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THE SCARLET LETTER by Nathaniel HawthorneINTRODUCTORY THE CUSTOM…HOUSE。 INTRODUCTORY TO 〃THE SCARLET LETTER〃。 IT is a little remarkable； that… though disinclined to talk overmuchof myself and my affairs at the fireside； and to my personalfriends… an autobiographical impulse should twice in my life havetaken possession of me； in addressing the public。 The first time wasthree or four years since； when I favoured the reader… inexcusably；and for no earthly reason； that either the indulgent reader or theintrusive author could imagine… with a description of my way of lifein the deep quietude of an Old Manse。 And now… because； beyond mydeserts； I was happy enough to find a listener or two on the formeroccasion… I again seize the public by the button； and talk of my threeyears' experience in a Custom…House。 The example of the famous 〃P。 P。；Clerk of this Parish；〃 was never more faithfully followed。 The truthseems to be； however； that； when he casts his leaves forth upon thewind； the author addresses； not the many who will fling aside hisvolume； or never take it up； but the few who will understand him；better than most of his schoolmates or lifemates。 Some authors；indeed； do far more than this； and indulge themselves in suchconfidential depths of revelation as could fittingly be addressed；only and exclusively； to the one heart and mind； of perfectsympathy； as if the printed book； thrown at large on the wide world；were certain to find out the divided segment of the writer's ownnature； and plete his circle of existence by bringing him intomunion with it。 It is scarcely decorous； however； to speak all；even where we speak impersonally。 But； as thoughts are frozen andutterance benumbed； unless the speaker stand in some true relationwith his audience； it may be pardonable to imagine that a friend； akind and apprehensive； though not the closest friend； is listeningto our talk； and then； a native reserve being thawed by this genialconsciousness； we may prate of the circumstances that lie around us；and even of ourself； but still keep the inmost Me behind its veil。To this extent； and within these limits； an author； methinks； may beautobiographical； without violating either the reader's rights orhis own。 It will be seen； likewise； that this Custom…House sketch has acertain propriety； of a kind always recognised in literature； asexplaining how a large portion of the following pages came into mypossession； and as offering proofs of the authenticity of anarrative therein contained。 This； in fact… a desire to put myselfin my true position as editor； or very little more； of the most prolixamong the tales that make up my volume… this； and no other； is my truereason for assuming a personal relation with the public。 Inacplishing the main purpose； it has appeared allowable； by a fewextra touches； to give a faint representation of a mode of life notheretofore described； together with some of the characters that movein it； among whom the author happened to make one。 In my native town of Salem； at the head of what； half a century ago；in the days of old King Derby； was a bustling wharf… but which isnow burdened with decayed wooden warehouses； and exhibits few or nosymptoms of mercial life； except； perhaps； a bark or brig； half…waydown its melancholy length； discharging hides； or； nearer at hand； aNova Scotia schooner； pitching out her cargo of firewood… at thehead； I say； of this dilapidated wharf； which the tide oftenoverflows； and along which； at the base and in the rear of the rowof buildings； the track of many languid years is seen in a border ofunthrifty grass… here； with a view from its front windows adown thisnot very enlivening prospect； and thence across the harbour； standsa spacious edifice of brick。 From the loftiest point of its roof；during precisely three and a half hours of each forenoon； floats ordroops； in breeze or calm； the banner of the republic； but with thethirteen stripes turned vertically； instead of horizontally； andthus indicating that a civil； and not a military post of Uncle Sam'sgovernment is here established。 Its front is ornamented with a porticoof half…a…dozen wooden pillars； supporting a balcony； beneath whicha flight of wide granite steps descends towards the street。 Over theentrance hovers an enormous specimen of the American eagle； withoutspread wings； a shield before her breast； and； if I recollectaright； a bunch of intermingled thunderbolts and barbed arrows in eachclaw。 With the customary infirmity of temper that characterises thisunhappy fowl； she appears； by the fierceness of her beak and eye；and the general truculency of her attitude； to threaten mischief tothe inoffensive munity； and especially to warn all citizens；careful of their safety； against intruding on the premises which sheovershadows with her wings。 Nevertheless； vixenly as she looks； manypeople are seeking； at this very moment； to shelter themselves underthe wing of the federal eagle； imagining； I presume； that her bosomhas all the softness and snugness of an eider…down pillow。 But she hasno great tenderness； even in her best of moods； and； sooner orlater… oftener soon than late… is apt to fling off her nestlings； witha scratch of her claw； a dab of her beak； or a rankling wound from herbarbed arrows。 The pavement round about the above…described edifice… which we mayas well name at once as the Custom…House of the port… has grass enoughgrowing in its chinks to show that it has not； of late days； been wornby any multitudinous resort of business。 In some months of the year；however； there often chances a forenoon when affairs move onwardwith a livelier tread。 Such occasions might remind the elderly citizenof that period before the last war with England； when Salem was a portby itself； not scorned； as she is now； by her own merchants andship…owners； who permit her wharves to crumble to ruin； while theirventures go to swell； needlessly and imperceptibly； the mighty floodof merce at New York or Boston。 On some such morning； when three orfour vessels happen to have arrived at once… usually from Africa orSouth America… or to be on the verge of their departure thitherward；there is a sound of frequent feet； passing briskly up and down thegranite steps。 Here； before his own wife has greeted him； you maygreet the sea…flushed shipmaster； just in port； with his vessel'spapers under his arm； in a tarnished tin box。 Here； too； es hisowner； cheerful or sombre； gracious or in the sulks； accordingly ashis scheme of the now acplished voyage has been realised inmerchandise that will readily be turned to gold； or has buried himunder a bulk of inmodities； such as nobody will care to rid him of。Here； likewise… the germ of the wrinkle…browed； grizzly…bearded；care…worn merchant… we have the smart young clerk； who gets thetaste of traffic as a wolf…cub does of blood； and already sendsadventures in his master's ships； when he had better be sailingmimic…b