THECUSTOM—HOUSE。
　　INTRODUCTORYTO"THESCARLETLETTER"。
　　ITisalittleremarkable，that—thoughdisinclinedtotalkovermuchofmyselfandmyaffairsatthefireside，andtomypersonalfriends—anautobiographicalimpulseshouldtwiceinmylifehavetakenpossessionofme，inaddressingthepublic。Thefirsttimewasthreeorfouryearssince，whenIfavouredthereader—inexcusably，andfornoearthlyreason，thateithertheindulgentreaderortheintrusiveauthorcouldimagine—withadescriptionofmywayoflifeinthedeepquietudeofanOldManse。Andnow—because，beyondmydeserts，Iwashappyenoughtofindalistenerortwoontheformeroccasion—Iagainseizethepublicbythebutton，andtalkofmythreeyears’experienceinaCustom—House。Theexampleofthefamous"P。P。，ClerkofthisParish，"wasnevermorefaithfullyfollowed。Thetruthseemstobe，however，that，whenhecastshisleavesforthuponthewind，theauthoraddresses，notthemanywhowillflingasidehisvolume，ornevertakeitup，butthefewwhowillunderstandhim，betterthanmostofhisschoolmatesorlifemates。Someauthors，indeed，dofarmorethanthis，andindulgethemselvesinsuchconfidentialdepthsofrevelationascouldfittinglybeaddressed，onlyandexclusively，totheoneheartandmind，ofperfectsympathy；asiftheprintedbook，thrownatlargeonthewideworld，werecertaintofindoutthedividedsegmentofthewriter’sownnature，andcompletehiscircleofexistencebybringinghimintocommunionwithit。Itisscarcelydecorous，however，tospeakall，evenwherewespeakimpersonally。But，asthoughtsarefrozenandutterancebenumbed，unlessthespeakerstandinsometruerelationwithhisaudience，itmaybepardonabletoimaginethatafriend，akindandapprehensive，thoughnottheclosestfriend，islisteningtoourtalk；andthen，anativereservebeingthawedbythisgenialconsciousness，wemayprateofthecircumstancesthatliearoundus，andevenofourself，butstillkeeptheinmostMebehinditsveil。
　　Tothisextent，andwithintheselimits，anauthor，methinks，maybeautobiographical，withoutviolatingeitherthereader’srightsorhisown。
　　Itwillbeseen，likewise，thatthisCustom—Housesketchhasacertainpropriety，ofakindalwaysrecognisedinliterature，asexplaininghowalargeportionofthefollowingpagescameintomypossession，andasofferingproofsoftheauthenticityofanarrativethereincontained。This，infact—adesiretoputmyselfinmytruepositionaseditor，orverylittlemore，ofthemostprolixamongthetalesthatmakeupmyvolume—this，andnoother，ismytruereasonforassumingapersonalrelationwiththepublic。Inaccomplishingthemainpurpose，ithasappearedallowable，byafewextratouches，togiveafaintrepresentationofamodeoflifenotheretoforedescribed，togetherwithsomeofthecharactersthatmoveinit，amongwhomtheauthorhappenedtomakeone。
　　InmynativetownofSalem，attheheadofwhat，halfacenturyago，inthedaysofoldKingDerby，wasabustlingwharf—butwhichisnowburdenedwithdecayedwoodenwarehouses，andexhibitsfewornosymptomsofcommerciallife；except，perhaps，abarkorbrig，half—waydownitsmelancholylength，discharginghides；or，nearerathand，aNovaScotiaschooner，pitchingouthercargooffirewood—atthehead，Isay，ofthisdilapidatedwharf，whichthetideoftenoverflows，andalongwhich，atthebaseandintherearoftherowofbuildings，thetrackofmanylanguidyearsisseeninaborderofunthriftygrass—here，withaviewfromitsfrontwindowsadownthisnotveryenliveningprospect，andthenceacrosstheharbour，standsaspaciousedificeofbrick。