The Scarlet Letter Gradually Hardening Swedish B2 Books

THECUSTOM-HOUSE.

INTRODUCTORYTO“THE

Scarlet

SCARLETLETTER.”

tisalittleremarkable,that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside,andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographical

impuls

impulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetaken

besittning

possessionofme,inaddressingthepublic.

Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince,whenIfavoredthereader—inexcusably,andforno

jordisk

earthlyreason,thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—witha

beskrivning

descriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse.

Andnow—because,beyondmydeserts,Iwashappyenoughtofinda

lyssnare

listenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythebutton,andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom-House.

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

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

Someauthors,indeed,dofarmorethanthis,and

hänger

indulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsof

uppenbarelse

revelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed,onlyandexclusively,totheoneheartandmindofperfect

sympati

sympathy;

asiftheprintedbook,thrownatlargeonthewideworld,werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature,andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghiminto

gemenskap

communionwithit.

Itis

knappast

scarcelydecorous,however,tospeakall,evenwherewespeakimpersonally.

But,asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed,unlessthespeakerstandinsometrue

relation

relationwithhisaudience,itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend,akindandapprehensive,thoughnotthe

närmaste

closestfriend,islisteningtoourtalk;

andthen,anative

reserv

reservebeingthawedbythisgenial

medvetande

consciousness,wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus,andevenofourself,butstillkeeptheinmostMebehindits

slöja

veil.

Tothisextent,andwithintheselimits,an

författare

author,methinks,maybeautobiographical,without

kränka

violatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown.

Itwillbeseen,likewise,thatthisCustom-House

skiss

sketchhasacertainpropriety,ofakindalwaysrecognizedinliterature,asexplaininghowalarge

del

portionofthefollowingpagescameintomy

besittning

possession,andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofa

berättelse

narrativethereincontained.

This,infact,—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionas

redaktör

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

relation

relationwiththepublic.

åstadkomma

accomplishingthemainpurpose,ithasappearedallowable,byafewextratouches,togivea

svag

faintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed,togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit,amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone.

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

uppvisar

exhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife;

except,perhaps,a

bark

barkorbrig,half-waydownitsmelancholy

längd

length,discharginghides;

or,nearerathand,aNovaScotiaschooner,pitchingouther

last

cargooffirewood,—atthehead,Isay,ofthisdilapidatedwharf,whichthe

tidvattnet

tideoftenoverflows,andalongwhich,atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings,thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass,—here,withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect,andthenceacrossthe

hamnen

harbor,standsaspaciousedificeof

tegel

brick.

Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof,during

exakt

preciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon,

flyter

floatsordroops,inbreezeorcalm,thebanneroftherepublic;

butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically,insteadofhorizontally,andthus

indikerar

indicatingthatacivil,andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished.

Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalfa

dussin

dozenwoodenpillars,supportinga

balkong

balcony,beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet.

Overtheentrancehoversanenormous

exemplar

specimenoftheAmericaneagle,withoutspreadwings,a

sköld

shieldbeforeherbreast,and,ifIrecollectaright,abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw.

Withthecustomaryinfirmityof

temperament

temperthatcharacterizesthisunhappyfowl,sheappears,bythefiercenessofher

näbb

beakandeye,andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude,to

hota

threatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity;

andespeciallytowarnallcitizens,carefuloftheirsafety,againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings.

Ändå

Nevertheless,vixenlyasshelooks,manypeopleareseeking,atthisverymoment,to

skydd

shelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle;

imagining,I

antar

presume,thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider-down

kudde

pillow.

Butshehasnogreat

ömhet

tenderness,eveninherbestofmoods,and,soonerorlater,—oftenersoonthanlate,—isapttoflingoffhernestlings,withascratchofherclaw,adabofher

näbb

beak,oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows.

The

trottoaren

pavementroundabouttheabove-describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom-Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot,oflatedays,beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness.

Insomemonthsoftheyear,however,thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread.

SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland,whenSalemwasa

hamn

portbyitself;

notscorned,assheisnow,byherownmerchantsandship-owners,who

tillåter

permitherwharvestocrumbletoruin,whiletheirventuresgoto

svälla

swell,needlesslyandimperceptibly,the

mäktiga

mightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston.

Onsomesuchmorning,whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce,—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica,—ortobeonthe

väg

vergeoftheirdeparturethitherward,thereisasoundoffrequentfeet,passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps.

Here,beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim,youmay

hälsa

greetthesea-flushedshipmaster,justin

hamnen

port,withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm,inatarnishedtinbox.

