The Scarlet Letter Gradually Hardening Swedish A2 Books

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.

INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”

tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomy

personliga

personalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshould

två gånger

twiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthe

allmänheten

public.

Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenI

gynnade

favoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthe

djupa

deepquietudeofanOldManse.

Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’

erfarenhet

experienceinaCustom-House.

Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.

Thetruth

tycks

seemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.

Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;

asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sown

natur

nature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.

Itisscarcelydecorous,

emellertid

however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.

But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonableto

föreställa sig

imaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;

andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.

Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.

Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasa

viss

certainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,as

förklarar

explaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andas

erbjuder

offeringproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.

This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytrue

position

positionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonforassuminga

personlig

personalrelationwiththepublic.

Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.

InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfacenturyago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;

förutom

except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;

or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetide

ofta

oftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthence

över

acrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.

Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,

under

duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;

butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,

i stället

insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnota

militär

militarypostofUncleSam’s

regering

governmentishereestablished.

Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,

stöder

supportingabalcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.

OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.

Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakand

öga

eye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;

and

synnerhet

especiallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.

Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;

imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.

Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.

Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenough

växer

growinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.

Insomemonthsoftheyear,

emellertid

however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.

SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;

notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.

Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,

passerar

passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.

Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhis

armen

arm,inatarnishedtinbox.

Here,too,comeshisowner,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedto

guld

gold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.

Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthe

smaken

tasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.

Another

figur

figureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;

ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.

Inte heller

NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;

arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.

Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirring

scen

scene.

Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthe

väggen

wall.

Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackof

energi

energythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.

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

Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteen

fot

feetsquare,andofaloftyheight;

withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthe

tredje

thirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.

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

aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,

skratta

laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.

Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;

its

golv

floorisstrewnwithgraysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;

anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsof

magi

magic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.

Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;

anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;

twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;

and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.

Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.

Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,

ärade

honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.

Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.

Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;

andaworthiersuccessor

bär

wearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.

ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,the

kraft

forceofwhichIhavenever

insett

realizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.

Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,

täckt

coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewor

inga

noneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichis

varken

neitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonableto

bilda

formasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.

Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.

Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothe

djupa

deepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.

ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthe

vilda

wildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.

Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;

untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.

Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.

Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;

inte heller

nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.

Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality.

Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,was

närvarande

presenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.

Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothe

nuvarande

presentphaseofthetown.

tycks

seemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocameso

tidigt

early,withhisBibleandhissword,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadeso

stor

largeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,

vars

whosenameisseldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.

Hewasasoldier,legislator,

domare

judge;

hewasarulerinthe

Kyrkan

Church;

hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodand

onda

evil.

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

Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecuting

andan

spirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.

djup

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

Iknownot

whethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andaskpardonof

Himlen

Heavenfortheircruelties;

whethertheyarenowgroaningunderthe

tunga

heavyconsequencesofthem,inanother

tillstånd

stateofbeing.

Atallevents,I,the

nuvarande

presentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebytake

skam

shameuponmyselffortheirsakes,and

praythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.

Doubtless,

emellertid

however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.

Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;

nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyonditsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeem

annat

otherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.

“Whatishe?”

murmursonegrayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.

“Awriterofstory-books!

Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?

Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”

Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,

över

acrossthegulfoftime!

Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheir

natur

naturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.

Planted

djupt

deep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;

always,too,inrespectability;

never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbya

enda

singleunworthymember;

butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performinganymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputting

fram

forwardaclaimtopublicnotice.

Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;

asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.

Fromfathertoson,for

över

aboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthe

havet

sea;

agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.

Theboy,also,induetime,

passerade

passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,

tillbringade

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

Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.

Itisnotlove,butinstinct.

Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeign

land

land,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;

hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhis

tredje

thirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothe

plats

spotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.

Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;

thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestofsocialatmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaults

förutom

besideshemayseeor

föreställa sig

imagine,arenothingtothepurpose.

Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.

Sohasitbeeninmycase.

IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;

sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asonerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.

Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisan

bevis

evidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.

Human

natur

naturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.

Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.

OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.

Mydoomwasonme.

Itwasnotthefirsttime,

eller

northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asit

verkade

seemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;

orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse.

So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.

tvivlar

doubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonot

tvivlar

doubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilor

militär

militaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.

ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.

Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependent

ställning

positionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.

Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;

and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.

GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;

amanover

vars

whosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;

attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.

Thus,ontakingchargeofmy

avdelning

department,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.

Theywereancientsea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostonevery

hav

sea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,had

äntligen

finallydriftedintothisquietnook;

where,withlittletodisturbthem,

förutom

excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.

Thoughbynomeans

mindre

lessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.

Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,

under

duringalargepartoftheyear;

but,afteratorpidwinter,wouldcreepoutintothe

varma

warmsunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermed

plikt

duty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.

Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.

Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.

Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficient

utrymme

spacewasallowedthemforrepentanceofthe

onda

evilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.

Varken

NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-Houseopensonthe

vägen

roadtoParadise.

ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.

ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,

varken

neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices.

Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,

vars

whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthe

personliga

personaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withina

månad

monthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.

Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortof

plikt

duty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.

Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.

Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;

toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;

todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofa

röst

voice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence.

Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,moreorthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.

Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyheartto

agera

actupontheknowledge.

Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience,they

fortsatte

continued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.

They

tillbringade

spentagooddealoftime,also,

sov

asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthe

väggen

wall;

awaking,however,onceor

två gånger

twiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththe

flera

severalthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathad

vuxit

growntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem.

Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.

So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.

Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!

Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthat

tillät

allowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!

Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededto

låsa

lock,anddouble-lock,andsecurewith

tejp

tapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.

Istället

Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecase

verkade

seemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;

agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.

Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.

Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhich

vanligtvis

usuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthe

typ

typewherebyIrecognizetheman.

AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmy

ställning

positioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoon

växte

grewtolikethemall.

Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthe

väggen

wall,asusual;

whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.

Externally,thejollityof

åldrades

agedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;

theintellect,anymorethana

djup

deepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;

itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothe

gröna

greenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.

Inonecase,

emellertid

however,itisrealsunshine;

intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.

Itwouldbesadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.

Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;

thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityand

energi

energy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheir

onda

evilstarshadcastthem.

Then,moreover,thewhitelocksof

ålder

ageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.

But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothing

värt

worthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.

They

tycktes

seemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmostcarefullytohave

lagrat

storedtheirmemorieswiththehusks.

Theyspokewithfarmore

intresse

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

ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasa

viss

certainpermanentInspector.

Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,or,

snarare

rather,borninthepurple;

sincehissire,aRevolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,andappointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.

ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,and

säkert

certainlyoneofthemost

underbara

wonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.

Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttoned

blå

bluecoat,hisbriskandvigorous

steg

step,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMother

Natur

Natureintheshapeofman,whom

ålder

ageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.

His

röst

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

theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.

Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,to

njuta

enjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.

ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregularincome,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadno

tvekan

doubtcontributedtomaketime

passera

passlightlyoverhim.

Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,

emellertid

however,layintherareperfectionofhisanimal

natur

nature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;

theselatterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.

Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;

nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthat

växte

grewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,did

plikt

dutyveryrespectably,andto

allmän

generalacceptance,inlieuofaheart.

Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;

thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,atevery

ålder

ageofchildhoodormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.

Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.

NotsowithouroldInspector!

Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryoffthe

hela

entireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.

Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;

farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.

Iusedtowatchand

studera

studythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyother

form

formofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.

Hewas,intruth,ararephenomenon;

soperfect,inonepointofview;

soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.

Myconclusionwasthathehadno

själ

soul,noheart,nomind;

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