Fromtheloftiestpointofitsroof，duringpreciselythreeandahalfhoursofeachforenoon，floatsordroops，inbreezeorcalm，thebanneroftherepublic；butwiththethirteenstripesturnedvertically，insteadofhorizontally，andthusindicatingthatacivil，andnotamilitarypostofUncleSam’sgovernmentishereestablished。Itsfrontisornamentedwithaporticoofhalf—a—dozenwoodenpillars，supportingabalcony，beneathwhichaflightofwidegranitestepsdescendstowardsthestreet。OvertheentrancehoversanenormousspecimenoftheAmericaneagle，withoutspreadwings，ashieldbeforeherbreast，and，ifIrecollectaright，abunchofintermingledthunderboltsandbarbedarrowsineachclaw。Withthecustomaryinfirmityoftemperthatcharacterisesthisunhappyfowl，sheappears，bythefiercenessofherbeakandeye，andthegeneraltruculencyofherattitude，tothreatenmischieftotheinoffensivecommunity；andespeciallytowarnallcitizens，carefuloftheirsafety，againstintrudingonthepremiseswhichsheovershadowswithherwings。Nevertheless，vixenlyasshelooks，manypeopleareseeking，atthisverymoment，toshelterthemselvesunderthewingofthefederaleagle；imagining，Ipresume，thatherbosomhasallthesoftnessandsnugnessofaneider—downpillow。Butshehasnogreattenderness，eveninherbestofmoods，and，soonerorlater—oftenersoonthanlate—isapttoflingoffhernestlings，withascratchofherclaw，adabofherbeak，oraranklingwoundfromherbarbedarrows。
　　Thepavementroundabouttheabove—describededifice—whichwemayaswellnameatonceastheCustom—Houseoftheport—hasgrassenoughgrowinginitschinkstoshowthatithasnot，oflatedays，beenwornbyanymultitudinousresortofbusiness。Insomemonthsoftheyear，however，thereoftenchancesaforenoonwhenaffairsmoveonwardwithaliveliertread。SuchoccasionsmightremindtheelderlycitizenofthatperiodbeforethelastwarwithEngland，whenSalemwasaportbyitself；notscorned，assheisnow，byherownmerchantsandship—owners，whopermitherwharvestocrumbletoruin，whiletheirventuresgotoswell，needlesslyandimperceptibly，themightyfloodofcommerceatNewYorkorBoston。Onsomesuchmorning，whenthreeorfourvesselshappentohavearrivedatonce—usuallyfromAfricaorSouthAmerica—ortobeonthevergeoftheirdeparturethitherward，thereisasoundoffrequentfeet，passingbrisklyupanddownthegranitesteps。Here，beforehisownwifehasgreetedhim，youmaygreetthesea—flushedshipmaster，justinport，withhisvessel’spapersunderhisarm，inatarnishedtinbox。Here，too，comeshisowner，cheerfulorsombre，graciousorinthesulks，accordinglyashisschemeofthenowaccomplishedvoyagehasbeenrealisedinmerchandisethatwillreadilybeturnedtogold，orhasburiedhimunderabulkofincommodities，suchasnobodywillcaretoridhimof。
　　Here，likewise—thegermofthewrinkle—browed，grizzly—bearded，care—wornmerchant—wehavethesmartyoungclerk，whogetsthetasteoftrafficasawolf—cubdoesofblood，andalreadysendsadventuresinhismaster’sships，whenhehadbetterbesailingmimic—boatsuponamill—pond。Anotherfigureinthesceneistheoutward—boundsailor，inquestofaprotection；ortherecentlyarrivedone，paleandfeeble，seekingapassporttothehospital。
　　NormustweforgetthecaptainsoftherustylittleschoonersthatbringfirewoodfromtheBritishprovinces；arough—lookingsetoftarpaulins，withoutthealertnessoftheYankeeaspect，butcontributinganitemofnoslightimportancetoourdecayingtrade。
