The Scarlet Letter Progressive Translation Books for Swedish A1 Learners

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.

INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”

tis

alittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedto

tala

talkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsat

det

thefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmy

liv

lifehavetakenpossessionof

mig

me,inaddressingthepublic.

Den

Thefirsttimewasthree

eller

orfouryearssince,whenIfavored

den

thereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthly

anledning

reason,thateithertheindulgentreader

eller

ortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmy

sätt

wayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofan

Gammal

OldManse.

Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwas

lycklig

happyenoughtofindalistener

eller

ortwoontheformeroccasion—I

igen

againseizethepublicby

det

thebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.

Den

Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,Clerkof

denna

thisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.

The

sanningen

truthseemstobe,however,that,

när

whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthe

många

manywhowillflingasidehisvolume,

eller

ornevertakeitup,

utan

butthefewwhowill

förstå

understandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmates

eller

orlifemates.

Someauthors,indeed,

gör

dofarmorethanthis,

och

andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationas

kunde

couldfittinglybeaddressed,only

och

andexclusively,totheone

hjärtat

heartandmindofperfectsympathy;

asiftheprinted

boken

book,thrownatlargeonthewide

världen

world,werecertaintofind

outthedividedsegmentofthewriter’s

egen

ownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistenceby

föra

bringinghimintocommunionwithit.

Itisscarcelydecorous,however,to

tala

speakall,evenwherewe

tala

speakimpersonally.

But,asthoughtsarefrozen

och

andutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeaker

står

standinsometruerelation

med

withhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethat

afriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosest

vän

friend,islisteningtoourtalk;

och

andthen,anativereservebeingthawedby

detta

thisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstances

som

thatliearoundus,andevenofourself,

men

butstillkeeptheinmostMe

bakom

behinditsveil.

Tothisextent,

och

andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,

kan

maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srights

eller

orhisown.

Itwillbe

finns

seen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketch

har

hasacertainpropriety,of

akindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaining

hur

howalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,

och

andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityof

anarrativethereincontained.

This,infact,—adesireto

sätta

putmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,

eller

orverylittlemore,of

den

themostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,

och

andnoother,ismy

sanna

truereasonforassumingapersonalrelation

med

withthepublic.

Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,it

har

hasappearedallowable,byafewextra

rör

touches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,

tillsammans

togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedto

göra

makeone.

InmynativetownofSalem,at

den

theheadofwhat,halfacentury

sedan

ago,inthedaysof

gamla

oldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—but

som

whichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,

och

andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommercial

liv

life;

except,perhaps,abark

eller

orbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;

eller

or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitching

outhercargooffirewood,—atthehead,I

säger

say,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,

som

whichthetideoftenoverflows,

och

andalongwhich,atthebase

och

andintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackof

många

manylanguidyearsisseenin

aborderofunthriftygrass,—here,

med

withaviewfromits

främre

frontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,

och

andthenceacrosstheharbor,

står

standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.

From

den

theloftiestpointofitsroof,duringprecisely

tre

threeandahalfhoursof

varje

eachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreeze

eller

orcalm,thebannerof

den

therepublic;

butwiththethirteenstripes

vända

turnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,

och

andthusindicatingthatacivil,

och

andnotamilitarypostof

Farbror

UncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.

Itsfrontisornamented

med

withaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,beneath

som

whichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthe

gatan

street.

Overtheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenof

den

theAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,

och

and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderbolts

och

andbarbedarrowsineachclaw.

Med

Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizes

denna

thisunhappyfowl,sheappears,by

den

thefiercenessofherbeak

och

andeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischiefto

den

theinoffensivecommunity;

andespeciallytowarn

alla

allcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,

mot

againstintrudingonthepremises

som

whichsheovershadowswithherwings.

Nevertheless,vixenlyasshe

ser

looks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisvery

just nu

moment,toshelterthemselvesunder

den

thewingofthefederaleagle;

imagining,Ipresume,

att

thatherbosomhasall

den

thesoftnessandsnugnessof

aneider-downpillow.

