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I AM a rather elderly man. The nature of my avocations for the last thirtyyears has brought me into more than ordinary

contact with what would seem an interesting and somewhat singular set of menof whom as yet nothing that I know of has

ever been written:--I mean the law-copyists or scriveners. I have known verymany of themprofessionally and privatelyand

if I pleasedcould relate divers historiesat which good-natured gentlemenmight smileand sentimental souls might weep.

But I waive the biographies of all other scriveners for a few passages in thelife of Bartlebywho was a scrivener the

strangest I ever saw or heard of. While of other law-copyists I might writethe complete lifeof Bartleby nothing of that sort

can be done. I believe that no materials exist for a full and satisfactorybiography of this man. It is an irreparable loss to

literature. Bartleby was one of those beings of whom nothing is ascertainableexcept from the original sourcesand in his

a gradual wane--till 6 o'clockP. M. or thereaboutsafter which I saw nomore of the proprietor of the facewhich gaining its

meridian with the sunseemed to set with itto riseculminateand declinethe following daywith the like regularity and

undiminished glory. There are many singular coincidences I have known in thecourse of my lifenot the least among which

was the factthat exactly when Turkey displayed his fullest beams from hisred and radiant countenancejust thentooat

that critical momentbegan the daily period when I considered his businesscapacities as seriously disturbed for the

remainder of the twenty-four hours. Not that he was absolutely idleoraverse to business then; far from it. The difficulty

washe was apt to be altogether too energetic. There was a strangeinflamedflurriedflighty recklessness of activity about

him. He would be incautious in dipping his pen into his inkstand. All hisblots upon my documentswere dropped there after

twelve o'clockmeridian. Indeednot only would he be reckless and sadlygiven to making blots in the afternoonbut some

days he went furtherand was rather noisy. At such timestoohis faceflamed with augmented blazonryas if cannel coal

had been heaped on anthracite. He made an unpleasant racket with his chair;spilled his sand-box; in mending his pens

impatiently split them all to piecesand threw them on the floor in a suddenpassion; stood up and leaned over his table

boxing his papers about in a most indecorous mannervery sad to behold in anelderly man like him. Neverthelessas he was

in many ways a most valuable person to meand all the time before twelveo'clockmeridianwas the quickeststeadiest

creature tooaccomplishing a great deal of work in a style not easy to bematched--for these reasonsI was willing to

overlook his eccentricitiesthough indeedoccasionallyI remonstrated withhim. I did this very gentlyhoweverbecause

though the civilestnaythe blandest and most reverential of men in themorningyet in the afternoon he was disposedupon

provocationto be slightly rash with his tonguein factinsolent. Nowvaluing his morning services as I didand resolved

not to lose them; yetat the same time made uncomfortable by his inflamedways after twelve o'clock; and being a man of

peaceunwilling by my admonitions to call forth unseemly retorts from him; Itook upon meone Saturday noon (he was

always worse on Saturdays)to hint to himvery kindlythat perhaps nowthat he was growing oldit might be well to

abridge his labors; in shorthe need not come to my chambers after twelveo'clockbutdinner overhad best go home to his

lodgings and rest himself till tea-time. But no; he insisted upon hisafternoon devotions. His countenance became intolerably

fervidas he oratorically assured me--gesticulating with a long ruler at theother end of the room--that if his services in the

morning were usefulhow indispensiblethenin the afternoon?

"With submissionsir" said Turkey on this occasion"Iconsider myself your right-hand man. In the morning I but marshal

and deploy my columns; but in the afternoon I put myself at their headandgallantly charge the foethus!"--and he made a

violent thrust with the ruler.

"But the blotsTurkey" intimated I.

"True--butwith submissionsirbehold these hairs! I am getting old.Surelysira blot or two of a warm afternoon is not to

gentlemanly sort of deportment. Added to thishe always dressed in agentlemanly sort of way; and soincidentally

reflected credit upon my chambers. Whereas with respect to TurkeyI had muchado to keep him from being a reproach to

me. His clothes were apt to look oily and smell of eating-houses. He wore hispantaloons very loose and baggy in summer.