　　Clusteralltheseindividualstogether，astheysometimeswere，withothermiscellaneousonestodiversifythegroup，and，forthetimebeing，itmadetheCustom—Houseastirringscene。Morefrequently，however，onascendingthesteps，youwoulddiscern—intheentry，ifitweresummertime，orintheirappropriaterooms，ifwintryorinclementweather—arowofvenerablefigures，sittinginold—fashionedchairs，whichweretippedontheirhindlegsbackagainstthewall。Oftentimestheywereasleep，butoccasionallymightbeheardtalkingtogether，invoicesbetweenspeechandasnore，andwiththatlackofenergythatdistinguishestheoccupantsofalms—houses，andallotherhumanbeingswhodependforsubsistenceoncharity，onmonopolisedlabour，oranythingelsebuttheirownindependentexertions。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，anddingywitholdpaint；itsfloorisstrewnwithgreysand，inafashionthathaselsewherefallenintolongdisuse；anditiseasytoconclude，fromthegeneralslovenlinessoftheplace，thatthisisasanctuaryintowhichwomankind，withhertoolsofmagic，thebroomandmop，hasveryinfrequentaccess。Inthewayoffurniture，thereisastovewithavoluminousfunnel；anoldpinedesk，withathree—leggedstoolbesideit；twoorthreewooden—bottomchairs，exceedinglydecrepitandinfirm；and—nottoforgetthelibrary—onsomeshelves，ascoreortwoofvolumesoftheActsofCongress，andabulkyDigestoftheRevenueLaws。Atinpipeascendsthroughtheceiling，andformsamediumofvocalcommunicationwithotherpartsoftheedifice。Andhere，somesixmonthsago—pacingfromcornertocorner，orloungingonthelong—leggedstool，withhiselbowonthedesk，andhiseyeswanderingupanddownthecolumnsofthemorningnewspaper—youmighthaverecognised，honouredreader，thesameindividualwhowelcomedyouintohischeerylittlestudy，wherethesunshineglimmeredsopleasantlythroughthewillowbranches，onthewesternsideoftheOldManse。Butnow，shouldyougothithertoseekhim，youwouldinquireinvainfortheLocofocoSurveyor。Thebesomofreformhasswepthimoutofoffice；andaworthiersuccessorwearshisdignity，andpocketshisemoluments。
　　ThisoldtownofSalem—mynativeplace，thoughIhavedweltmuchawayfromit，bothinboyhoodandmatureryears—possesses，ordidpossess，aholdonmyaffections，theforceofwhichIhaveneverrealisedduringmyseasonsofactualresidencehere。Indeed，sofarasitsphysicalaspectisconcerned，withitsflat，unvariedsurface，coveredchieflywithwoodenhouses，fewornoneofwhichpretendtoarchitecturalbeauty—itsirregularity，whichisneitherpicturesquenorquaint，butonlytame—itslongandlazystreet，loungingwearisomelythroughthewholeextentofthepeninsula，withGallowsHillandNewGuineaatoneend，andaviewofthealms—houseattheother—suchbeingthefeaturesofmynativetown，itwouldbequiteasreasonabletoformasentimentalattachmenttoadisarrangedchecker—board。Andyet，thoughinvariablyhappiestelsewhere，thereiswithinmeafeelingforoldSalem，which，inlackofabetterphrase，Imustbecontenttocallaffection。Thesentimentisprobablyassignabletothedeepandagedrootswhichmyfamilyhasstruckintothesoil。ItisnownearlytwocenturiesandaquartersincetheoriginalBriton，theearliestemigrantofmyname，madehisappearanceinthewildandforest—borderedsettlement，whichhassincebecomeacity。Andherehisdescendantshavebeenbornanddied，andhavemingledtheirearthysubstancewiththesoil；untilnosmallportionofitmustnecessarilybeakintothemortalframewherewith，foralittlewhile，Iwalkthestreets。Inpart，therefore，theattachmentwhichIspeakofisthemeresensuoussympathyofdustfordust。Fewofmycountrymencanknowwhatitis；nor，asfrequenttransplantationisperhapsbetterforthestock，needtheyconsideritdesirabletoknow。