Butshe

har

hasnogreattenderness,eveninher

bästa

bestofmoods,and,sooner

eller

orlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,

med

withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,

eller

oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.

Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwe

kan

mayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrass

tillräckligt

enoughgrowinginitschinksto

visa

showthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornby

någon

anymultitudinousresortofbusiness.

vissa

somemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchances

aforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonward

med

withaliveliertread.

Suchoccasions

kan

mightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiod

före

beforethelastwarwithEngland,

när

whenSalemwasaportbyitself;

notscorned,assheis

now,byherownmerchants

och

andship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,

medan

whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlessly

och

andimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYork

eller

orBoston.

Onsomesuch

morgon

morning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappento

havearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfrica

eller

orSouthAmerica,—ortobeon

thevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisa

ljud

soundoffrequentfeet,passingbriskly

upp

upanddownthegranitesteps.

Här

Here,beforehisownwife

har

hasgreetedhim,youmaygreet

den

thesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,

med

withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,in

atarnishedtinbox.

Here,too,

kommer

comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,gracious

eller

orinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeof

den

thenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethat

kommer

willreadilybeturnedtogold,

eller

orhasburiedhimunder

abulkofincommodities,suchas

ingen

nobodywillcaretoridhim

of.

Here,likewise,—thegermof

den

thewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—we

har

havethesmartyoungclerk,who

får

getsthetasteoftrafficas

awolf-cubdoesofblood,

och

andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,

när

whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsupon

amill-pond.

Anotherfigurein

den

thesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestof

aprotection;

ortherecentlyarrivedone,pale

och

andfeeble,seekingapassportto

den

thehospital.

Normustwe

glömma

forgetthecaptainsoftherusty

små

littleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfrom

theBritishprovinces;

arough-looking

uppsättning

setoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemof

ingen

noslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.

Cluster

alla

alltheseindividualstogether,asthey

ibland

sometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,

och

and,forthetimebeing,it

gjorde

madetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.

Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,

eller

orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintry

eller

orinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,

satt

sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsback

mot

againstthewall.

Oftentimestheywereasleep,

men

butoccasionallymightbeheard

tala

talkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeech

och

andasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,

och

andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,

eller

oranythingelse,buttheir

egna

ownindependentexertions.

Theseoldgentlemen—seated,

som

likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,

men

butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,

som

likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.

Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertain

rum

roomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,

och

andofaloftyheight;

med

withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommanding

aviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,

och

andthethirdlookingacross

anarrowlane,andalong

aportionofDerbyStreet.

Alla

Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,

och

andship-chandlers;

aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobe

seen,laughingandgossiping,clustersof

gamla

oldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingof

aseaport.

Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,

och

anddingywitholdpaint;

itsfloorisstrewn

med

withgraysand,inafashion

som

thathaselsewherefalleninto

lång

longdisuse;

anditis

lätt

easytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,that

detta

thisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,

med

withhertoolsofmagic,thebroom

och

andmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.

Inthewayoffurniture,thereis

astovewithavoluminousfunnel;

anoldpinedesk,

med

withathree-leggedstoolbeside

det

it;

twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepit

och

andinfirm;

and—nottoforgetthelibrary—on

några

someshelves,ascoreor

två

twoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,

och

andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.

Ett

Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,

och

andformsamediumofvocalcommunication

med

withotherpartsoftheedifice.

Och

Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,

eller

orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,

med

withhiselbowonthedesk,

och

andhiseyeswanderingup

och

anddownthecolumnsof

den

themorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredreader,

den

thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeery

lilla

littlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantly

genom

throughthewillowbranches,on

den

thewesternsideoftheOldManse.

Men

Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseek

honom

him,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.

Thebesomofreform

har

hasswepthimoutofoffice;

och

andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,

och

andpocketshisemoluments.

This

gamla

oldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughI

har

havedweltmuchawayfromit,

både

bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,

eller

ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichI

har

haveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.

Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,

med

withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchiefly

med

withwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,

utan

butonlytame,—itslongandlazy

gata

street,loungingwearisomelythroughthe

hela

wholeextentofthepeninsula,

med

withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatone

änden

end,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.

Och

Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,

det

thereiswithinmeafeelingfor

gamla

oldSalem,which,inlackof

abetterphrase,Imustbecontentto

kalla

callaffection.

Thesentimentis

förmodligen

probablyassignabletothedeep

och

andagedrootswhichmy

familj

familyhasstruckintothesoil.

Itis

nownearlytwocenturiesandaquarter

sedan

sincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmy

namn

name,madehisappearanceinthewild

och

andforest-borderedsettlement,whichhas

sedan

sincebecomeacity.

And

här

herehisdescendantshavebeenborn

och

anddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstance

med

withthesoil;

untilnosmallportionofit

måste

mustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,for

ett

alittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.

Inpart,therefore,

den

theattachmentwhichIspeakofis

den

themeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.

Få

Fewofmycountrymencan

veta

knowwhatitis;

nor,asfrequenttransplantationis

kanske

perhapsbetterforthestock,

behöver

needtheyconsideritdesirableto

veta

know.

Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.

Den

Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwith

adimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,as

långt

farbackasIcan

minnas

remember.

Itstillhauntsme,

och

andinducesasortofhome-feeling

med

withthepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthe

staden

town.

Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloaked

och

andsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,

med

withhisBibleandhissword,

och

andtrodetheunwornstreet

med

withsuchastatelyport,

och

andmadesolargeafigure,asa

man

manofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaim

än

thanformyself,whosenameisseldom

hört

heardandmyfacehardly

känt

known.

Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;

hewas

arulerintheChurch;

hade

hadallthePuritanictraits,

både

bothgoodandevil.

Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,aswitnesstheQuakers,who

har

haverememberedhimintheirhistories,

och

andrelateanincidentofhis

hårda

hardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,

än

thananyrecordofhis

bättre

betterdeeds,althoughthesewere

många

many.

Hisson,too,inherited

den

thepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousin

den

themartyrdomofthewitches,thattheir

blod

bloodmayfairlybesaidto

haveleftastainupon

honom

him.

Sodeepastain,indeed,thathis

gamla

olddrybones,intheCharter

Street

Streetburial-ground,muststillretainit,

iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust!

vet

knownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,

och

andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;

eller

orwhethertheyarenowgroaning

under

undertheheavyconsequencesof

dem

them,inanotherstateofbeing.

Atallevents,

Jag

I,thepresentwriter,astheirrepresentative,hereby

takeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,

och

andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asI

har

haveheard,andasthedreary

och

andunprosperousconditionoftherace,for

många

manyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybe

nowandhenceforthremoved.

Doubtless,however,eitherof

dessa

thesesternandblack-browedPuritanswould

havethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,

efter

aftersolongalapseofyears,the

gamla

oldtrunkofthefamilytree,

med

withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,should

haveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.

Noaim,thatI

har

haveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;

nosuccessofmine—ifmy

liv

life,beyonditsdomesticscope,

hade

hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwise

än

thanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.

“Whatishe?”

murmurs

onegrayshadowofmyforefathersto

den

theother.

“Awriterofstory-books!

What

typ

kindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifying

Gud

God,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhis

dag

dayandgeneration—maythatbe?

Why,

den

thedegeneratefellowmightaswell

havebeenafiddler!”

Suchare

thecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsires

och

andmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!

Och

Andyet,letthemscornmeasthey

vill

will,strongtraitsoftheirnature

har

haveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.

Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancy

och

andchildhood,bythesetwoearnest

och

andenergeticmen,therace

har

haseversincesubsistedhere;

alltid

always,too,inrespectability;

never,so

långt

farasIhaveknown,disgracedby

asingleunworthymember;

butseldom

eller

ornever,ontheother

sidan

hand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performing

någon

anymemorabledeed,orso

mycket

muchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.

Gradually,they

har

havesunkalmostoutofsight;

gamla

oldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationof

newsoil.