Here,too,comeshisowner,

glad

cheerfulorsombre,graciousorinthesulks,

enlighet

accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplished

resan

voyagehasbeenrealizedin

varor

merchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold,orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities,suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof.

Here,likewise,—thegermofthewrinkle-browed,grizzly-bearded,care-wornmerchant,—wehavethesmartyoungclerk,whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf-cubdoesofblood,andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships,whenhehadbetterbe

segla

sailingmimic-boatsuponamill-pond.

Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward-boundsailorinquestofaprotection;

ortherecentlyarrivedone,

blek

paleandfeeble,seekingapassporttothehospital.

NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces;

arough-lookingsetoftarpaulins,withoutthealertnessoftheYankee

aspekt

aspect,butcontributinganitemofno

liten

slightimportancetoourdecayingtrade.

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

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

lämpliga

appropriaterooms,ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures,sittinginold-fashionedchairs,whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall.

Oftentimestheywereasleep,but

ibland

occasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether,invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore,andwiththatlackofenergythat

särskiljer

distinguishestheoccupantsofalmshouses,andallotherhumanbeingswho

beroende

dependforsubsistenceoncharity,onmonopolized

arbete

labor,oranythingelse,buttheirown

oberoende

independentexertions.

Theseoldgentlemen—seated,likeMatthew,atthereceiptofcustoms,butnotveryliabletobe

kallade

summonedthence,likehim,forapostolicerrands—wereCustom-Houseofficers.

Vidare

Furthermore,onthelefthandasyouenterthefrontdoor,isacertainroomoroffice,aboutfifteenfeetsquare,andofalofty

höjd

height;

withtwoofitsarchedwindowscommandingaviewoftheaforesaiddilapidatedwharf,andthethirdlookingacrossa

smal

narrowlane,andalonga

del

portionofDerbyStreet.

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

aroundthedoorsofwhicharegenerallytobeseen,laughingandgossiping,clustersofoldsalts,andsuchotherwharf-ratsas

hemsöker

haunttheWappingofaseaport.

Theroomitselfiscobwebbed,anddingywitholdpaint;

itsfloorisstrewnwith

grå

graysand,inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse;

anditiseasyto

dra slutsatsen

conclude,fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace,thatthisisa

helgedom

sanctuaryintowhichwomankind,withhertoolsofmagic,thebroomand

moppen

mop,hasveryinfrequentaccess.

Inthewayof

möbler

furniture,thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel;

anoldpinedesk,withathree-leggedstoolbesideit;

twoorthreewooden-bottomchairs,exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm;

and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves,ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress,andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws.

Atinpipeascendsthroughthe

taket

ceiling,andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice.

Andhere,somesixmonthsago,—pacingfromcornertocorner,orloungingonthelong-leggedstool,withhiselbowonthedesk,andhiseyes

vandrade

wanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper,—youmighthaverecognized,honored

läsare

reader,thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy,wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches,onthe

västra

westernsideoftheOldManse.

Butnow,shouldyougothithertoseekhim,youwould

fråga

inquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor.

Thebesomofreformhas

svept

swepthimoutofoffice;

andaworthier

efterträdare

successorwearshisdignity,andpocketshisemoluments.

ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace,thoughIhave

bott

dweltmuchawayfromit,bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses,ordidpossess,aholdonmyaffections,theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealizedduringmyseasonsofactual

uppehåll

residencehere.

Indeed,sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned,withitsflat,unvariedsurface,coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses,fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty,—itsirregularity,whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint,butonlytame,—itslongand

lata

lazystreet,loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthe

halvön

peninsula,withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend,andaviewofthealmshouseattheother,—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown,itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker-board.

Andyet,thoughinvariablyhappiest

någon annanstans

elsewhere,thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem,which,inlackofabetter

fras

phrase,Imustbecontenttocall

tillgivenhet

affection.

Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothe

marken

soil.

ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton,the

tidigaste

earliestemigrantofmyname,madehisappearanceinthewildandforest-bordered

bosättningen

settlement,whichhassincebecomeacity.

Andherehis

ättlingar

descendantshavebeenbornanddied,andhavemingledtheirearthy

substans

substancewiththesoil;

untilnosmall

del

portionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothe

dödliga

mortalframewherewith,foralittlewhile,Iwalkthestreets.

Inpart,therefore,theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthe

bara

meresensuoussympathyofdustfordust.

Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis;

nor,as

frekvent

frequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock,needtheyconsiderit

önskvärt

desirabletoknow.

Butthesentimenthaslikewiseits

moraliska

moralquality.

Thefigureofthatfirstancestor,investedbyfamilytraditionwitha

dunkel

dimandduskygrandeur,waspresenttomyboyishimagination,asfarbackasIcanremember.

Itstill

hemsöker

hauntsme,andinducesasortofhome-feelingwiththepast,whichI

knappast

scarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresent

fasen

phaseofthetown.

Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoa

bostad

residencehereonaccountofthisgrave,

skäggig

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

hamn

port,andmadesolargeafigure,asamanofwarandpeace,—astrongerclaimthanformyself,whosenameis

sällan

seldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown.

Hewasasoldier,legislator,judge;

hewasa

härskare

rulerintheChurch;

hehadallthePuritanictraits,bothgoodandevil.

Hewaslikewisea

bitter

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

Hisson,too,

ärvde

inheritedthepersecutingspirit,andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches,thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohavelefta

fläck

stainuponhim.

Sodeepa

fläck

stain,indeed,thathisolddrybones,inthe

Charter

CharterStreetburial-ground,muststill

behålla

retainit,iftheyhavenotcrumbled

helt

utterlytodust!

Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvesto

ångra

repent,andaskpardonofHeavenfortheircruelties;

orwhethertheyarenow

stönar

groaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem,inanotherstateofbeing.

Atallevents,I,thepresentwriter,astheir

representant

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

Doubtless,however,eitherofthesesternandblack-browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquitea

tillräcklig

sufficientretributionforhissins,that,aftersolongalapseofyears,theold

stammen

trunkofthefamilytree,withsomuchvenerablemossuponit,shouldhaveborne,asitstopmostbough,anidlerlikemyself.

Noaim,thatIhaveevercherished,wouldtheyrecognizeaslaudable;

nosuccessofmine—ifmylife,beyondits

inhemska

domesticscope,hadeverbeen

ljusare

brightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless,ifnot

positivt

positivelydisgraceful.

“Whatishe?”

murmursone

grå

grayshadowofmyforefatherstotheother.

“Awriterofstory-books!

Whatkindofabusinessinlife—what

sätt

modeofglorifyingGod,orbeingserviceableto

mänskligheten

mankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe?

Why,the

degenererade

degeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler!”

Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat-grandsiresandmyself,acrossthegulfoftime!

Andyet,letthem

förakta

scornmeastheywill,strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine.

Planteddeep,inthetown’s

tidigaste

earliestinfancyandchildhood,bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen,theracehaseversincesubsistedhere;

always,too,inrespectability;

never,sofarasIhaveknown,disgracedbyasingle

ovärdig

unworthymember;

butseldomornever,ontheotherhand,afterthefirsttwogenerations,performingany

minnesvärd

memorabledeed,orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice.

Gradvis

Gradually,theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight;

asoldhouses,hereandthereaboutthestreets,getcovered

halvvägs

half-waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnew

jord

soil.

Fromfathertoson,foraboveahundredyears,theyfollowedthesea;

agray-headedshipmaster,ineachgeneration,retiringfromthequarter-decktothehomestead,whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethe

masten

mast,confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale,whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire.

Theboy,also,induetime,passedfromtheforecastletothecabin,spentatempestuous

manlighet

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

Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot,asitsplaceofbirthandburial,createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality,quite

oberoende

independentofanycharminthesceneryor

moraliska

moralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim.

Itisnotlove,but

instinkt

instinct.

Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland,orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite;

hehasno

uppfattning

conceptionoftheoyster-liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler,overwhomhisthirdcenturyis

kryper

creeping,clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded.

Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim;

thatheis

trött

wearyoftheoldwoodenhouses,the

lera

mudanddust,thedeadlevelofsiteand

känsla

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

Thespellsurvives,andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise.

Sohasitbeeninmycase.

IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome;

sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere,—ever,asone

representant

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

Ändå

Nevertheless,thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection,whichhasbecomean

ohälsosam

unhealthyone,shouldatlastbesevered.

Humannaturewillnot

blomstra

flourish,anymorethana

potatis

potato,ifitbeplantedandreplanted,fortoolongaseriesofgenerations,inthesameworn-out

jord

soil.

Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces,and,sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol,shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth.

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

undergång

doomwasonme.

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

orasifSalemwereformethe

oundvikliga

inevitablecentreoftheuniverse.