His coats were execrable; his hat not be to handled. But while the hat was athing of indifference to meinasmuch as his

natural civility and deferenceas a dependent Englishmanalways led him todoff it the moment he entered the roomyet his

coat was another matter. Concerning his coatsI reasoned with him; but withno effect. The truth wasI supposethat a man

with so small an incomecould not afford to sport such a lustrous face and alustrous coat at one and the same time. As

Nippers once observedTurkey's money went chiefly for red ink. One winterday I presented Turkey with a highly-respectable

looking coat of my owna padded gray coatof a most comfortable warmthandwhich buttoned straight up from

the knee to the neck. I thought Turkey would appreciate the favorand abatehis rashness and obstreperousness of

afternoons. But no. I verily believe that buttoning himself up in so downyand blanket-like a coat had a pernicious effect

upon him; upon the same principle that too much oats are bad for horses. Infactprecisely as a rashrestive horse is said to

feel his oatsso Turkey felt his coat. It made him insolent. He was a manwhom prosperity harmed.

Though concerning the self-indulgent habits of Turkey I had my own privatesurmisesyet touching Nippers I was well

persuaded that whatever might be his faults in other respectshe wasatleasta temperate young man. But indeednature

herself seemed to have been his vintnerand at his birth charged him sothoroughly with an irritablebrandy-like disposition

that all subsequent potations were needless. When I consider howamid thestillness of my chambersNippers would

sometimes impatiently rise from his seatand stooping over his tablespreadhis arms wide apartseize the whole deskand

move itand jerk itwith a grimgrinding motion on the flooras if thetable were a perverse voluntary agentintent on

thwarting and vexing him; I plainly perceive that for Nippersbrandy andwater were altogether superfluous.

It was fortunate for me thatowing to its peculiar cause--indigestion--theirritability and consequent nervousness of Nippers

were mainly observable in the morningwhile in the afternoon he wascomparatively mild. So that Turkey's paroxysms only

coming on about twelve o'clockI never had to do with their eccentricitiesat one time. Their fits relieved each other like

commanded at present no view at allthough it gave some light. Within threefeet of the panes was a walland the light came

down from far abovebetween two lofty buildingsas from a very smallopening in a dome. Still further to a satisfactory

arrangementI procured a high green folding screenwhich might entirelyisolate Bartleby from my sightthough not remove

him from my voice. And thusin a mannerprivacy and society were conjoined.

At first Bartleby did an extraordinary quantity of writing. As if longfamishing for something to copyhe seemed to gorge

himself on my documents. There was no pause for digestion. He ran a day andnight linecopying by sun-light and by

candle-light. I should have been quite delighted with his applicationhad bebeen cheerfully industrious. But he wrote on

silentlypalelymechanically.

It isof coursean indispensable part of a scrivener's business to verifythe accuracy of his copyword by word. Where there

are two or more scriveners in an officethey assist each other in thisexaminationone reading from the copythe other

holding the original. It is a very dullwearisomeand lethargic affair. Ican readily imagine that to some sanguine

temperaments it would be altogether intolerable. For exampleI cannot creditthat the mettlesome poet Byron would have

contentedly sat down with Bartleby to examine a law document ofsay fivehundred pagesclosely written in a crimpy hand.

Now and thenin the haste of businessit had been my habit to assist incomparing some brief document myselfcalling

Turkey or Nippers for this purpose. One object I had in placing Bartleby sohandy to me behind the screenwas to avail

myself of his services on such trivial occasions. It was on the third dayIthinkof his being with meand before any

necessity had arisen for having his own writing examinedthatbeing muchhurried to complete a small affair I had in handI

abruptly called to Bartleby. In my haste and natural expectancy of instantcomplianceI sat with my head bent over the

original on my deskand my right hand sidewaysand somewhat nervouslyextended with the copyso that immediately

upon emerging from his retreatBartleby might snatch it and proceed tobusiness without the least delay.