　　Butthesentimenthaslikewiseitsmoralquality。Thefigureofthatfirstancestor，investedbyfamilytraditionwithadimandduskygrandeur，waspresenttomyboyishimagination，asfarbackasIcanremember。Itstillhauntsme，andinducesasortofhome—feelingwiththepast，whichIscarcelyclaiminreferencetothepresentphaseofthetown。Iseemtohaveastrongerclaimtoaresidencehereonaccountofthisgrave，bearded，sable—cloakedandsteeple—crownedprogenitor—whocamesoearly，withhisBibleandhissword，andtrodtheunwornstreetwithsuchastatelyport，andmadesolargeafigure，asamanofwarandpeace—astrongerclaimthanformyself，whosenameisseldomheardandmyfacehardlyknown。Hewasasoldier，legislator，judge；hewasarulerintheChurch；hehadallthePuritanictraits，bothgoodandevil。Hewaslikewiseabitterpersecutor；aswitnesstheQuakers，whohaverememberedhimintheirhistories，andrelateanincidentofhishardseveritytowardsawomanoftheirsect，whichwilllastlonger，itistobefeared，thananyrecordofhisbetterdeeds，althoughtheseweremany。Hisson，too，inheritedthepersecutingspirit，andmadehimselfsoconspicuousinthemartyrdomofthewitches，thattheirbloodmayfairlybesaidtohaveleftastainuponhim。Sodeepastain，indeed，thathisolddrybones，intheCharterStreetburial—ground，muststillretainit，iftheyhavenotcrumbledutterlytodust！Iknownotwhethertheseancestorsofminebethoughtthemselvestorepent，andaskpardonofHeaven，fortheircruelties；orwhethertheyarenowgroaningundertheheavyconsequencesofthem，inanotherstateofbeing。Atallevents，I，thepresentwriter，astheirrepresentative，herebytakeshameuponmyselffortheirsakes，andpraythatanycurseincurredbythem—asIhaveheard，andasthedrearyandunprosperousconditionoftherace，formanyalongyearback，wouldarguetoexist—maybenowandhenceforthremoved。
　　Doubtless，however，eitherofthesesternandblack—browedPuritanswouldhavethoughtitquiteasufficientretributionforhissins，that，aftersolongalapseofyears，theoldtrunkofthefamilytree，withsomuchvenerablemossuponit，shouldhaveborne，asitstopmostbough，anidlerlikemyself。Noaim，thatIhaveevercherished，wouldtheyrecogniseaslaudable；nosuccessofmine—ifmylife，beyonditsdomesticscope，hadeverbeenbrightenedbysuccess—wouldtheydeemotherwisethanworthless，ifnotpositivelydisgraceful。"Whereishe？"murmursonegreyshadowofmyforefatherstotheother。"Awriterofstory—books！Whatkindofabusinessinlife—whatmodeofglorifyingGod，orbeingserviceabletomankindinhisdayandgeneration—maythatbe？Why，thedegeneratefellowmightaswellhavebeenafiddler！"Sucharethecomplimentsbandiedbetweenmygreat—grandsiresandmyself，acrossthegulfoftime！Andyet，letthemscornmeastheywill，strongtraitsoftheirnaturehaveintertwinedthemselveswithmine。
　　Planteddeep，inthetown’searliestinfancyandchildhood，bythesetwoearnestandenergeticmen，theracehaseversincesubsistedhere；
