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aforesaid dilapidated wharf； and the third looking across a narrow
lane； and along a portion of Derby Street。 All three give glimpses
of the shops of grocers； block…makers； slop…sellers； and
ship…chandlers； around the doors of which are generally to be seen；
laughing and gossiping； clusters of old salts； and such other
wharf…rats as haunt the Wapping of a seaport。 The room itself is
cobwebbed； and dingy with old paint； its floor is strewn with grey
sand； in a fashion that has elsewhere fallen into long disuse； and
it is easy to conclude； from the general slovenliness of the place；
that this is a sanctuary into which womankind； with her tools of
magic； the broom and mop； has very infrequent access。 In the way of
furniture； there is a stove with a voluminous funnel； an old pine
desk； with a three…legged stool beside it； two or three
wooden…bottom chairs； exceedingly decrepit and infirm； and… not to
forget the library… on some shelves； a score or two of volumes of
the Acts of Congress； and a bulky Digest of the Revenue Laws。 A tin
pipe ascends through the ceiling； and forms a medium of vocal
communication with other parts of the edifice。 And here； some six
months ago… pacing from corner to corner； or lounging on the
long…legged stool； with his elbow on the desk； and his eyes
wandering up and down the columns of the morning newspaper… you
might have recognised； honoured reader； the same individual who
welcomed you into his cheery little study； where the sunshine
glimmered so pleasantly through the willow branches； on the western
side of the Old Manse。 But now； should you go thither to seek him； you
would inquire in vain for the Locofoco Surveyor。 The besom of reform
has swept him out of office； and a worthier successor wears his
dignity； and pockets his emoluments。
This old town of Salem… my native place； though I have dwelt much
away from it； both in boyhood and maturer years… possesses； or did
possess； a hold on my affections； the force of which I have never
realised during my seasons of actual residence here。 Indeed； so far as
its physical aspect is concerned； with its flat； unvaried surface；
covered chiefly with wooden houses； few or none of which pretend to
architectural beauty… its irregularity； which is neither picturesque
nor quaint； but only tame… its long and lazy street； lounging
wearisomely through the whole extent of the peninsula； with Gallows
Hill and New Guinea at one end； and a view of the alms…house at the
other… such being the features of my native town； it would be quite as
reasonable to form a sentimental attachment to a disarranged
checker…board。 And yet； though invariably happiest elsewhere； there is
within me a feeling for old Salem； which； in lack of a better
phrase； I must be content to call affection。 The sentiment is probably
assignable to the deep and aged roots which my family has struck
into the soil。 It is now nearly two centuries and a quarter since
the original Briton； the earliest emigrant of my name； made his
appearance in the wild and forest…bordered settlement； which has since
become a city。 And here his descendants have been born and died； and
have mingled their earthy substance with the soil； until no small
portion of it must necessarily be akin to the mortal frame
wherewith； for a little while； I walk the streets。 In part； therefore；
the attachment which I speak of is the mere sensuous sympathy of
dust for dust。 Few of my countrymen can know what it is； nor； as
frequent transplantation is perhaps better for the stock； need they
consider it desirable to know。
But the sentiment has likewise its moral quality。 The figure of that
first ancestor； invested by family tradition with a dim and dusky
grandeur； was present to my boyish imagination； as far back as I can
remember。 It still haunts me； and induces a sort of home…feeling
with the past； which I scarcely claim in reference to the present
phase of the town。 I seem to have a stronger claim to a residence here
on account of this grave； bearded； sable…cloaked and steeple…crowned
progenitor… who came so early； with his Bible and his sword； and
trod the unworn street with such a stately port； and made so large a
figure； as a man of war and peace… a stronger claim than for myself；
whose name is seldom heard and my face hardly known。 He was a soldier；
legislator； judge； he was a ruler in the Church； he had all the
Puritanic traits； both good and evil。 He was likewise a bitter
persecutor； as witness the Quakers； who have remembered him in their
histories； and relate an incident of his hard severity towards a woman
of their sect； which will last longer； it is to be feared； than any
record of his better deeds； although these were many。 His son； too；
inherited the persecuting spirit； and made himself so conspicuous in
the martyrdom of the witches； that their blood may fairly be said to
have left a stain upon him。 So deep a stain； indeed； that his old
dry bones； in the Charter Street burial…ground； must still retain
it； if they have not crumbled utterly to dust！ I know not whether
these ancestors of mine bethought themselves to repent； and ask pardon
of Heaven； for their cruelties； or whether they are now groaning under
the heavy consequences of them； in another state of being。 At all
events； I； the present writer； as their representative； hereby take
shame upon myself for their sakes； and pray that any curse incurred by
them… as I have heard； and as the dreary and unprosperous condition of
the race； for many a long year back； would argue to exist… may be
now and henceforth removed。
Doubtless； however； either of these stern and black…browed
Puritans would have thought it quite a sufficient retribution for
his sins； that； after so long a lapse of years； the old trunk of the
family tree； with so much venerable moss upon it； should have borne；
as its topmost bough； an idler like myself。 No aim； that I have ever
cherished； would they recognise as laudable； no success of mine… if
my life； beyond its domestic scope； had ever been brightened by
success… would they deem otherwise than worthless； if not positively
disgraceful。 〃Where is he？〃 murmurs one grey shadow of my
forefathers to the other。 〃A writer of story…books！ What kind of a
business in life… what mode of glorifying God； or being serviceable to
mankind in his day and generation… may that be？ Why； the degenerate
fellow might as well have been a fiddler！〃 Such are the compliments
bandied between my great…grandsires and myself； across the gulf of
time！ And yet； let them scorn me as they will； strong traits of
their nature have intertwined themselves with mine。
Planted deep； in the town's earliest infancy and childhood； by these
two earnest and energetic men； the race has ever since subsisted here；
always； too； in respectability； never； so far as I have known；
disgraced by a single unworthy member； but seldom or never； on the
other hand； after the first two generations； performing any
memorable deed； or so much as putting forward a claim to public
notice。 Gradually； they have sunk almost out of sight； as old
houses； here and there about the streets； get covered half…way to
the eaves by the accumulation of new soil。 From father to son； for
above a hundred years； they followed the sea； a grey…headed
shipmaster； in each generation； retiring from the quarter…deck to
the homestead； while a boy of fourteen took the hereditary place
before the mast； confronting the salt spray and the gale； which had
blustered against his sire and grandsire。 The boy； also； in due
time； passed from the forecastle to the cabin； spent a tempestuous
manhood； and returned from his world…wanderings； to grow old； and die；
and mingle his dust with the natal earth。 This long connection of a
family with one spot； as its place of birth and burial； creates a
kindred between the human being and the locality； quite independent of
any charm in the scenery or moral circumstances that surround him。
It is not love； but instinct。 The new inhabitant… who came himself
from a foreign land； or whose father or grandfather came… has little
claim to be called a Salemite； he has no conception of the oyster…like
tenacity with which an old settler； over whom his third century is
creeping； clings to the spot where his successive generations have
been imbedded。 It is no matter that the place is joyless for him； that
he is weary of the old wooden houses； the mud and dust； the dead level
of site and sentiment； the chill east wind； and the chillest of social
atmospheres； all these； and whatever faults besides he may see or
imagine； are nothing to the purpose。 The spell survives； and just as
powerfully as if the natal spot were an earthly paradise。 So has it
been in my case。 I felt it almost as a destiny to make Salem my
home； so that the mould of features and cast of character which had
all along been familiar here… ever； as one representative of the
race lay down in