In this very attitude did I sit when I called to himrapidly stating what itwas I wanted him to do--namelyto examine a small

paper with me. Imagine my surprisenaymy consternationwhen withoutmoving from his privacyBartleby in a singularly

mildfirm voicereplied"I would prefer not to."

I sat awhile in perfect silencerallying my stunned faculties. Immediatelyit occurred to me that my ears had deceived meor

Bartleby had entirely misunderstood my meaning. I repeated my request in theclearest tone I could assume. But in quite as

clear a one came the previous reply"I would prefer not to."

"Prefer not to" echoed Irising in high excitementand crossingthe room with a stride. "What do you mean? Are you moon-struck?

I want you to help me compare this sheet here--take it" and I thrust ittowards him.

"I would prefer not to" said he.

I looked at him steadfastly. His face was leanly composed; his gray eye dimlycalm. Not a wrinkle of agitation rippled him.

Had there been the least uneasinessangerimpatience or impertinence in hismanner; in other wordshad there been any

thing ordinarily human about himdoubtless I should have violently dismissedhim from the premises. But as it wasI should

have as soon thought of turning my pale plaster-of-paris bust of Cicero outof doors. I stood gazing at him awhileas he went

on with his own writingand then reseated myself at my desk. This is verystrangethought I. What had one best do? But my

business hurried me. I concluded to forget the matter for the presentreserving it for my future leisure. So calling Nippers

from the other roomthe paper was speedily examined.

A few days after thisBartleby concluded four lengthy documentsbeingquadruplicates of a week's testimony taken before

me in my High Court of Chancery. It became necessary to examine them. It wasan important suitand great accuracy was

imperative. Having all things arranged I called TurkeyNippers and GingerNut from the next roommeaning to place the

four copies in the hands of my four clerkswhile I should read from theoriginal. Accordingly TurkeyNippers and Ginger

Nut had taken their seats in a roweach with his document in handwhen Icalled to Bartleby to join this interesting group.

"Bartleby! quickI am waiting."

I heard a slow scrape of his chair legs on the uncarpeted floorand soon heappeared standing at the entrance of his

hermitage.

"What is wanted?" said he mildly.

"The copiesthe copies" said I hurriedly. "We are going toexamine them. There"--and I held towards him the fourth

quadruplicate.

For a few moments I was turned into a pillar of saltstanding at the head ofmy seated column of clerks. Recovering myself

I advanced towards the screenand demanded the reason for such extraordinaryconduct.

of their peculiar constituentsand the final flavoring one. Now what wasginger? A hotspicy thing. Was Bartleby hot and

spicy? Not at all. Gingerthenhad no effect upon Bartleby. Probably hepreferred it should have none.

Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance. If theindividual so resisted be of a not inhumane temper

and the resisting one perfectly harmless in his passivity; thenin thebetter moods of the formerhe will endeavor charitably

to construe to his imagination what proves impossible to be solved by hisjudgment. Even sofor the most partI regarded

Bartleby and his ways. Poor fellow! thought Ihe means no mischief; it isplain he intends no insolence; his aspect

sufficiently evinces that his eccentricities are involuntary. He is useful tome. I can get along with him. If I turn him away

the chances are he will fall in with some less indulgent employerand thenhe will be rudely treatedand perhaps driven forth

miserably to starve. Yes. Here I can cheaply purchase a deliciousself-approval. To befriend Bartleby; to humor him in his

strange wilfulnesswill cost me little or nothingwhile I lay up in my soulwhat will eventually prove a sweet morsel for my

conscience. But this mood was not invariable with me. The passiveness ofBartleby sometimes irritated me. I felt strangely

goaded on to encounter him in new oppositionto elicit some angry spark fromhim answerable to my own. But indeed I

might as well have essayed to strike fire with my knuckles against a bit ofWindsor soap. But one afternoon the evil impulse

in me mastered meand the following little scene ensued:

"Bartleby" said I"when those papers are all copiedI willcompare them with you."