　　always，too，inrespectability；never，sofarasIhaveknown，disgracedbyasingleunworthymember；butseldomornever，ontheotherhand，afterthefirsttwogenerations，performinganymemorabledeed，orsomuchasputtingforwardaclaimtopublicnotice。Gradually，theyhavesunkalmostoutofsight；asoldhouses，hereandthereaboutthestreets，getcoveredhalf—waytotheeavesbytheaccumulationofnewsoil。Fromfathertoson，foraboveahundredyears，theyfollowedthesea；agrey—headedshipmaster，ineachgeneration，retiringfromthequarter—decktothehomestead，whileaboyoffourteentookthehereditaryplacebeforethemast，confrontingthesaltsprayandthegale，whichhadblusteredagainsthissireandgrandsire。Theboy，also，induetime，passedfromtheforecastletothecabin，spentatempestuousmanhood，andreturnedfromhisworld—wanderings，togrowold，anddie，andminglehisdustwiththenatalearth。Thislongconnectionofafamilywithonespot，asitsplaceofbirthandburial，createsakindredbetweenthehumanbeingandthelocality，quiteindependentofanycharminthesceneryormoralcircumstancesthatsurroundhim。
　　Itisnotlove，butinstinct。Thenewinhabitant—whocamehimselffromaforeignland，orwhosefatherorgrandfathercame—haslittleclaimtobecalledaSalemite；hehasnoconceptionoftheoyster—liketenacitywithwhichanoldsettler，overwhomhisthirdcenturyiscreeping，clingstothespotwherehissuccessivegenerationshavebeenimbedded。Itisnomatterthattheplaceisjoylessforhim；thatheiswearyoftheoldwoodenhouses，themudanddust，thedeadlevelofsiteandsentiment，thechilleastwind，andthechillestofsocialatmospheres；allthese，andwhateverfaultsbesideshemayseeorimagine，arenothingtothepurpose。Thespellsurvives，andjustaspowerfullyasifthenatalspotwereanearthlyparadise。Sohasitbeeninmycase。IfeltitalmostasadestinytomakeSalemmyhome；sothatthemouldoffeaturesandcastofcharacterwhichhadallalongbeenfamiliarhere—ever，asonerepresentativeoftheracelaydowninhisgrave，anotherassuming，asitwere，hissentry—marchalongthemainstreet—mightstillinmylittledaybeseenandrecognisedintheoldtown。Nevertheless，thisverysentimentisanevidencethattheconnection，whichhasbecomeanunhealthyone，shouldatleastbesevered。Humannaturewillnotflourish，anymorethanapotato，ifitbeplantedandreplanted，fortoolongaseriesofgenerations，inthesameworn—outsoil。Mychildrenhavehadotherbirthplaces，and，sofarastheirfortunesmaybewithinmycontrol，shallstriketheirrootsintounaccustomedearth。
　　OnemergingfromtheOldManse，itwaschieflythisstrange，indolent，unjoyousattachmentformynativetown，thatbroughtmetofillaplaceinUncleSam’sbrickedifice，whenImightaswell，orbetter，havegonesomewhereelse。Mydoomwasonme。Itwasnotthefirsttime，northesecond，thatIhadgoneaway—asitseemed，permanently—butyetreturned，likethebadhalfpenny；orasifSalemwereformetheinevitablecentreoftheuniverse。So，onefinemorning，Iascendedtheflightofgranitesteps，withthePresident’scommissioninmypocket，andwasintroducedtothecorpsofgentlemenwhoweretoaidmeinmyweightyresponsibility，aschiefexecutiveofficeroftheCustom—House。
　　Idoubtgreatly—or，rather，Idonotdoubtatall—whetheranypublicfunctionaryoftheUnitedStates，eitherinthecivilormilitaryline，haseverhadsuchapatriarchalbodyofveteransunderhisordersasmyself。ThewhereaboutsoftheOldestInhabitantwasatoncesettled，whenIlookedatthem。Forupwardsoftwentyyearsbeforethisepoch，theindependentpositionoftheCollectorhadkepttheSalemCustom—Houseoutofthewhirlpoolofpoliticalvicissitude，whichmakesthetenureofofficegenerallysofragile。
　　Asoldier—NewEngland’smostdistinguishedsoldier—hestoodfirmlyonthepedestalofhisgallantservices；and，himselfsecureinthewiseliberalityofthesuccessiveadministrationsthroughwhichhehadheldoffice，hehadbeenthesafetyofhissubordinatesinmanyanhourofdangerandheartquake。GeneralMillerwasradicallyconservative；amanoverwhosekindlynaturehabithadnoslightinfluence；attachinghimselfstronglytofamiliarfaces，andwithdifficultymovedtochange，evenwhenchangemighthavebroughtunquestionableimprovement。Thus，ontakingchargeofmydepartment，I
