第4部分(第1/7 页)

re　he　to　continue　inoffice　to　the　end　of　time；　would　be　just　as　good　as　he　was　then；　andsit　down　to　dinner　with　just　as　good　an　appetite。 There　is　one　likeness；　without　which　my　gallery　of　Custom…Houseportraits　would　be　strangely　inplete；　but　which　my　parativelyfew　opportunities　for　observation　enable　me　to　sketch　only　in　themerest　outline。　It　is　that　of　the　Collector；　our　gallant　oldGeneral；　who；　after　his　brilliant　military　service；　subsequently　towhich　he　had　ruled　over　a　wild　Western　territory；　had　e　hither；twenty　years　before；　to　spend　the　decline　of　his　varied　and　honourablelife。　The　brave　soldier　had　already　numbered；　nearly　or　quite；　histhreescore　years　and　ten；　and　was　pursuing　the　remainder　of　hisearthly　march；　burdened　with　infirmities　which　even　the　martialmusic　of　his　own　spirit…stirring　recollections　could　do　little　towardslightening。　The　step　was　palsied　now；　that　had　been　foremost　in　thecharge。　It　was　only　with　the　assistance　of　a　servant；　and　by　leaninghis　hand　heavily　on　the　iron　balustrade；　that　he　could　slowly　andpainfully　ascend　the　Custom…House　steps；　and；　with　a　toilsome　progressacross　the　floor；　attain　his　customary　chair　beside　the　fireplace。There　he　used　to　sit；　gazing　with　a　somewhat　dim　serenity　of　aspect　atthe　figures　that　came　and　went；　amid　the　rustle　of　papers；　theadministering　of　oaths；　the　discussion　of　business；　and　the　casualtalk　of　the　office；　all　which　sounds　and　circumstances　seemed　butindistinctly　to　impress　his　senses；　and　hardly　to　make　their　wayinto　his　inner　sphere　of　contemplation。　His　countenance；　in　thisrepose；　was　mild　and　kindly。　If　his　notice　was　sought；　an　expressionof　courtesy　and　interest　gleamed　out　upon　his　features；　proving　thatthere　was　light　within　him；　and　that　it　was　only　the　outward　medium　ofthe　intellect