快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

e　accident；　but　of　good　right；　that　he　had　won　a　distinguishedname。　His　spirit　could　never；　I　conceive；　have　been　characterised　byan　uneasy　activity；　it　must；　at　any　period　of　his　life；　haverequired　an　impulse　to　set　him　in　motion；　but；　once　stirred　up；　withobstacles　to　overe；　and　an　adequate　object　to　be　attained；　it　wasnot　in　the　man　to　give　out　or　fail。　The　beat　that　had　formerlypervaded　his　nature；　and　which　was　not　yet　extinct；　was　never　of　thekind　that　flashes　and　flickers　in　a　blaze；　but；　rather；　a　deep；　redglow；　as　of　iron　in　a　furnace。　Weight；　solidity；　firmness；　this　wasthe　expression　of　his　repose；　even　in　such　decay　as　had　crept　untimelyover　him；　at　the　period　of　which　I　speak。　But　I　could　imagine；　eventhen；　that；　under　some　excitement　which　should　go　deeply　into　hisconsciousness…　roused　by　a　trumpet…peal；　loud　enough　to　awaken　allof　his　energies　that　were　not　dead；　but　only　slumbering…　he　was　yetcapable　of　flinging　off　his　infirmities　like　a　sick　man's　gown；dropping　the　staff　of　age　to　seize　a　battle…sword；　and　starting　uponce　more　a　warrior。　And；　in　so　intense　a　moment；　his　demeanourwould　have　still　been　calm。　Such　an　exhibition；　however；　was　but　to　bepictured　in　fancy；　not　to　be　anticipated；　nor　desired。　What　I　saw　inhim…　as　evidently　as　the　indestructible　ramparts　of；　OldTiconderoga；　already　cited　as　the　most　appropriate　simile…　were　thefeatures　of　stubborn　and　ponderous　endurance；　which　might　well　haveamounted　to　obstinacy　in　his　earlier　days；　of　integrity；　that；　likemost　of　his　other　endowments；　lay　in　a　somewhat　heavy　mass；　and　wasjust　as　unmalleable　and　unmanageable　as　a　ton　of　iron　ore；　and　ofbenevolence；　which；　fiercely　as　he　led　the　bayos　on　at　Chippewaor　Fort　Erie；　I　take　to　be　of　quite　as　genuine　a　stamp　as　whatactuates　any　or　all　the　polemical　philanthropists　of　the　age。　He　hadslain　men　with　his　own　hand；　for　aught　I　know…　certainly；　they　hadfallen；　like　blades　of　grass　at　the　sweep　of　the　scythe；　before　thecharge　to　which　his　spirit　imparted　its　triumphant　energy…　but；　bethat　as　it　might；　there　was　never　in　his　heart　so　much　cruelty　aswould　have　brushed　the　down　off　a　butterfly's　wing。　I　have　not　knownthe　man；　to　whose　innate　kindliness　I　would　more　confidently　make　anappeal。　　Many　characteristics…　and　those；　too；　which　contribute　not　the　leastforcibly　to　impart　resemblance　in　a　sketch…　must　have　vanished；　orbeen　obscured；　before　I　met　the　General。　All　merely　gracefulattributes　are　usually　the　most　evanescent；　nor　does　Nature　adornthe　human　ruin　with　blossoms　of　new　beauty；　that　have　their　rootsand　proper　nutriment　only　in　the　chinks　and　crevices　of　decay；　asshe　sows　wall…flowers　over　the　ruined　fortress　of　Ticonderoga。Still；　even　in　respect　of　grace　and　beauty；　there　were　points　wellworth　noting。　A　ray　of　humour；　now　and　then；　would　make　its　waythrough　the　veil　of　dim　obstruction；　and　glimmer　pleasantly　upon　ourfaces。　A　trait　of　native　elegance；　seldom　seen　in　the　masculinecharacter　after　childhood　or　early　youth；　was　shown　in　the　General'sfondness　for　the　sight　and　fragrance　of　flowers。　An　old　soldiermight　be　supposed　to　prize　only　the　bloody　laurel　on　his　brow；　buthere　was　one；　who　seemed　to　have　a　young　girl's　appreciation　of　thefloral　tribe。　　There；　beside　the　fireplace；　the　brave　old　General　used　to　sit；while　the　Surveyor…　though　seldom；　when　it　could　be　avoided；　takingupon　himself　the　difficult　task　of　engaging　him　in　conversation…　wasfond　of　standing　at　a　distance；　and　berous　countenance。　He　seemed　away　from　us；　although　we　saw　himbut　a　few　yards　off；　remote；　though　we　passed　close　beside　hischair；　unattainable；　though　we　might　have　stretched　forth　our　handsand　touched　his　own。　It　might　be　that　he　lived　a　more　real　life　withinhis　thoughts；　than　amid　the　unappropriate　environment　of　theCollector's　office。　The　evolutions　of　the　parade；　the　tumult　of　thebattle；　the　flourish　of　old；　heroic　music；　heard　thirty　years　before；…such　scenes　and　sounds；　perhaps；　were　all　alive　before　hisintellectual　sense。　