Fromfatherto

son

son,foraboveahundredyears,they

följde

followedthesea;

agray-headedshipmaster,in

varje

eachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-deckto

den

thehomestead,whileaboyoffourteen

tog

tookthehereditaryplacebefore

den

themast,confrontingthesaltspray

och

andthegale,whichhadblustered

mot

againsthissireandgrandsire.

Den

Theboy,also,indue

tid

time,passedfromtheforecastleto

den

thecabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,

och

andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrow

gammal

old,anddie,andminglehisdust

med

withthenatalearth.

Thislongconnectionofa

familj

familywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirth

och

andburial,createsakindred

mellan

betweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,

helt

quiteindependentofanycharminthescenery

eller

ormoralcircumstancesthatsurround

honom

him.

Itisnotlove,

utan

butinstinct.

Thenewinhabitant—who

kom

camehimselffromaforeignland,

eller

orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—has

lite

littleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;

har

hasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacity

med

withwhichanoldsettler,

över

overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingsto

den

thespotwherehissuccessivegenerations

har

havebeenimbedded.

Itis

ingen

nomatterthattheplaceisjoylessfor

honom

him;

thatheiswearyofthe

gamla

oldwoodenhouses,themud

och

anddust,thedeadlevelofsite

och

andsentiment,thechilleastwind,

och

andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—all

dessa

these,andwhateverfaultsbesideshe

kan

mayseeorimagine,are

ingenting

nothingtothepurpose.

Thespellsurvives,

och

andjustaspowerfullyas

ifthenatalspotwere

ett

anearthlyparadise.

Sohasitbeeninmy

fall

case.

Ifeltitalmostas

ett

adestinytomakeSalemmy

hem

home;

sothatthemouldoffeatures

och

andcastofcharacterwhich

hade

hadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,as

onerepresentativeoftherace

låg

laydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-march

längs

alongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmy

lilla

littledaybeseenandrecognizedinthe

gamla

oldtown.

Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,which

har

hasbecomeanunhealthyone,

bör

shouldatlastbesevered.

Humannature

kommer

willnotflourish,anymore

än

thanapotato,ifitbeplanted

och

andreplanted,fortoolong

aseriesofgenerations,inthe

samma

sameworn-outsoil.

Mychildren

har

havehadotherbirthplaces,and,so

långt

farastheirfortunesmaybewithinmy

kontroll

control,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomed

jord

earth.

OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschiefly

denna

thisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofill

aplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,

när

whenImightaswell,

eller

orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.

Mydoomwason

mig

me.

Itwasnotthe

första

firsttime,northesecond,thatI

hade

hadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyet

återvände

returned,likethebadhalf-penny;

eller

orasifSalemwereforme

det

theinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.

So,

onefinemorning,Iascended

theflightofgranitesteps,

med

withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,

och

andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficerof

theCustom-House.

Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whether

någon

anypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,

antingen

eitherinthecivilormilitary

linje

line,haseverhadsuch

apatriarchalbodyofveterans

under

underhisordersasmyself.

Den

ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenI

tittade

lookedatthem.

Forupwardsoftwentyyears

före

beforethisepoch,theindependentpositionof

den

theCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutof

den

thewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,

vilket

whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.

Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—he

stod

stoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;

och

and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrations

genom

throughwhichhehadheldoffice,he

hade

hadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesin

många

manyanhourofdanger

och

andheart-quake.

GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;

amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabit

hade

hadnoslightinfluence;

attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,

och

andwithdifficultymovedto

ändra

change,evenwhenchangemight

hade

havebroughtunquestionableimprovement.

Thus,on

tog

takingchargeofmydepartment,I

hittade

foundfewbutagedmen.

Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,

som

who,afterbeingtoston

var

everysea,andstandingupsturdily

mot

againstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedinto

denna

thisquietnook;

where,with

lite

littletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyone

och

andallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.

Thoughbynomeanslessliable

än

thantheirfellow-mentoage

och

andinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalisman

eller

orotherthatkeptdeathatbay.