"I would prefer not to."

"How? Surely you do not mean to persist in that mulish vagary?"

No answer.

I threw open the folding-doors near byand turning upon Turkey and Nippersexclaimed in an excited manner--

"He saysa second timehe won't examine his papers. What do you thinkof itTurkey?"

It was afternoonbe it remembered. Turkey sat glowing like a brass boilerhis bald head steaminghis hands reeling among

his blotted papers.

"Think of it?" roared Turkey; "I think I'll just step behindhis screenand black his eyes for him!"

So sayingTurkey rose to his feet and threw his arms into a pugilisticposition. He was hurrying away to make good his

promisewhen I detained himalarmed at the effect of incautiously rousingTurkey's combativeness after dinner.

"Sit downTurkey" said I"and hear what Nippers has to say.What do you think of itNippers? Would I not be justified in

immediately dismissing Bartleby?"

"Excuse methat is for you to decidesir. I think his conduct quiteunusualand indeed unjustas regards Turkey and myself.

But it may only be a passing whim."

"Ah" exclaimed I"you have strangely changed your mindthen--you speak very gently of him now."

No answer.

"Bartleby" in a louder tone.

No answer.

"Bartleby" I roared.

Like a very ghostagreeably to the laws of magical invocationat the thirdsummonshe appeared at the entrance of his

hermitage.

"Go to the next roomand tell Nippers to come to me."

"I prefer not to" he respectfully and slowly saidand mildlydisappeared.

"Very goodBartleby" said Iin a quiet sort of serenely severeself-possessed toneintimating the unalterable purpose of

some terrible retribution very close at hand. At the moment I half intendedsomething of the kind. But upon the wholeas it

was drawing towards my dinner-hourI thought it best to put on my hat andwalk home for the daysuffering much from

perplexity and distress of mind.

Shall I acknowledge it? The conclusion of this whole business wasthat itsoon became a fixed fact of my chambersthat a

pale young scrivenerby the name of Bartlebyhad a desk there; that hecopied for me at the usual rate of four cents a folio

(one hundred words); but he was permanently exempt from examining the workdone by himthat duty being transferred to

Turkey and Nippersone of compliment doubtless to their superior acuteness;moreoversaid Bartleby was never on any

account to be dispatched on the most trivial errand of any sort; and thateven if entreated to take upon him such a matterit

was generally understood that he would prefer not to--in other wordsthat hewould refuse point-blank.

As days passed onI became considerably reconciled to Bartleby. Hissteadinesshis freedom from all dissipationhis

incessant industry (except when he chose to throw himself into a standingrevery behind his screen)his great stillnesshis

that Bartleby was an immoral person. But what could he be doingthere?--copying? Nay againwhatever might be his

eccentricitiesBartleby was an eminently decorous person. He would be thelast man to sit down to his desk in any state

approaching to nudity. Besidesit was Sunday; and there was something aboutBartleby that forbade the supposition that we

would by any secular occupation violate the proprieties of the day.

Neverthelessmy mind was not pacified; and full of a restless curiosityatlast I returned to the door. Without hindrance I

inserted my keyopened itand entered. Bartleby was not to be seen. Ilooked round anxiouslypeeped behind his screen;

but it was very plain that he was gone. Upon more closely examining theplaceI surmised that for an indefinite period

