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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