Två

Twoorthreeoftheir

antal

number,asIwasassured,beinggouty

och

andrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,

aldrig

neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,during

alargepartofthe

året

year;

but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreep

outintothewarmsunshineof

Maj

MayorJune,golazily

aboutwhattheytermedduty,

och

and,attheirownleisure

och

andconvenience,betakethemselvesto

sängs

bedagain.

Imustpleadguiltyto

den

thechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathof

mer

morethanoneofthesevenerableservantsof

den

therepublic.

Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,to

vila

restfromtheirarduouslabors,

och

andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflife

hade

hadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverily

tror

believeitwas—withdrewtoa

bättre

betterworld.

Itisapiousconsolationto

mig

me,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevil

och

andcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,

varje

everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedto

falla

fall.

Neitherthefrontnor

den

thebackentranceoftheCustom-Houseopenson

den

theroadtoParadise.

Thegreater

partofmyofficerswereWhigs.

Itwas

bra

wellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthe

nya

newSurveyorwasnotapolitician,

och

andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neitherreceivednor

höll

heldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.

Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeen

satt

putintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskof

göra

makingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlya

man

manoftheoldcorps

kommit

wouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficial

liv

life,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhad

kommit

comeuptheCustom-Housesteps.

Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwould

havebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,to

föra

bringeveryoneofthose

vita

whiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.

Itwasplain

nog

enoughtodiscern,thatthe

gamla

oldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.

Itpained,

och

andatthesametimeamused

mig

me,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;

seeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenby

halvt

halfacenturyofstorm,

vända

turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;

todetect,asone

eller

oranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,

hade

hadbeenwonttobellow

genom

throughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.

They

visste

knew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,by

alla

allestablishedrule,—and,asregarded

vissa

someofthem,weighedbytheir

egen

ownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughtto

havegivenplacetoyoungermen,

mer

moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitter

än

thanthemselvestoserveourcommon

Farbror

Uncle.

Iknewittoo,

men

butcouldneverquitefindinmy

hjärta

hearttoactupontheknowledge.

Mycket

Muchanddeservedlytomy

egen

owndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreep

aboutthewharves,andloiter

upp

upanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.

Theyspent

agooddealoftime,

också

also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,

med

withtheirchairstiltedback

mot

againstthewall;

awaking,however,once

eller

ortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanother

med

withtheseveralthousandthrepetitionof

gamla

oldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,that

hade

hadgrowntobepasswords

och

andcountersignsamongthem.

Thediscoverywas

snart

soonmade,Iimagine,that

den

thenewSurveyorhadno

stor

greatharminhim.

So,

med

withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheir

eget

ownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—these

goda

goodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.

Sagaciously,

under

undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!

Mightywastheirfuss

aboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,

ibland

sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslip

mellan

betweentheirfingers!

Wheneversuch

amischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandise

hade

hadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,

kanske

perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothing

kunde

couldexceedthevigilanceandalacrity

med

withwhichtheyproceededtolock,

och

anddouble-lock,andsecurewithtape

och

andsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.

Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,

efter

afterthemischiefhadhappened;

ett

agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,the

ögonblick

momentthattherewasnolonger

något

anyremedy.

Unlesspeopleare

mer

morethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessfor

dem

them.

Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,

ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusually

kommer

comesuppermostinmyregard,

och

andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizethe

mannen

man.

Asmostofthese

gamla

oldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,

och

andasmypositioninreferenceto

dem

them,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorableto

thegrowthoffriendlysentiments,I

snart

soongrewtolikethem

alla

all.

Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,that

nästan

almostliquefiedtherestofthe

mänskliga

humanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasantto

höra

hearthemchattinginthebackentry,

arowofthemalltipped

mot

againstthewall,asusual;

medan

whilethefrozenwitticismsof

förflutna

pastgenerationswerethawedout,

och

andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.