Bartleby must have atedressedand slept in my officeand that too withoutplatemirroror bed. The cushioned seat of a

ricketty old sofa in one corner bore the faint impress of a leanrecliningform. Rolled away under his deskI found a blanket;

under the empty gratea blacking box and brush; on a chaira tin basinwith soap and a ragged towel; in a newspaper a few

crumbs of ginger-nuts and a morsel of cheese. Yetthought Iit is evidentenough that Bartleby has been making his home

herekeeping bachelor's hall all by himself. Immediately then the thoughtcame sweeping across meWhat miserable

friendlessness and loneliness are here revealed! His poverty is great; buthis solitudehow horrible! Think of it. Of a Sunday

Wall-street is deserted as Petra; and every night of every day it is anemptiness. This building toowhich of week-days hums

with industry and lifeat nightfall echoes with sheer vacancyand allthrough Sunday is forlorn. And here Bartleby makes his

home; sole spectator of a solitude which he has seen all populous--a sort ofinnocent and transformed Marius brooding

among the ruins of Carthage!

For the first time in my life a feeling of overpowering stinging melancholyseized me. BeforeI had never experienced aught

but a not-unpleasing sadness. The bond of a common humanity now drew meirresistibly to gloom. A fraternal melancholy!

For both I and Bartleby were sons of Adam. I remembered the bright silks andsparkling faces I had seen that dayin gala

trimswan-like sailing down the Mississippi of Broadway; and I contrastedthem with the pallid copyistand thought to

myselfAhhappiness courts the lightso we deem the world is gay; butmisery hides aloofso we deem that misery there is

none. These sad fancyings--chimerasdoubtlessof a sick and sillybrain--led on to other and more special thoughts

concerning the eccentricities of Bartleby. Presentiments of strangediscoveries hovered round me. The scrivener's pale form

appeared to me laid outamong uncaring strangersin its shivering windingsheet.

Suddenly I was attracted by Bartleby's closed deskthe key in open sightleft in the lock.

I mean no mischiefseek the gratification of no heartless curiositythoughtI; besidesthe desk is mineand its contents too

so I will make bold to look within. Every thing was methodically arrangedthe papers smoothly placed. The pigeon holes

were deepand removing the files of documentsI groped into their recesses.Presently I felt something thereand dragged it

out. It was an old bandanna handkerchiefheavy and knotted. I opened itandsaw it was a savings' bank.

I now recalled all the quiet mysteries which I had noted in the man. Iremembered that he never spoke but to answer; that

though at intervals he had considerable time to himselfyet I had never seenhim reading--nonot even a newspaper; that for

long periods he would stand looking outat his pale window behind thescreenupon the dead brick wall; I was quite sure he

never visited any refectory or eating house; while his pale face clearlyindicated that he never drank beer like Turkeyor tea

and coffee evenlike other men; that he never went any where in particularthat I could learn; never went out for a walk

unless indeed that was the case at present; that he had declined telling whohe wasor whence he cameor whether he had

any relatives in the world; that though so thin and palehe never complainedof ill health. And more than allI remembered a

certain unconscious air of pallid--how shall I call it?--of pallidhaughtinesssayor rather an austere reserve about him

which had positively awed me into my tame compliance with his eccentricitieswhen I had feared to ask him to do the

slightest incidental thing for meeven though I might knowfrom hislong-continued motionlessnessthat behind his screen

he must be standing in one of those dead-wall reveries of his.

Revolving all these thingsand coupling them with the recently discoveredfact that he made my office his constant abiding

place and homeand not forgetful of his morbid moodiness; revolving allthese thingsa prudential feeling began to steal

over me. My first emotions had been those of pure melancholy and sincerestpity; but just in proportion as the forlornness of

Bartleby grew and grew to my imaginationdid that same melancholy merge intofearthat pity into repulsion. So true it is

and so terrible toothat up to a certain point the thought or sight ofmisery enlists our best affections; butin certain special

casesbeyond that point it does not. They err who would assert thatinvariably this is owing to the inherent selfishness of the

human heart. It rather proceeds from a certain hopelessness of remedyingexcessive and organic ill. To a sensitive beingpity

is not seldom pain. And when at last it is perceived that such pity cannotlead to effectual succorcommon sense bids the

soul be rid of it. What I saw that morning persuaded me that the scrivenerwas the victim of innate and incurable disorder. I

