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all along been familiar here… ever; as one representative of the

race lay down in his grave; another assuming; as it were; his

sentry…march along the main street… might still in my little day be

seen and recognised in the old town。 Nevertheless; this very sentiment

is an evidence that the connection; which has become an unhealthy one;

should at least be severed。 Human nature will not flourish; any more

than a potato; if it be planted and replanted; for too long a series

of generations; in the same worn…out soil。 My children have had

other birthplaces; and; so far as their fortunes may be within my

control; shall strike their roots into unaccustomed earth。

  On emerging from the Old Manse; it was chiefly this strange;

indolent; unjoyous attachment for my native town; that brought me to

fill a place in Uncle Sam's brick edifice; when I might as well; or

better; have gone somewhere else。 My doom was on me。 It was not the

first time; nor the second; that I had gone away… as it seemed;

permanently… but yet returned; like the bad halfpenny; or as if

Salem were for me the inevitable centre of the universe。 So; one

fine morning; I ascended the flight of granite steps; with the

President's commission in my pocket; and was introduced to the corps

of gentlemen who were to aid me in my weighty responsibility; as chief

executive officer of the Custom…House。

  I doubt greatly… or; rather; I do not doubt at all… whether any

public functionary of the United States; either in the civil or

military line; has ever had such a patriarchal body of veterans

under his orders as myself。 The whereabouts of the Oldest Inhabitant

was at once settled; when I looked at them。 For upwards of twenty

years before this epoch; the independent position of the Collector had

kept the Salem Custom…House out of the whirlpool of political

vicissitude; which makes the tenure of office generally so fragile。

A soldier… New England's most distinguished soldier… he stood firmly

on the pedestal of his gallant services; and; himself secure in the

wise liberality of the successive administrations through which he had

held office; he had been the safety of his subordinates in many an

hour of danger and heartquake。 General Miller was radically

conservative; a man over whose kindly nature habit had no slight

influence; attaching himself strongly to familiar faces; and with

difficulty moved to change; even when change might have brought

unquestionable improvement。 Thus; on taking charge of my department; I

found few but aged men。 They were ancient sea…captains; for the most

part; who; after being tossed on every sea; and standing up sturdily

against life's tempestuous blast; had finally drifted into this

quiet nook; where; with little to disturb them; except the

periodical terrors of a Presidential election; they one and all

acquired a new lease of existence。 Though by no means less liable than

their fellow…men to age and infirmity; they had evidently some

talisman or other that kept death at bay。 Two or three of their

number; as I was assured; being gouty and rheumatic; or perhaps

bed…ridden; never dreamed of making their appearance at the

Custom…House during a large part of the year; but; after a torpid

winter; would creep out into the warm sunshine of May or June; go

lazily about what they termed duty; and; at their own leisure and

convenience; betake themselves to bed again。 I must plead guilty to

the charge of abbreviating the official breath of more than one of

these venerable servants of the republic。 They were allowed; on my

representation; to rest from their arduous labours; and soon

afterwards… as if their sole principle of life had been zeal for their

country's service; as I verily believe it was… withdrew to a better

world。 It is a pious consolation to me; that; through my interference;

a sufficient space was allowed them for repentance of the evil and

corrupt practices; into which; as a matter of course; every

Custom…House officer must be supposed to fall。 Neither the front nor

the back entrance of the Custom…House opens on the road to Paradise。

  The greater part of my officers were Whigs。 It was well for their

venerable brotherhood that the new Surveyor was not a politician; and;

though a faithful Democrat in principle; neither received nor held his

office with any reference to political services。 Had it been

otherwise… had an active politician been put into this influential

post; to assume the easy task of making head against a Whig Collector;

whose infirmities withheld him from the personal administration of his

office… hardly a man of the old corps would have drawn the breath of

official life within a month after the exterminating angel had come up

the Custom…House steps。 According to the received code in such

matters; it would have been nothing short of duty; in a politician; to

bring every one of those white heads under the axe of the

guillotine。 It was plain enough to discern; that the old fellows

dreaded some such discourtesy at my hands。 It pained; and at the

same time amused me; to behold the terrors that attended my advent; to

see a furrowed cheek; weather…beaten by half a century of storm;

turn ashy pale at the glance of so harmless an individual as myself;

to detect; as one or another addressed me; the tremor of a voice;

which; in long…past days; had been wont to bellow through a

speaking…trumpet; hoarsely enough to frighten Boreas himself to

silence。 They knew; these excellent old persons; that; by all

established rule… and; as regarded some of them; weighed by their own

lack of efficiency for business… they ought to have given place to

younger men; more orthodox in politics; and altogether fitter than

themselves to serve our common Uncle。 I knew it too; but could never

quite find in my heart to act upon the knowledge。 Much and

deservedly to my own discredit; therefore; and considerably to the

detriment of my official conscience; they continued; during my

incumbency; to creep about the wharves; and loiter up and down the

Custom…House steps。 They spent a good deal of time; also; asleep in

their accustomed corners; with their chairs tilted back against the

wall; awaking; however; once or twice in a forenoon; to bore one

another with the several thousandth repetition of old sea…stories; and

mouldy jokes; that had grown to be passwords and countersigns among

them。

  The discovery was soon made; I imagine; that the new Surveyor had no

great harm in him。 So; with lightsome hearts; and the happy

consciousness of being usefully employed… in their own behalf; at

least; if not for our beloved country… these good old gentlemen went

through the various formalities of office。 Sagaciously under their

spectacles; did they peep into the holds of vessels! Mighty was

their fuss about little matters; and marvellous; sometimes; the

obtuseness that allowed greater ones to slip between their fingers!

Whenever such a mischance occurred… when a waggon…load of valuable

merchandise had been smuggled ashore; at noonday; perhaps; and

directly beneath their unsuspicious noses… nothing could exceed the

vigilance and alacrity with which they proceeded to lock; and

double…lock; and secure with tape and sealing…wax; all the avenues

of the delinquent vessel。 Instead of a reprimand for their previous

negligence; the case seemed rather to require an eulogium on their

praiseworthy caution; after the mischief had happened; a grateful

recognition of the promptitude of their zeal; the moment that there

was no longer any remedy。

  Unless people are more than commonly disagreeable; it is my

foolish habit to contract a kindness for them。 The better part of my

companion's character; if it have a better part; is that which usually

comes uppermost in my regard; and forms the type whereby I recognise

the man。 As most of these old Custom…House officers had good traits;

and as my position in reference to them; being paternal and

protective; was favourable to the growth of friendly sentiments; I

soon grew to like them all。 It was pleasant; in the summer

forenoons… when the fervent heat; that almost liquefied the rest of

the human family; merely communicated a genial warmth to their

half…torpid systems… it was pleasant to hear them chatting in the back

entry; a row of them all tipped against the wall; as usual; while

the frozen witticisms of past generations were thawed out; and came

bubbling with laughter from their lips。 Externally; the jollity of

aged men has much in common with the mirth of children; the intellect;

any more than a deep sense of humour; has little to do with the

matter; it is; with both; a gleam that plays upon the surface; and

imparts a sunny and cheery aspect alike to the green branch; and grey;

mouldering trunk。 In one case; however; it is real sunshine; in the

other; it more resembles the phosphorescent glow of decaying wood。

  It would be sad injustice; the reader must understand; to

rep

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