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with a leading reference to their fitness for the duty to be
performed； they must perforce seek elsewhere the dexterity which is
not in them。 Thus； by an inevitable necessity； as a magnet attracts
steel…filings； so did our man of business draw to himself the
difficulties which everybody met with。 With an easy condescension； and
kind forbearance towards our stupidity… which； to his order of mind；
must have seemed little short of crime… would he forthwith； by the
merest touch of his finger； make the incomprehensible as clear as
daylight。 The merchants valued him not less than we； his esoteric
friends。 His integrity was perfect； it was a law of nature with him；
rather than a choice or a principle； nor can it be otherwise than
the main condition of an intellect so remarkably clear and accurate as
his； to be honest and regular in the administration of affairs。 A
stain on his conscience； as to anything that came within the range
of his vocation； would trouble such a man very much in the same way；
though to a far greater degree； than an error in the balance of an
account； or an ink…blot on the fair page of a book of record。 Here； in
a word… and it is a rare instance in my life… I had met with a
person thoroughly adapted to the situation which he held。
Such were some of the people with whom I now found myself connected。
I took it in good part； at the hands of Providence； that I was
thrown into a position so little akin to my past habits； and set
myself seriously to gather from it whatever profit was to be had。
After my fellowship of toil and impracticable schemes with the
dreamy brethren of Brook Farm； after living for three years within the
subtile influence of an intellect like Emerson's； after those wild；
free days on the Assabeth； indulging fantastic speculations； beside
our fire of fallen boughs； with Ellery Channing； after talking with
Thoreau about pine…trees and Indian relics； in his hermitage at
Walden； after growing fastidious by sympathy with the classic
refinement of Hillard's culture； after becoming imbued with poetic
sentiment at Longfellow's hearth…stone… it was time； at length； that I
should exercise other faculties of my nature； and nourish myself
with food for which I had hitherto had little appetite。 Even the old
Inspector was desirable； as a change of diet； to a man who had known
Alcott。 I looked upon it as an evidence； in some measure； or a
system naturally well balanced； and lacking no essential part of a
thorough organisation； that； with such associates to remember； I could
mingle at once with men of altogether different qualities； and never
murmur at the change。
Literature； its exertions and objects； were now of little moment
in my regard。 I cared not； at this period； for books； they were
apart from me。 Nature… except it were human nature… the nature that is
developed in earth and sky； was； in one sense； hidden from me； and all
the imaginative delight； wherewith it had been spiritualised； passed
away out of my mind。 A gift； a faculty； if it had not departed； was
suspended and inanimate within me。 There would have been something
sad； unutterably dreary； in all this； had I not been conscious that it
lay at my own option to recall whatever was valuable in the past。 It
might be true； indeed； that this was a life which could not； with
impunity； be lived too long； else； it might make me permanently
other than I had been； without transforming me into any shape which it
would be worth my while to take。 But I never considered it as other
than a transitory life。 There was always a prophetic instinct； a low
whisper in my ear； that； within no long period； and whenever a new
change of custom should be essential to my good； a change would come。
Meanwhile； there I was； a Surveyor of the Revenue； and； so far as
I have been able to understand； as good a Surveyor as need be。 A man
of thought； fancy； and sensibility （had he ten times the Surveyor's
proportion of those qualities） may； at any time； be a man of
affairs； if he will only choose to give himself the trouble。 My
fellow…officers； and the merchants and sea…captains with whom my
official duties brought me into any manner of connection； viewed me in
no other light； and probably knew me in no other character。 None of
them； I presume； had ever read a page of my inditing； or would have
cared a fig the more for me； if they had read them all； nor would it
have mended the matter； in the least； had those same unprofitable
pages been written with a pen like that of Burns or of Chaucer； each
of whom was a Custom…House officer in his day； as well as I。 It is a
good lesson… though it may often be a hard one… for a man who has
dreamed of literary fame； and of making for himself a rank among the
world's dignitaries by such means； to step aside out of the narrow
circle in which his claims are recognised； and to find how utterly
devoid of significance； beyond that circle； is all that he achieves；
and all he aims at。 I know not that I especially needed the lesson；
either in the way of warning or rebuke； but； at any rate； I learned it
thoroughly： nor； it gives me pleasure to reflect； did the truth； as it
came home to my perception； ever cost me a pang； or require to be
thrown off in a sigh。 In the way of literary talk； it is true； the
Naval Officer… an excellent fellow； who came into office with me and
went out only a little later… would often engage me in a discussion
about one or the other of his favourite topics； Napoleon or
Shakespeare。 The Collector's junior clerk； too… a young gentleman who；
it was whispered； occasionally covered a sheet of Uncle Sam's
letter…paper with what （at the distance of a few yards） looked very
much like poetry… used now and then to speak to me of books； as
matters with which I might possibly be conversant。 This was my all
of lettered intercourse； and it was quite sufficient for my
necessities。
No longer seeking nor caring that my name should be blazoned
abroad on title…pages； I smiled to think that it had now another
kind of vogue。 The Custom…House marker imprinted it； with a stencil
and black paint； on pepper…bags； and baskets of anatto； and
cigar…boxes； and bales of all kinds of dutiable merchandise； in
testimony that these commodities had paid the impost； and gone
regularly through the office。 Borne on such queer vehicle of fame； a
knowledge of my existence； so far as a name conveys it； was carried
where it had never been before； and； I hope； will never go again。
But the past was not dead。 Once in a great while； the thoughts； that
had seemed so vital and so active； yet had been put to rest so
quietly； revived again。 One of the most remarkable occasions； when the
habit of bygone days awoke in me； was that which brings it within
the law of literary propriety to offer the public the sketch which I
am now writing。
In the second story of the Custom…House； there is a large room； in
which the brick…work and naked rafters have never been covered with
panelling and plaster。 The edifice… originally projected on a scale
adapted to the old commercial enterprise of the port； and with an idea
of subsequent prosperity destined never to be realised… contains far
more space than its occupants know what to do with。 This airy hall；
therefore； over the Collector's apartments； remains unfinished to this
day； and； in spite of the aged cobwebs that festoon its dusky beams；
appears still to await the labour of the carpenter and mason。 At one
end of the room； in a recess； were a number of barrels； piled one upon
another； containing bundles of official documents。 Large quantities of
similar rubbish lay lumbering the floor。 It was sorrowful to think how
many days； and weeks； and months； and years of toil； had been wasted
on these musty papers； which were now only an encumbrance on earth；
and were hidden away in this forgotten corner； never more to be
glanced at by human eyes。 But； then； what reams of other
manuscripts… filled not with the dulness of official formalities；
but with the thought of inventive brains and the rich effusion of deep
hearts… had gone equally to oblivion； and that； moreover； without
serving a purpose in their day； as these heaped…up papers had； and…
saddest of all… without purchasing for their writers the comfortable
livelihood which the clerks of the Custom…House had gained by these
worthless scratchings of the pen！ Yet not altogether worthless；
perhaps； as materials of local history。 Here； no doubt； statistics
of the former commerce of Salem might be discovered； and memorials
of her princely merchants… old King Derby； old Billy Gray； old Simon
Forrester； and many another magnate in his day… whose powdered head；
however； was scarcely in the tomb； before his mountain…pile of
wealth began to dwindle。 The founders of the greater part of the
families which now compose the aristocracy of Salem might here be
traced； from the petty and obscure beginnings of their traffic