standsaspaciousedificeofladrillo
brick.Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during
precisamente
preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,flota
floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebandera
banneroftherepublic;butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus
indicando
indicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablecido
established.Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa
docena
dozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcón
balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranito
granitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.Overtheentrance
flota
hoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericanáguila
eagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherpecho
breast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachgarra
claw.Withthecustomaryinfirmityof
temperamento
temperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherpico
beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,toamenazar
threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederal
águila
eagle;imagining,Ipresume,thather
pecho
bosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downalmohada
pillow.Butshehasnogreat
ternura
tenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofhergarra
claw,adabofherpico
beak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.The
pavimento
pavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresort
resortofbusiness.Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmightremindtheelderly
ciudadano
citizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasapuerto
portbyitself;notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who
permiten
permitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotohincharse
swell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyinundación
floodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundof
frecuentes
frequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranito
granitesteps.Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay
saludar
greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinpuerto
port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,
en consecuencia
accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedviaje
voyagehasbeenrealizedinmercancía
merchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulto
bulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoung
empleado
clerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbenavegara
sailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-bound
marinero
sailorinquestofaprotection;ortherecentlyarrivedone,
pálido
paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,but
contribuyendo
contributinganitemofnoslightimportancia
importancetoourdecayingtrade.Agrupa
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—inthe
entrada
entry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirtraseras
hindlegsbackagainstthewall.Oftentimestheywereasleep,but
ocasionalmente
occasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandaronquido
snore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistingue
distinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependen
dependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedtrabajo
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-ratsasperseguir
haunttheWappingofaseaport.Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;
itsfloorisstrewnwith
gris
graysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;anditiseasyto
concluir
conclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasantuario
sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,theescoba
broomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.Inthewayof
muebles
furniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousembudo
funnel;anoldpinedesk,withathree-legged
taburete
stoolbesideit;twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsof
Congreso
Congress,andabulkyDigestoftheIngresos
RevenueLaws.Atinpipe
asciende
ascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumofvocal
vocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-legged
taburete
stool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyesvagando
wanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredlector
reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesol
sunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthesauce
willowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould
preguntarías
inquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.Thebesomof
reforma
reformhasswepthimoutofoffice;andaworthier
sucesor
successorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.ThisoldtownofSalem—my
natal
nativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofreal
actualresidencehere.Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewhole
extensión
extentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynatal
nativetown,itwouldbequiteasrazonable
reasonabletoformasentimentalapego
attachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.Andyet,thoughinvariably
feliz
happiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterfrase
phrase,Imustbecontenttocallafecto
affection.Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe
suelo
soil.ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehis
aparición
appearanceinthewildandforest-borderedasentamiento
settlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.Andherehis
descendientes
descendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemezclado
mingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesuelo
soil;untilnosmallportionofitmust
necesariamente
necessarilybeakintothemortal
mortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.Inpart,therefore,the
apego
attachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussimpatía
sympathyofdustfordust.Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,as
frecuente
frequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdeseable
desirabletoknow.Butthe
sentimiento
sentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.Thefigureofthatfirst
antepasado
ancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.Itstill
persigue
hauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencia
referencetothepresentphaseofthetown.Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa
residencia
residencehereonaccountofthisgrave,barbudo
bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelypuerto
port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameisrara vez
seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;
hewasa
gobernante
rulerintheChurch;hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
Hisson,too,
heredó
inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftamancha
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,aftersolongalapso
lapseofyears,theoldtronco
trunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemusgo
mossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.Noaim,thatIhaveever
apreciado
cherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits
doméstico
domesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethaninútil
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-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewtierra
soil.Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,
retirándose
retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditario
hereditaryplacebeforethemast,enfrentando
confrontingthesaltsprayandthevendaval
gale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothe
cabaña
cabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth.Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthand
entierro
burial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependiente
independentofanycharminthepaisaje
sceneryormoralcircumstancesthatrodean
surroundhim.Itisnotlove,but
instinto
instinct.Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyis
arrastra
creeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheis
cansado
wearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,thebarro
mudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentimiento
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,anymorethanapatata
potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsuelo
soil.Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyous
apego
attachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sladrillo
brickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.My
perdición
doomwasonme.Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformethe
inevitable
inevitablecentreoftheuniverse.So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightof
granito
granitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecuerpo
corpsofgentlemenwhoweretoayudar
aidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefejecutivo
executiveofficeroftheCustom-House.Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
The
paradero
whereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the
independiente
independentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegeneralmente
generallysofragile.Asoldier,—NewEngland’smost
distinguido
distinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestal
pedestalofhisgallantservices;and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwas
radicalmente
radicallyconservative;amanoverwhosekindlynature
hábito
habithadnoslightinfluence;attachinghimself
fuertemente
stronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdificultad
difficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionablemejora
improvement.Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbut
ancianos
agedmen.Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofa
Presidencial
Presidentialelection,theyoneandalladquirieron
acquiredanewleaseofexistencia
existence.Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad
evidentemente
evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwas
aseguraron
assured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheiraparición
appearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;but,afteratorpidwinter,would
arrastraban
creepoutintothewarmsol
sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirownocio
leisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe
república
republic.Theywereallowed,onmy
representación
representation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirúnico
soleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.Itisa
piadoso
piousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterferencia
interference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
Itwaswellfortheirvenerable
hermandad
brotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemócrata
Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencia
referencetopoliticalservices.Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan
activo
activepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluyente
influentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigColeccionista
Collector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministración
administrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcuerpo
corpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina
político
politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthehacha
axeoftheguillotine.Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellows
temían
dreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.Itpained,andatthesametime
divirtió
amusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;toseeafurrowed
mejilla
cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleatthemirada
glanceofsoharmlessanindividuo
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,toarrastrarse
creepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;
awaking,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.
The
descubrimiento
discoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappy
conciencia
consciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownnombre
behalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheir
alboroto
fussaboutlittlematters,andmaravilloso
marvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluable
mercancías
merchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceder
exceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyprocedían
proceededtolock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.Insteadofareprimandfortheir
anterior
previousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertorequerir
requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthyprecaución
caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;agrateful
reconocimiento
recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedio
remedy.Unlesspeoplearemorethan
comúnmente
commonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhábito
habittocontractakindnessforthem.Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was
favorable
favorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.Itwas
agradable
pleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycomunicaba
communicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwasagradable
pleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentrada
entry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityof
ancianos
agedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;the
intelecto
intellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor
humor,haslittletodowiththematter;itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa
soleado
sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenrama
branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.Inonecase,however,itisreal
sol
sunshine;intheother,itmore
asemeja
resemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.Itwouldbesad
injusticia
injustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentar
representallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishand
dependiente
dependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan
intelectual
intellectualtenementingoodrepair.But,asrespectsthe
mayoría
majorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgeneralmente
generallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservación
preservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden
grano
grainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofcosecha
harvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittle
escuadrón
squadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespetable
respectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanente
permanentInspector.Hemighttrulybetermeda
legítimo
legitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,teñido
dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthepúrpura
purple;sincehissire,a
Revolucionario
Revolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectorofthepuerto
port,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andnombró
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,—hewasamostsatisfactorio
satisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacidad
capacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconcebido
conceivedof.ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof
eliminación
removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepassligeramente
lightlyoverhim.Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare
perfección
perfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproporción
proportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenough
medida
measuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.He
poseía
possessednopowerofthought,noprofundidad
depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerful
temperamento
temperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralaceptación
acceptance,inlieuofaheart.Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor
madurez
maturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen
tristeza
sorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposición
disposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.NotsowithouroldInspector!
One
breve
briefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentirecarga
burdenofthesedismalreminiscences.Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreeched
bebé
infant;farreadierthantheCollector’sjunior
empleado
clerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier
curiosidad
curiosity,thananyotherformofhumanidad
humanitytherepresentedtomynotice.Hewas,intruth,arare
fenómeno
phenomenon;soperfect,inonepointofview;
so
superficial
shallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsoluta
absolutenonentity,ineveryother.My
conclusión
conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;