Meanwhile；　the　merchants　and　shipmasters；　thespruce　clerks　and　uncouth　sailors；　entered　and　departed；　the　bustle　ofthis　mercial　and　Custom…House　life　kept　up　its　little　murmurround　about　him；　and　neither　with　the　men　nor　their　affairs　did　theGeneral　appear　to　sustain　the　most　distant　relation。　He　was　as　muchout　of　place　as　an　old　sword…　now　rusty；　but　which　had　flashed　once　inthe　battle's　front；　and　showed　still　a　bright　gleam　along　its　blade…would　have　been；　among　the　inkstands；　paper…folders；　and　mahoganyrulers；　on　the　Deputy　Collector's　desk。　　There　was　one　thing　that　much　aided　me　in　renewing　and　recreatingthe　stalwart　soldier　of　the　Niagara　frontier…　the　man　of　true　andsimple　energy。　It　was　the　recollection　of　those　memorable　words　ofhis…　〃I'll　try；　sir！〃…　spoken　on　the　very　verge　of　a　desperate　andheroic　enterprise；　and　breathing　the　soul　and　spirit　of　New　Englandhardihood；　prehending　all　perils；　and　encountering　all。　If；　inour　country；　valour　were　rewarded　by　heraldic　honour；　this　phrase…which　it　seems　so　easy　to　speak；　but　which　only　he；　with　such　a　taskof　danger　and　glory　before　him；　has　ever　spoken…　would　be　the　best　andfittest　of　all　mottoes　for　the　General's　shield　of　arms。　　It　contributes　greatly　towards　a　man's　moral　and　intellectualhealth；　to　be　brought　into　habits　of　panionship　with　individualsunlike　himself；　who　care　little　for　his　pursuits；　and　whose　sphere　andabilities　he　must　go　out　of　himself　to　appreciate。　The　accidents　of　mylife　have　often　afforded　me　this　advantage；　but　never　with　morefulness　and　variety　than　during　my　continuance　in　office。　There　wasone　man；　especially；　the　observation　of　whose　character　gave　me　anew　idea　of　talent。　His　gifts　were　emphatically　those　of　a　man　ofbusiness；　prompt；　acute；　clear…minded；　with　an　eye　that　saw　throughall　perplexities；　and　a　faculty　of　arrangement　that　made　themvanish；　as　by　the　waving　of　an　enchanter's　wand。　Bred　up　fromboyhood　in　the　Custom…House；　it　was　his　proper　field　of　activity；and　the　many　intricacies　of　business；　so　harassing　to　theinterloper；　presented　themselves　before　him　with　the　regularity　of　aperfectly　prehended　system。　In　my　contemplation；　be　stood　as　theideal　of　his　class。　He　was；　indeed；　the　Custom…House　in　himself；　or；at　all　events；　the　mainspring　that　kept　its　variously　revolving　wheelsin　motion；　for；　in　an　institution　like　this；　where　its　officers　areappointed　to　subserve　their　own　profit　and　convenience；　and　seldomwith　a　leading　reference　to　their　fitness　for　the　duty　to　beperformed；　they　must　perforce　seek　elsewhere　the　dexterity　which　isnot　in　them。　Thus；　by　an　inevitable　necessity；　as　a　mag　attractssteel…filings；　so　did　our　man　of　business　draw　to　himself　thedifficulties　which　everybody　met　with。　With　an　easy　condescension；　andkind　forbearance　towards　our　stupidity…　which；　to　his　order　of　mind；must　have　seemed　little　short　of　crime…　would　he　forthwith；　by　themerest　touch　of　his　finger；　make　the　inprehensible　as　clear　asdaylight。　The　merchants　valued　him　not　less　than　we；　his　esotericfriends。　His　integrity　was　perfect；　it　was　a　law　of　nature　with　him；rather　than　a　choice　or　a　principle；　nor　can　it　be　otherwise　thanthe　main　condition　of　an　intellect　so　remarkably　clear　and　accurate　ashis；　to　be　honest　and　regular　in　the　administration　of　affairs。　Astain　on　his　conscience；　as　to　anything　that　came　within　the　rangeof　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　anaccount；　or　an　ink…blot　on　the　fair　page　of　a　book　of　record。　Here；　ina　word…　and　it　is　a　rare　instance　in　my　life…　I　had　met　with　aperson　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　wasthrown　into　a　position　so　little　akin　to　my　past　habits；　and　setmyself　seriously　to　gather　from　it　whatever　profit　was　to　be　had。