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chair； unattainable； though we might have stretched forth our hands
and touched his own。 It might be that he lived a more real life within
his thoughts； than amid the unappropriate environment of the
Collector's office。 The evolutions of the parade； the tumult of the
battle； the flourish of old； heroic music； heard thirty years before；…
such scenes and sounds； perhaps； were all alive before his
intellectual sense。 Meanwhile； the merchants and shipmasters； the
spruce clerks and uncouth sailors； entered and departed； the bustle of
this commercial and Custom…House life kept up its little murmur
round about him； and neither with the men nor their affairs did the
General appear to sustain the most distant relation。 He was as much
out of place as an old sword… now rusty； but which had flashed once in
the battle's front； and showed still a bright gleam along its blade…
would have been； among the inkstands； paper…folders； and mahogany
rulers； on the Deputy Collector's desk。
There was one thing that much aided me in renewing and recreating
the stalwart soldier of the Niagara frontier… the man of true and
simple energy。 It was the recollection of those memorable words of
his… 〃I'll try； sir！〃… spoken on the very verge of a desperate and
heroic enterprise； and breathing the soul and spirit of New England
hardihood； comprehending all perils； and encountering all。 If； in
our country； valour were rewarded by heraldic honour； this phrase…
which it seems so easy to speak； but which only he； with such a task
of danger and glory before him； has ever spoken… would be the best and
fittest of all mottoes for the General's shield of arms。
It contributes greatly towards a man's moral and intellectual
health； to be brought into habits of companionship with individuals
unlike himself； who care little for his pursuits； and whose sphere and
abilities he must go out of himself to appreciate。 The accidents of my
life have often afforded me this advantage； but never with more
fulness and variety than during my continuance in office。 There was
one man； especially； the observation of whose character gave me a
new idea of talent。 His gifts were emphatically those of a man of
business； prompt； acute； clear…minded； with an eye that saw through
all perplexities； and a faculty of arrangement that made them
vanish； as by the waving of an enchanter's wand。 Bred up from
boyhood in the Custom…House； it was his proper field of activity；
and the many intricacies of business； so harassing to the
interloper； presented themselves before him with the regularity of a
perfectly comprehended system。 In my contemplation； be stood as the
ideal of his class。 He was； indeed； the Custom…House in himself； or；
at all events； the mainspring that kept its variously revolving wheels
in motion； for； in an institution like this； where its officers are
appointed to subserve their own profit and convenience； and seldom
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 trou