So,onefinemorning,Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps,withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket,andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility,aschief

verkställande

executiveofficeroftheCustom-House.

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

Thewhereaboutsofthe

Äldsta

OldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled,whenIlookedatthem.

Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch,the

oberoende

independentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom-Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude,whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallyso

bräcklig

fragile.

Asoldier,—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier,—hestood

fast

firmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices;

and,himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice,hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheart-quake.

GeneralMillerwas

radikalt

radicallyconservative;

amanoverwhosekindlynature

vanan

habithadnoslightinfluence;

fäste

attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces,andwith

svårt

difficultymovedtochange,evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionable

förbättring

improvement.

Thus,ontakingchargeofmydepartment,Ifoundfewbutagedmen.

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

where,withlittleto

störa

disturbthem,excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection,theyoneandall

förvärvat

acquiredanewleaseof

existens

existence.

Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow-mentoageandinfirmity,theyhad

uppenbarligen

evidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay.

Twoorthreeoftheirnumber,asIwasassured,beinggoutyandrheumatic,orperhapsbedridden,neverdreamedofmakingtheir

framträdande

appearanceattheCustom-House,duringalargepartoftheyear;

but,afteratorpidwinter,would

krypa

creepoutintothewarm

solsken

sunshineofMayorJune,golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty,and,attheirown

fritid

leisureandconvenience,betakethemselvestobedagain.

Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsofthe

republiken

republic.

Theywereallowed,onmy

representation

representation,torestfromtheirarduouslabors,andsoonafterwards—asiftheir

enda

soleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice,asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld.

Itisa

from

piousconsolationtome,that,throughmyinterference,asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheeviland

korrupta

corruptpracticesintowhich,asamatterofcourse,everyCustom-Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall.

NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom-HouseopensontheroadtoParadise.

ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs.

Itwaswellfortheirvenerable

brödraskap

brotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnota

politiker

politician,andthoughafaithful

Demokrat

Democratinprinciple,neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithany

hänvisning

referencetopoliticalservices.

Haditbeenotherwise,—hadan

aktiv

activepoliticianbeenputintothis

inflytelserika

influentialpost,toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector,whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice,—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallife,withinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom-Housesteps.

Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters,itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty,ina

politiker

politician,tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsunderthe

yxa

axeoftheguillotine.

Itwasplainenoughtodiscern,thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands.

Itpained,andatthesametimeamusedme,to

beholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent;

toseeafurrowed

kind

cheek,weather-beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm,turnashy

blek

paleattheglanceofso

ofarlig

harmlessanindividualasmyself;

upptäcka

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

skrämma

frightenBoreashimselftosilence.

Theyknew,theseexcellentoldpersons,that,byall

etablerade

establishedrule,—and,asregardedsomeofthem,

vägt

weighedbytheirownlackof

effektivitet

efficiencyforbusiness,—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen,more

ortodoxa

orthodoxinpolitics,andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle.

Iknewittoo,butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge.

Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit,therefore,and

avsevärt

considerablytothedetrimentofmyofficial

samvete

conscience,theycontinued,duringmyincumbency,to

krypa

creepaboutthewharves,andloiterupanddowntheCustom-Housesteps.

Theyspentagooddealoftime,also,asleepintheiraccustomedcorners,withtheirchairs

lutade

tiltedbackagainstthewall;

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

The

upptäckten

discoverywassoonmade,Iimagine,thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim.

So,withlightsomehearts,andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed,—intheirownbehalf,atleast,ifnotforourbelovedcountry,—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthe

olika

variousformalitiesofoffice.

Sagaciously,undertheirspectacles,didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels!

Mäktig

Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters,andmarvellous,sometimes,theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers!

Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred,—whenawagon-loadof

värdefulla

valuablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore,atnoonday,perhaps,anddirectly

under

beneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses,—nothingcould

överträffa

exceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichthey

fortsatte

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

Insteadofareprimandfortheir

tidigare

previousnegligence,thecaseseemedratherto

kräva

requireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthy

försiktighet

caution,afterthemischiefhadhappened;

agrateful

erkännande

recognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal,themomentthattherewasnolongerany

botemedel

remedy.

Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable,itismyfoolish

vana

habittocontractakindnessforthem.

Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter,ifithaveabetterpart,isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard,andformsthetypewherebyIrecognizetheman.

AsmostoftheseoldCustom-Houseofficershadgoodtraits,andasmypositioninreferencetothem,beingpaternalandprotective,was

gynnsam

favorabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments,Isoongrewtolikethemall.