　　foundfewbutagedmen。Theywereancientsea—captains，forthemostpart，who，afterbeingtossedoneverysea，andstandingupsturdilyagainstlife’stempestuousblast，hadfinallydriftedintothisquietnook；where，withlittletodisturbthem，excepttheperiodicalterrorsofaPresidentialelection，theyoneandallacquiredanewleaseofexistence。Thoughbynomeanslessliablethantheirfellow—mentoageandinfirmity，theyhadevidentlysometalismanorotherthatkeptdeathatbay。Twoorthreeoftheirnumber，asIwasassured，beinggoutyandrheumatic，orperhapsbed—ridden，neverdreamedofmakingtheirappearanceattheCustom—Houseduringalargepartoftheyear；but，afteratorpidwinter，wouldcreepoutintothewarmsunshineofMayorJune，golazilyaboutwhattheytermedduty，and，attheirownleisureandconvenience，betakethemselvestobedagain。Imustpleadguiltytothechargeofabbreviatingtheofficialbreathofmorethanoneofthesevenerableservantsoftherepublic。Theywereallowed，onmyrepresentation，torestfromtheirarduouslabours，andsoonafterwards—asiftheirsoleprincipleoflifehadbeenzealfortheircountry’sservice；asIverilybelieveitwas—withdrewtoabetterworld。Itisapiousconsolationtome，that，throughmyinterference，asufficientspacewasallowedthemforrepentanceoftheevilandcorruptpractices，intowhich，asamatterofcourse，everyCustom—Houseofficermustbesupposedtofall。NeitherthefrontnorthebackentranceoftheCustom—HouseopensontheroadtoParadise。
　　ThegreaterpartofmyofficerswereWhigs。ItwaswellfortheirvenerablebrotherhoodthatthenewSurveyorwasnotapolitician，and，thoughafaithfulDemocratinprinciple，neitherreceivednorheldhisofficewithanyreferencetopoliticalservices。Haditbeenotherwise—hadanactivepoliticianbeenputintothisinfluentialpost，toassumetheeasytaskofmakingheadagainstaWhigCollector，whoseinfirmitieswithheldhimfromthepersonaladministrationofhisoffice—hardlyamanoftheoldcorpswouldhavedrawnthebreathofofficiallifewithinamonthaftertheexterminatingangelhadcomeuptheCustom—Housesteps。Accordingtothereceivedcodeinsuchmatters，itwouldhavebeennothingshortofduty，inapolitician，tobringeveryoneofthosewhiteheadsundertheaxeoftheguillotine。Itwasplainenoughtodiscern，thattheoldfellowsdreadedsomesuchdiscourtesyatmyhands。Itpained，andatthesametimeamusedme，tobeholdtheterrorsthatattendedmyadvent；toseeafurrowedcheek，weather—beatenbyhalfacenturyofstorm，turnashypaleattheglanceofsoharmlessanindividualasmyself；
　　todetect，asoneoranotheraddressedme，thetremorofavoice，which，inlong—pastdays，hadbeenwonttobellowthroughaspeaking—trumpet，hoarselyenoughtofrightenBoreashimselftosilence。Theyknew，theseexcellentoldpersons，that，byallestablishedrule—and，asregardedsomeofthem，weighedbytheirownlackofefficiencyforbusiness—theyoughttohavegivenplacetoyoungermen，moreorthodoxinpolitics，andaltogetherfitterthanthemselvestoserveourcommonUncle。Iknewittoo，butcouldneverquitefindinmyhearttoactupontheknowledge。Muchanddeservedlytomyowndiscredit，therefore，andconsiderablytothedetrimentofmyofficialconscience，theycontinued，duringmyincumbency，tocreepaboutthewharves，andloiterupanddowntheCustom—Housesteps。Theyspentagooddealoftime，also，asleepintheiraccustomedcorners，withtheirchairstiltedbackagainstthewall；awaking，however，onceortwiceinaforenoon，toboreoneanotherwiththeseveralthousandthrepetitionofoldsea—stories，andmouldyjokes，thathadgrowntobepasswordsandcountersignsamongthem。