I did not accomplish the purpose of going to Trinity Church that morning.Somehowthe things I had seen disqualified me

for the time from church-going. I walked homewardthinking what I would dowith Bartleby. FinallyI resolved upon this;--

I would put certain calm questions to him the next morningtouching hishistory&c.and if he declined to answer then

openly and reservedly (and I supposed he would prefer not)then to give hima twenty dollar bill over and above whatever I

might owe himand tell him his services were no longer required; but that ifin any other way I could assist himI would be

happy to do soespecially if he desired to return to his native placewherever that might beI would willingly help to defray

the expenses. Moreoverifafter reaching homehe found himself at any timein want of aida letter from him would be sure

of a reply.

The next morning came.

"Bartleby" said Igently calling to him behind his screen.

No reply.

"Bartleby" said Iin a still gentler tone"come here; I amnot going to ask you to do any thing you would prefer not to do--I

simply wish to speak to you."

Upon this he noiselessly slid into view.

"Will you tell meBartlebywhere you were born?"

"I would prefer not to."

As Nipperslooking very sour and sulkywas departingTurkey blandly anddeferentially approached.

"With submissionsir" said he"yesterday I was thinkingabout Bartleby hereand I think that if he would but prefer to take

a quart of good ale every dayit would do much towards mending himandenabling him to assist in examining his papers."

"So you have got the word too" said Islightly excited.

"With submissionwhat wordsir" asked Turkeyrespectfullycrowding himself into the contracted space behind the screen

and by so doingmaking me jostle the scrivener. "What wordsir?"

"I would prefer to be left alone here" said Bartlebyas ifoffended at being mobbed in his privacy.

I buttoned up my coatbalanced myself; advanced slowly towards himtouchedhis shoulderand said"The time has come;

you must quit this place; I am sorry for you; here is money; but you mustgo."

"I would prefer not" he repliedwith his back still towards me.

He remained silent.

Now I had an unbounded confidence in this man's common honesty. He hadfrequently restored to me sixpences and

shillings carelessly dropped upon the floorfor I am apt to be very recklessin such shirt-button affairs. The proceeding then

which followed will not be deemed extraordinary.

"Bartleby" said I"I owe you twelve dollars on account; hereare thirty-two; the odd twenty are yours.--Will you take it?"

and I handed the bills towards him.

But he made no motion.

"I will leave them here then" putting them under a weight on thetable. Then taking my hat and cane and going to the door I

tranquilly turned and added--"After you have removed your things fromthese officesBartlebyyou will of course lock the

door--since every one is now gone for the day but you--and if you pleaseslip your key underneath the matso that I may

have it in the morning. I shall not see you again; so good-bye to you. Ifhereafter in your new place of abode I can be of any

service to youdo not fail to advise me by letter. Good-byeBartlebyandfare you well."

But he answered not a word; like the last column of some ruined templeheremained standing mute and solitary in the

middle of the otherwise deserted room.

As I walked home in a pensive moodmy vanity got the better of my pity. Icould not but highly plume myself on my

masterly management in getting rid of Bartleby. Masterly I call itand suchit must appear to any dispassionate thinker. The

beauty of my procedure seemed to consist in its perfect quietness. There wasno vulgar bullyingno bravado of any sortno

choleric hectoringand striding to and fro across the apartmentjerking outvehement commands for Bartleby to bundle

himself off with his beggarly traps. Nothing of the kind. Without loudlybidding Bartleby depart--as an inferior genius might

It was Bartleby.

I was thunderstruck. For an instant I stood like the man whopipe in mouthwas killed one cloudless afternoon long ago in

Virginiaby summer lightning; at his own warm open window he was killedandremained leaning out there upon the

dreamy afternoontill some one touched himwhen he fell.