Itwaspleasant,inthesummerforenoons,—whentheferventheat,thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily,

bara

merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf-torpidsystems,—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry,arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall,asusual;

whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout,andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips.

Externally,thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren;

the

intellekt

intellect,anymorethanadeepsenseof

humor

humor,haslittletodowiththematter;

itis,withboth,agleamthatplaysuponthesurface,andimpartsa

solig

sunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreen

grenen

branch,andgray,moulderingtrunk.

Inonecase,however,itisreal

solsken

sunshine;

intheother,itmore

liknar

resemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood.

Itwouldbesad

orättvisa

injustice,thereadermustunderstand,to

representera

representallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage.

Inthefirstplace,mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold;

thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime,ofmarkedabilityandenergy,andaltogether

överlägsen

superiortothesluggishand

beroende

dependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem.

Then,moreover,thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofan

intellektuell

intellectualtenementingoodrepair.

But,asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans,therewillbenowrongdone,ifIcharacterizethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls,whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheir

varierade

variedexperienceoflife.

Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegolden

kornet

grainofpracticalwisdom,whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesof

skörda

harvesting,andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks.

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

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

permanent

permanentInspector.

Hemighttrulybetermeda

legitim

legitimatesonoftherevenuesystem,dyedinthe

ull

wool,or,rather,borninthe

lila

purple;

sincehissire,a

Revolutionär

Revolutionarycolonel,andformerlycollectoroftheport,hadcreatedanofficeforhim,and

utnämnt

appointedhimtofillit,ataperiodoftheearlyageswhichfewlivingmencannowremember.

ThisInspector,whenIfirstknewhim,wasamanoffourscoreyears,orthereabouts,andcertainlyoneofthemostwonderfulspecimensofwinter-greenthatyouwouldbelikelyto

upptäcka

discoverinalifetime’ssearch.

Withhisflorid

kind

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

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

theycamestruttingoutofhislungs,likethecrowofacock,ortheblastofaclarion.

Lookingathim

bara

merelyasananimal,—andtherewasverylittleelsetolookat,—hewasamost

tillfredsställande

satisfactoryobject,fromthethoroughhealthfulnessandwholesomenessofhissystem,andhis

förmåga

capacity,atthatextremeage,toenjoyall,ornearlyall,thedelightswhichhehadeveraimedat,orconceivedof.

ThecarelesssecurityofhislifeintheCustom-House,onaregular

inkomst

income,andwithbutslightandinfrequentapprehensionsof

avlägsnande

removal,hadnodoubtcontributedtomaketimepasslightlyoverhim.

Theoriginalandmorepotentcauses,however,layintherare

perfektion

perfectionofhisanimalnature,themoderateproportionof

intellekt

intellect,andtheverytriflingadmixtureof

moraliska

moralandspiritualingredients;

these

sistnämnda

latterqualities,indeed,beinginbarelyenoughmeasuretokeeptheoldgentlemanfromwalkingonall-fours.

hade

possessednopowerofthought,no

djup

depthoffeeling,notroublesomesensibilities;

nothing,inshort,butafewcommonplaceinstincts,which,aidedbythecheerful

temperament

temperthatgrewinevitablyoutofhisphysicalwell-being,diddutyveryrespectably,andtogeneral

acceptans

acceptance,inlieuofaheart.

Hehadbeenthehusbandofthreewives,alllongsincedead;

thefatheroftwentychildren,mostofwhom,ateveryageofchildhoodor

mognad

maturity,hadlikewisereturnedtodust.

Here,onewouldsuppose,mighthavebeen

sorg

sorrowenoughtoimbuethesunniest

disposition

disposition,throughandthrough,withasabletinge.

NotsowithouroldInspector!

One

kort

briefsighsufficedtocarryofftheentireburdenofthesedismalreminiscences.

Thenextmoment,hewasasreadyforsportasanyunbreechedinfant;

farreadierthantheCollector’sjuniorclerk,who,atnineteenyears,wasmuchthe

äldre

elderandgravermanofthetwo.

Iusedtowatchandstudythispatriarchalpersonagewith,Ithink,livelier

nyfikenhet

curiosity,thananyotherformofhumanitytherepresentedtomynotice.

Hewas,intruth,arare

fenomen

phenomenon;

soperfect,inonepointofview;

ytlig

shallow,sodelusive,soimpalpable,suchan

absolut

absolutenonentity,ineveryother.

slutsats

conclusionwasthathehadnosoul,noheart,nomind;

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