　　Thediscoverywassoonmade，Iimagine，thatthenewSurveyorhadnogreatharminhim。So，withlightsomehearts，andthehappyconsciousnessofbeingusefullyemployed—intheirownbehalf，atleast，ifnotforourbelovedcountry—thesegoodoldgentlemenwentthroughthevariousformalitiesofoffice。Sagaciouslyundertheirspectacles，didtheypeepintotheholdsofvessels！Mightywastheirfussaboutlittlematters，andmarvellous，sometimes，theobtusenessthatallowedgreateronestoslipbetweentheirfingers！
　　Wheneversuchamischanceoccurred—whenawaggon—loadofvaluablemerchandisehadbeensmuggledashore，atnoonday，perhaps，anddirectlybeneaththeirunsuspiciousnoses—nothingcouldexceedthevigilanceandalacritywithwhichtheyproceededtolock，anddouble—lock，andsecurewithtapeandsealing—wax，alltheavenuesofthedelinquentvessel。Insteadofareprimandfortheirpreviousnegligence，thecaseseemedrathertorequireaneulogiumontheirpraiseworthycaution，afterthemischiefhadhappened；agratefulrecognitionofthepromptitudeoftheirzeal，themomentthattherewasnolongeranyremedy。
　　Unlesspeoplearemorethancommonlydisagreeable，itismyfoolishhabittocontractakindnessforthem。Thebetterpartofmycompanion’scharacter，ifithaveabetterpart，isthatwhichusuallycomesuppermostinmyregard，andformsthetypewherebyIrecognisetheman。AsmostoftheseoldCustom—Houseofficershadgoodtraits，andasmypositioninreferencetothem，beingpaternalandprotective，wasfavourabletothegrowthoffriendlysentiments，I
　　soongrewtolikethemall。Itwaspleasant，inthesummerforenoons—whentheferventheat，thatalmostliquefiedtherestofthehumanfamily，merelycommunicatedagenialwarmthtotheirhalf—torpidsystems—itwaspleasanttohearthemchattinginthebackentry，arowofthemalltippedagainstthewall，asusual；whilethefrozenwitticismsofpastgenerationswerethawedout，andcamebubblingwithlaughterfromtheirlips。Externally，thejollityofagedmenhasmuchincommonwiththemirthofchildren；theintellect，anymorethanadeepsenseofhumour，haslittletodowiththematter；itis，withboth，agleamthatplaysuponthesurface，andimpartsasunnyandcheeryaspectaliketothegreenbranch，andgrey，moulderingtrunk。Inonecase，however，itisrealsunshine；intheother，itmoreresemblesthephosphorescentglowofdecayingwood。
　　Itwouldbesadinjustice，thereadermustunderstand，torepresentallmyexcellentoldfriendsasintheirdotage。Inthefirstplace，mycoadjutorswerenotinvariablyold；thereweremenamongthemintheirstrengthandprime，ofmarkedabilityandenergy，andaltogethersuperiortothesluggishanddependentmodeoflifeonwhichtheirevilstarshadcastthem。Then，moreover，thewhitelocksofageweresometimesfoundtobethethatchofanintellectualtenementingoodrepair。But，asrespectsthemajorityofmycorpsofveterans，therewillbenowrongdone，ifIcharacterisethemgenerallyasasetofwearisomeoldsouls，whohadgatherednothingworthpreservationfromtheirvariedexperienceoflife。
　　Theyseemedtohaveflungawayallthegoldengrainofpracticalwisdom，whichtheyhadenjoyedsomanyopportunitiesofharvesting，andmostcarefullytohavestoredtheirmemorieswiththehusks。