After　my　fellowship　of　toil　and　impracticable　schemes　with　thedreamy　brethren　of　Brook　Farm；　after　living　for　three　years　within　thesubtile　influence　of　an　intellect　like　Emerson's；　after　those　wild；free　days　on　the　Assabeth；　indulging　fantastic　speculations；　besideour　fire　of　fallen　boughs；　with　Ellery　Channing；　after　talking　withThoreau　about　pine…trees　and　Indian　relics；　in　his　hermitage　atWalden；　after　growing　fastidious　by　sympathy　with　the　classicrefinement　of　Hillard's　culture；　after　being　imbued　with　poeticsentiment　at　Longfellow's　hearth…stone…　it　was　time；　at　length；　that　Ishould　exercise　other　faculties　of　my　nature；　and　nourish　myselfwith　food　for　which　I　had　hitherto　had　little　appetite。　Even　the　oldInspector　was　desirable；　as　a　change　of　diet；　to　a　man　who　had　knownAlcott。　I　looked　upon　it　as　an　evidence；　in　some　measure；　or　asystem　naturally　well　balanced；　and　lacking　no　essential　part　of　athorough　organisation；　that；　with　such　associates　to　remember；　I　couldmingle　at　once　with　men　of　altogether　different　qualities；　and　nevermurmur　at　the　change。　　Literature；　its　exertions　and　objects；　were　now　of　little　momentin　my　regard。　I　cared　not；　at　this　period；　for　books；　they　wereapart　from　me。　Nature…　except　it　were　human　nature…　the　nature　that　isdeveloped　in　earth　and　sky；　was；　in　one　sense；　hidden　from　me；　and　allthe　imaginative　delight；　wherewith　it　had　been　spiritualised；　passedaway　out　of　my　mind。　A　gift；　a　faculty；　if　it　had　not　departed；　wassuspended　and　inanimate　within　me。　There　would　have　been　somethingsad；　unutterably　dreary；　in　all　this；　had　I　not　been　conscious　that　itlay　at　my　own　option　to　recall　whatever　was　valuable　in　the　past。　Itmight　be　true；　indeed；　that　this　was　a　life　which　could　not；　withimpunity；　be　lived　too　long；　else；　it　might　make　me　permanentlyother　than　I　had　been；　without　transforming　me　into　any　shape　which　itwould　be　worth　my　while　to　take。　But　I　never　considered　it　as　otherthan　a　transitory　life。　There　was　always　a　prophetic　instinct；　a　lowwhisper　in　my　ear；　that；　within　no　long　period；　and　whenever　a　newchange　of　custom　should　be　essential　to　my　good；　a　change　would　e。　　Meanwhile；　there　I　was；　a　Surveyor　of　the　Revenue；　and；　so　far　asI　have　been　able　to　understand；　as　good　a　Surveyor　as　need　be。　A　manof　thought；　fancy；　and　sensibility　（had　he　ten　times　the　Surveyor'sproportion　of　those　qualities）　may；　at　any　time；　be　a　man　ofaffairs；　if　he　will　only　choose　to　give　himself　the　trouble。　Myfellow…officers；　and　the　merchants　and　sea…captains　with　whom　myofficial　duties　brought　me　into　any　manner　of　connection；　viewed　me　inno　other　light；　and　probably　knew　me　in　no　other　character。　None　ofthem；　I　presume；　had　ever　read　a　page　of　my　inditing；　or　would　havecared　a　fig　the　more　for　me；　if　they　had　read　them　all；　nor　would　ithave　mended　the　matter；　in　the　least；　had　those　same　unprofitablepages　been　written　with　a　pen　like　that　of　Burns　or　of　Chaucer；　eachof　whom　was　a　Custom…House　officer　in　his　day；　as　well　as　I。　It　is　agood　lesson…　though　it　may　often　be　a　hard　one…　for　a　man　who　hasdreamed　of　literary　fame；　and　of　making　for　himself　a　rank　among　theworld's　dignitaries　by　such　means；　to　step　aside　out　of　the　narrowcircle　in　which　his　claims　are　recognised；　and　to　find　how　utterlydevoid　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　itthoroughly：　nor；　it　gives　me　pleasure　to　reflect；　did　the　truth；　as　itcame　home　to　my　perception；　ever　cost　me　a　pang；　or　require　to　bethrown　off　in　a　sigh。　In　the　way　of　literary　talk；　it　is　true；　theNaval　Officer…　an　excellent　fellow；　who　came　into　office　with　me　andwent　out　only　a　little　later…　would　often　engage　me　in　a　discussionabout　one　or　the　other　of　his　favourite　topics；　Napoleon　orShakespeare。　The　Collector's　junior　clerk；　too…　a　young　gentleman　who；it　was　whispered；　occasionally　covered　a　sheet　of　Uncle　Sam'sletter…paper　with　what　（at　the　distance　of　a　few　yards）　looked　verymuch　like　poetry…　used　now　and　then　to　speak　to　me　of　books；　asmatters　with　which　I　might　possibly　be　conversant。　This　was　my　allof　lettered　intercourse；　and　it　ynecessities。　　No　longer　seeking　nor　caring　that　my　name　should　be　blazonedabroad　on　title…pages；　I　smiled　to　think　that　it　had　now　anotherkind　of　vogue。　The　Custom…House　marker　imprinted　it；　with　a　ste