"Not gone!" I murmured at last. But again obeying that wondrousascendancy which the inscrutable scrivener had over me

and from which ascendencyfor all my chafingI could not completely escapeI slowly went down stairs and out into the

streetand while walking round the blockconsidered what I should next doin this unheard-of perplexity. Turn the man out

by an actual thrusting I could not; to drive him away by calling him hardnames would not do; calling in the police was an

unpleasant idea; and yetpermit him to enjoy his cadaverous triumph overme--this too I could not think of. What was to be

"What earthly right have you to stay here? Do you pay any rent? Do youpay my taxes? Or is this property yours?"

He answered nothing.

"Are you ready to go on and write now? Are your eyes recovered? Couldyou copy a small paper for me this morning? or

help examine a few lines? or step round to the post-office? In a wordwillyou do any thing at allto give a coloring to your

refusal to depart the premises?"

He silently retired into his hermitage.

I was now in such a state of nervous resentment that I thought it but prudentto check myself at present from further

demonstrations. Bartleby and I were alone. I remembered the tragedy of theunfortunate Adams and the still more

unfortunate Colt in the solitary office of the latter; and how poor Coltbeing dreadfully incensed by Adamsand imprudently

permitting himself to get wildly excitedwas at unawares hurried into hisfatal act--an act which certainly no man could

possibly deplore more than the actor himself. Often it had occurred to me inmy ponderings upon the subjectthat had that

altercation taken place in the public streetor at a private residenceitwould not have terminated as it did. It was the

circumstance of being alone in a solitary officeup stairsof a buildingentirely unhallowed by humanizing domestic

associations--an uncarpeted officedoubtlessof a dustyhaggard sort ofappearance;--this it must have beenwhich greatly

helped to enhance the irritable desperation of the hapless Colt.

But when this old Adam of resentment rose in me and tempted me concerningBartlebyI grappled him and threw him.

How? Whysimply by recalling the divine injunction: "A new commandmentgive I unto youthat ye love one another."

Yesthis it was that saved me. Aside from higher considerationscharityoften operates as a vastly wise and prudent

principle--a great safeguard to its possessor. Men have committed murder forjealousy's sakeand anger's sakeand hatred's

sakeand selfishness' sakeand spiritual pride's sake; but no man that everI heard ofever committed a diabolical murder for

sweet charity's sake. Mere self-interestthenif no better motive can beenlistedshouldespecially with high-tempered men

prompt all beings to charity and philanthropy. At any rateupon the occasionin questionI strove to drown my exasperated

feelings towards the scrivener by benevolently construing his conduct. Poorfellowpoor fellow! thought Ihe don't mean

any thing; and besideshe has seen hard timesand ought to be indulged.

I endeavored also immediately to occupy myselfand at the same time tocomfort my despondency. I tried to fancy that in

the course of the morningat such time as might prove agreeable to himBartlebyof his own free accordwould emerge

came; Turkey began to glow in the faceoverturn his inkstandand becomegenerally obstreperous; Nippers abated down

into quietude and courtesy; Ginger Nut munched his noon apple; and Bartlebyremained standing at his window in one of his

profoundest dead-wall reveries. Will it be credited? Ought I to acknowledgeit? That afternoon I left the office without

saying one further word to him.

Some days now passedduring whichat leisure intervals I looked a littleinto "Edwards on the Will" and "Priestley on

Necessity." Under the circumstancesthose books induced a salutaryfeeling. Gradually I slid into the persuasion that these

troubles of mine touching the scrivenerhad been all predestinated frometernityand Bartleby was billeted upon me for

some mysterious purpose of an all-wise Providencewhich it was not for amere mortal like me to fathom. YesBartleby

stay there behind your screenthought I; I shall persecute you no more; youare harmless and noiseless as any of these old

chairs; in shortI never feel so private as when I know you are here. Atleast I see itI feel it; I penetrate to the predestinated

purpose of my life. I am content. Others may have loftier parts to enact; butmy mission in this worldBartlebyis to furnish

you with office-room for such period as you may see fit to remain.