Externally,

thejollityofagedmen

har

hasmuchincommonwith

themirthofchildren;

theintellect,any

mer

morethanadeepsenseofhumor,

har

haslittletodowiththematter;

är

is,withboth,agleam

som

thatplaysuponthesurface,

och

andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,

och

andgray,moulderingtrunk.

ett

onecase,however,itisrealsunshine;

inthe

andra

other,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.

Itwouldbesadinjustice,thereader

måste

mustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellent

gamla

oldfriendsasintheirdotage.

det

thefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariably

gamla

old;

thereweremenamongthemintheirstrength

och

andprime,ofmarkedability

och

andenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggish

och

anddependentmodeoflifeon

som

whichtheirevilstarshadcast

dem

them.

Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofagewere

ibland

sometimesfoundtobethethatchof

anintellectualtenementingoodrepair.

Men

But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,there

kommer

willbenowrongdone,

ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyas

asetofwearisomeoldsouls,who

hade

hadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.

Theyseemedto

haveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,

som

whichtheyhadenjoyedso

många

manyopportunitiesofharvesting,and

mest

mostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemories

med

withthehusks.

Theyspoke

med

withfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,

eller

oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’s

middag

dinner,thanoftheshipwreckofforty

eller

orfiftyyearsago,and

alla

alltheworld’swonderswhichthey

hade

hadwitnessedwiththeiryouthfuleyes.

Den

ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,not

bara

onlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,

men

but,Iamboldto

säga

say,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersall

över

overtheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanentInspector.

kan

mighttrulybetermedalegitimate

son

sonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,

eller

or,rather,borninthepurple;

eftersom

sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,

och

andformerlycollectoroftheport,

hade

hadcreatedanofficefor

honom

him,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyages

som

whichfewlivingmencan

nowremember.

ThisInspector,whenI

först

firstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,

eller

orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneof

themostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.

Med

Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedbluecoat,hisbrisk

och

andvigorousstep,andhishale

och

andheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—not

ung

young,indeed—butakindof

newcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeof

man

man,whomageandinfirmity

hade

hadnobusinesstotouch.

Hisvoice

och

andlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoed

genom

throughtheCustom-House,hadnothingof

den

thetremulousquaverandcackleof

anoldman’sutterance;

they

kom

camestruttingoutofhislungs,

som

likethecrowofacock,

eller

ortheblastofaclarion.

Titta

Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewas

mycket

verylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulness

och

andwholesomenessofhissystem,

och

andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoy

alla

all,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhe

hade

hadeveraimedat,orconceived

of.

Thecarelesssecurityofhis

liv

lifeintheCustom-House,on

aregularincome,andwithbutslight

och

andinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,

hade

hadnodoubtcontributedto

göra

maketimepasslightlyover

honom

him.

Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,

låg

layintherareperfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,

och

andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoral

och

andspiritualingredients;

theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfrom

gå

walkingonall-fours.

Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;

ingenting

nothing,inshort,buta

några

fewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedby

den

thecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitably

outofhisphysicalwell-being,

gjorde

diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuof

ett

aheart.

Hehadbeenthe

make

husbandofthreewives,all

länge

longsincedead;

thefatheroftwenty

barn

children,mostofwhom,at

varje

everyageofchildhoodormaturity,

hade

hadlikewisereturnedtodust.

Här

Here,onewouldsuppose,might

havebeensorrowenoughtoimbue

den

thesunniestdisposition,throughand

genom

through,withasabletinge.

Notso

med

withouroldInspector!

Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenof

dessa

thesedismalreminiscences.

Thenext

ögonblick

moment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;

farreadier

än

thantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,

som

who,atnineteenyears,was

mycket

muchtheelderandgraver

man

manofthetwo.

brukade

usedtowatchandstudy

denna

thispatriarchalpersonagewith,I

tror

think,liveliercuriosity,thanany

annan

otherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.

Hewas,in

sanning

truth,ararephenomenon;

perfekt

perfect,inonepointofview;

soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,

sådan

suchanabsolutenonentity,in

varje

everyother.

Myconclusionwas

att

thathehadnosoul,

inte

noheart,nomind;

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