The Scarlet Letter | Gradually Hardening Swedish B1

The Scarlet Letter | Gradually Hardening Swedish B1

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THECUSTOM-HOUSE.
INTRODUCTORYTO“THESCARLETLETTER.”
tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.
Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andfornoearthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.
Andnow—because,
bortom
beyond
mydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoonthe
tidigare
former
occasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythe
knappen
button
,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.
Theexampleofthefamous“P.P.,ClerkofthisParish,”wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed.
Thetruthseemstobe,however,that,whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind,theauthoraddresses,notthemanywhowillfling
åt sidan
aside
hisvolume,ornevertakeitup,butthefewwhowillunderstandhim,betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates.
Someauthors,
själva verket
indeed
,dofarmorethanthis,andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfectsympathy;
asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthe
breda
wide
world,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit.
Itisscarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.
But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhis
publik
audience
,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnottheclosestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;
andthen,anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil.
Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,anauthor,methinks,maybeautobiographical,withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.
Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-Housesketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained.
This,infact,—a
önskan
desire
toputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor,orverylittlemore,ofthemostprolix
bland
among
thetalesthatmakeupmyvolume,—this,andnoother,ismytruereasonfor
anta
assuming
apersonalrelationwiththepublic.
Inaccomplishingthe
huvudsakliga
main
purpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafew
extra
extra
touches,togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,
bland
among
whomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.
InmynativetownofSalem,attheheadofwhat,halfa
sekel
century
ago,inthedaysofoldKingDerby,wasabustlingwharf,—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses,andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;
except,perhaps,abarkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholylength,discharginghides;
or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouthercargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthetideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,the
spåret
track
ofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrosstheharbor,standsaspaciousedificeofbrick.
Fromtheloftiestpointofits
taket
roof
,duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;
butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthusindicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitary
post
post
ofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.
Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfadozenwoodenpillars,supportingabalcony,beneathwhichaflightof
breda
wide
granitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.
Overthe
ingången
entrance
hoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,ashieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.
Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofherbeakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofher
attityd
attitude
,tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensive
samhället
community
;
andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheir
säkerhet
safety
,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.
Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleare
söker
seeking
,atthisverymoment,toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthe
federala
federal
eagle;
imagining,Ipresume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-downpillow.
Butshehasnogreattenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,
förr
sooner
orlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofherbeak,orarankling
sår
wound
fromherbarbedarrows.
Thepavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—has
gräs
grass
enoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.
Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.
Suchoccasionsmight
påminna
remind
theelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasaportbyitself;
notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgotoswell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.
Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohave
anlänt
arrived
atonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.
Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmaygreetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justinport,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.
Here,too,comeshis
ägare
owner
,cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealizedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhas
begravt
buried
himunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.
Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.
Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofa
skydd
protection
;
ortherecentlyarrivedone,paleandfeeble,
söker
seeking
apassporttothehospital.
NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;
arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect,butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecaying
handel
trade
.
Clusteralltheseindividualstogether,astheysometimeswere,withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup,and,forthetimebeing,itmadetheCustom-Houseastirringscene.
Morefrequently,however,onascendingthesteps,youwoulddiscern—intheentry,ifitweresummertime,orintheirappropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—a
rad
row
ofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.
Oftentimestheywereasleep,butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetween
tal
speech
andasnore,andwiththat
brist
lack
ofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolizedlabor,oranythingelse,buttheirownindependentexertions.
Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobesummonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.
Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofaloftyheight;
withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossanarrowlane,andalongaportionofDerbyStreet.
Allthreegiveglimpsesoftheshopsofgrocers,block-makers,slop-sellers,andship-chandlers;
aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsashaunttheWappingofaseaport.
Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywithold
färg
paint
;
itsfloorisstrewnwithgray
sand
sand
,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;
anditiseasytoconclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomandmop,hasveryinfrequent
tillgång
access
.
Inthewayoffurniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;
anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstool
bredvid
beside
it;
twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;
and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.
Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.
Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfrom
hörn
corner
tocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honoredreader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthewesternsideoftheOldManse.
Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.
Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice;
andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.
ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere.
Själva verket
Indeed
,sofarasits
fysiska
physical
aspectisconcerned,withits
platta
flat
,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhich
påstår
pretend
toarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongandlazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula,withGallows
Hill
Hill
andNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.
Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,in
brist
lack
ofabetterphrase,Imustbecontenttocallaffection.
Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil.
Itisnow
nästan
nearly
twocenturiesandaquartersincethe
ursprungliga
original
Briton,theearliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-borderedsettlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.
Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil;
untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.
Inpart,
därför
therefore
,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyof
damm
dust
fordust.
Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;
nor,asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthe
beståndet
stock
,needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow.
Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoral
kvalitet
quality
.
Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyish
fantasi
imagination
,asfarbackasIcanremember.
Itstillhauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichIscarcely
hävdar
claim
inreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown.
Iseemtohavea
starkare
stronger
claimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthis
grav
grave
,bearded,sable-cloakedandsteeple-crownedprogenitor,—whocamesoearly,withhisBibleandhis
svärd
sword
,andtrodetheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—a
starkare
stronger
claimthanformyself,whosenameisseldomheardandmyface
knappast
hardly
known.
Hewasa
soldat
soldier
,legislator,judge;
hewasarulerintheChurch;
hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.
Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor,as
bevittnar
witness
theQuakers,whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories,andrelatean
händelse
incident
ofhishardseverity
mot
towards
awomanoftheirsect,whichwilllastlonger,itistobefeared,thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds,althoughtheseweremany.
Hisson,too,inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim.
Sodeepastain,
själva verket
indeed
,thathisolddrybones,intheCharterStreetburial-ground,muststillretainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlyto
damm
dust
!
Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent,andask
förlåtelse
pardon
ofHeavenfortheircruelties;
orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.
Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheirrepresentative,herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes,andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard,andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace,formanyalongyearback,would
hävda
argue
toexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved.
Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theoldtrunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.
No
mål
aim
,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldthey
erkänna
recognize
aslaudable;
nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,
bortom
beyond
itsdomesticscope,hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnotpositivelydisgraceful.
“Whatishe?”
murmursonegray
skugga
shadow
ofmyforefatherstotheother.
“A
författare
writer
ofstory-books!
Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?
Why,thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”
Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!
Andyet,letthemscornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.
Planteddeep,inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;
always,too,inrespectability;
never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingleunworthy
medlem
member
;
butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,
utföra
performing
anymemorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.
Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutof
sikte
sight
;
asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcoveredhalf-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil.
Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;
agray-headedshipmaster,ineach
generation
generation
,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast,confrontingthe
salt
salt
sprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.
Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentatempestuousmanhood,andreturnedfromhisworld-wanderings,togrowold,anddie,andminglehis
damm
dust
withthenatalearth.
Thislong
förbindelse
connection
ofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceof
födelse
birth
andburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.
Itisnotlove,butinstinct.
Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffroma
främmande
foreign
land,orwhosefatheror
farfar
grandfather
came—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;
hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.
Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;
thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,themudand
damm
dust
,thedeadlevelof
plats
site
andsentiment,thechilleastwind,andthechillestof
sociala
social
atmospheres;—allthese,andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine,arenothingtothepurpose.
The
förtrollningen
spell
survives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthly
paradis
paradise
.
Sohasitbeeninmycase.
Ifeltitalmostasa
öde
destiny
tomakeSalemmyhome;
sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastof
karaktär
character
whichhadallalongbeen
bekant
familiar
here,—ever,asonerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhis
grav
grave
,anotherassuming,asitwere,hissentry-marchalongthemainstreet,—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognizedintheoldtown.
Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethatthe
förbindelsen
connection
,whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.
Humannaturewillnotflourish,anymorethanapotato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolonga
serie
series
ofgenerations,inthesameworn-outsoil.
Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.
OnemergingfromtheOldManse,itwaschieflythisstrange,indolent,unjoyousattachmentformynativetown,thatbroughtmeto
fylla
fill
aplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice,whenImightaswell,orbetter,havegonesomewhereelse.
Mydoomwasonme.
Itwasnotthefirsttime,northesecond,thatIhadgoneaway,—asitseemed,permanently,—butyetreturned,likethebadhalf-penny;
orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreofthe
universum
universe
.
So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweighty
ansvar
responsibility
,aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom-House.
Idoubtgreatly—or,rather,Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates,eitherinthecivilormilitaryline,haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself.
ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.
Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolof
politiska
political
vicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile.
Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;
and,himself
trygg
secure
inthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourof
fara
danger
andheart-quake.
GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative;
amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence;
attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwithdifficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement.
Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.
Theywere
forntida
ancient
sea-captains,forthemostpart,who,afterbeingtostoneverysea,andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblasts,hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook;
where,withlittletodisturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence.
Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.
Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;
but,afteratorpid
vinter
winter
,wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineofMayor
Juni
June
,golazilyaboutwhatthey
kallade
termed
duty,and,attheirownleisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.
Imustplead
skyldig
guilty
tothechargeofabbreviatingthe
officiella
official
breathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic.
Theywereallowed,onmyrepresentation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.
Itisapiousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.
Neitherthefrontnortheback
ingången
entrance
oftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.
ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.
ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician,andthoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple,neither
fick
received
norheldhisofficewithanyreferenceto
politiska
political
services.
Haditbeenotherwise,—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluential
post
post
,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhave
dragit
drawn
thebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.
Accordingtothereceived
koden
code
insuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,inapolitician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine.
Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.
Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,tobeholdtheterrorsthat
deltog
attended
myadvent;
toseeafurrowedcheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyof
storm
storm
,turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself;
todetect,asoneoranotheraddressedme,thetremorofavoice,which,inlong-pastdays,hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking-trumpet,hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselfto
tystnad
silence
.
Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byallestablishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,weighedbytheirown
brist
lack
ofefficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplaceto
yngre
younger
men,moreorthodoxin
politik
politics
,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvesto
tjäna
serve
ourcommonUncle.
Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.
Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,
därför
therefore
,andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmy
officiella
official
conscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,tocreepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.
Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall;
vaknade
awaking
,however,onceortwiceinaforenoon,toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea-stories,andmouldyjokes,thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersigns
bland
among
them.
Thediscoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreat
skada
harm
inhim.
So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforour
älskade
beloved
country,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice.
Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!
Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowed
större
greater
onestoslipbetweentheirfingers!
Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,and
direkt
directly
beneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock,anddouble-lock,and
säkra
secure
withtapeandsealing-wax,alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel.
Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence,thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;
agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy.
Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem.
Thebetterpartofmycompanion’s
karaktär
character
,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyI
känner igen
recognize
theman.
AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,wasfavorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.
Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,a
rad
row
ofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;
whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwith
skratt
laughter
fromtheirlips.
Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;
theintellect,anymorethanadeepsenseofhumor,haslittletodowiththematter;
itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthe
ytan
surface
,andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.
Inonecase,however,itisrealsunshine;
intheother,itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecaying
trä
wood
.
Itwouldbesadinjustice,thereadermustunderstand,torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.
Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;
thereweremen
bland
among
themintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarked
förmåga
ability
andenergy,andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshad
kastat
cast
them.
Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair.
But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohad
samlat
gathered
nothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife.
Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthe
gyllene
golden
grainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting,andmost
noggrant
carefully
tohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.
Theyspokewithfarmoreinterestandunctionoftheirmorning’sbreakfast,oryesterday’s,to-day’s,orto-morrow’sdinner,thanoftheshipwreckoffortyorfiftyyearsago,andalltheworld’swonderswhichtheyhad
bevittnat
witnessed
withtheiryouthfuleyes.
ThefatheroftheCustom-House—thepatriarch,notonlyofthislittlesquadofofficials,but,Iamboldtosay,oftherespectablebodyoftide-waitersallovertheUnitedStates—wasacertainpermanent
Inspektör
Inspector
.
Hemighttrulybetermedalegitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthewool,or,rather,borninthepurple;
sincehissire,aRevolutionary
överste
colonel
,andformerlycollectoroftheport,had
skapat
created
anofficeforhim,andappointedhimto
fylla
fill
it,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.
This
Inspektör
Inspector
,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelytodiscoverinalifetime’ssearch.
Withhisfloridcheek,hiscompactfigure,smartlyarrayedinabright-buttonedblue
kappa
coat
,hisbriskandvigorousstep,andhishaleandheartyaspect,altogetherheseemed—notyoung,indeed—butakindofnewcontrivanceofMotherNatureintheshapeofman,whomageandinfirmityhadnobusinesstotouch.
Hisvoiceandlaugh,whichperpetuallyre-echoedthroughtheCustom-House,hadnothingofthetremulousquaverandcackleofanoldman’sutterance;
theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.
Lookingathimmerelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamostsatisfactory
föremål
object
,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhiscapacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,or
nästan
nearly
all,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.
ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,ona
regelbunden
regular
income,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsofremoval,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.
The
ursprungliga
original
andmorepotentcauses,however,layinthe
sällsynta
rare
perfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionofintellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureofmoralandspiritualingredients;
theselatterqualities,
själva verket
indeed
,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.
Hepossessednopowerofthought,nodepthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;
nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerfultemperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhis
fysiska
physical
well-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneralacceptance,inlieuofaheart.
Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;
thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageof
barndom
childhood
ormaturity,hadlikewisereturnedto
stoft
dust
.
Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeensorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniestdisposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.
Notsowithourold
Inspektör
Inspector
!
Onebriefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.
Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyfor
sport
sport
asanyunbreechedinfant;
farreadierthantheCollector’s
junior
junior
clerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchtheelderandgravermanofthetwo.
Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,liveliercuriosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.
Hewas,intruth,a
sällsynt
rare
phenomenon;
soperfect,inonepointofview;
soshallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchanabsolutenonentity,ineveryother.
Myconclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;