I believe that this wise and blessed frame of mind would have continued withmehad it not been for the unsolicited and

uncharitable remarks obtruded upon me by my professional friends who visitedthe rooms. But thus it often isthat the

constant friction of illiberal minds wears out at last the best resolves ofthe more generous. Though to be surewhen I

reflected upon itit was not strange that people entering my office shouldbe struck by the peculiar aspect of the

unaccountable Bartlebyand so be tempted to throw out some sinisterobservations concerning him. Sometimes an attorney

having business with meand calling at my officeand finding no one but thescrivener therewould undertake to obtain

some sort of precise information from him touching my whereabouts; butwithout heeding his idle talkBartleby would

remain standing immovable in the middle of the room. So after contemplatinghim in that position for a timethe attorney

would departno wiser than he came.

Alsowhen a Reference was going onand the room full of lawyers andwitnesses and business was driving fast; some

deeply occupied legal gentleman presentseeing Bartleby wholly unemployedwould request him to run round to his (the

legal gentleman's) office and fetch some papers for him. ThereuponBartlebywould tranquilly declineand yet remain idle

as before. Then the lawyer would give a great stareand turn to me. And whatcould I say? At last I was made aware that all

through the circle of my professional acquaintancea whisper of wonder wasrunning roundhaving reference to the strange

creature I kept at my office. This worried me very much. And as the idea cameupon me of his possibly turning out a long-lived

manand keep occupying my chambersand denying my authority; and perplexingmy visitors; and scandalizing my

professional reputation; and casting a general gloom over the premises;keeping soul and body together to the last upon his

savings (for doubtless he spent but half a dime a day)and in the endperhaps outlive meand claim possession of my office

by right of his perpetual occupancy: as all these dark anticipations crowdedupon me more and moreand my friends

continually intruded their relentless remarks upon the apparition in my room;a great change was wrought in me. I resolved

to gather all my faculties togetherand for ever rid me of this intolerableincubus.

Ere revolving any complicated projecthoweveradapted to this endI firstsimply suggested to Bartleby the propriety of his

permanent departure. In a calm and serious toneI commended the idea to hiscareful and mature consideration. But having

taken three days to meditate upon ithe apprised me that his originaldetermination remained the same; in shortthat he still

preferred to abide with me.

What shall I do? I now said to myselfbuttoning up my coat to the lastbutton. What shall I do? what ought I to do? what

Acting accordinglynext day I thus addressed him: "I find thesechambers too far from the City Hall; the air is unwholesome.

In a wordI propose to remove my offices next weekand shall no longerrequire your services. I tell you this nowin order

that you may seek another place."

He made no replyand nothing more was said.

On the appointed day I engaged carts and menproceeded to my chambersandhaving but little furnitureevery thing was

removed in a few hours. Throughoutthe scrivener remained standing behindthe screenwhich I directed to be removed the

last thing. It was withdrawn; and being folded up like a huge folioleft himthe motionless occupant of a naked room. I stood

in the entry watching him a momentwhile something from within me upbraidedme.

I re-enteredwith my hand in my pocket--and--and my heart in my mouth.

"Good-byeBartleby; I am going--good-byeand God some way bless you;and take that" slipping something in his hand.

But it dropped upon the floorand then--strange to say--I tore myself fromhim whom I had so longed to be rid of.

Established in my new quartersfor a day or two I kept the door lockedandstarted at every footfall in the passages. When I

returned to my rooms after any little absenceI would pause at the thresholdfor an instantand attentively listenere

applying my key. But these fears were needless. Bartleby never came nigh me.

I thought all was going wellwhen a perturbed looking stranger visited meinquiring whether I was the person who had

recently occupied rooms at No. -- Wall-street.

Full of forebodingsI replied that I was.

"Then sir" said the strangerwho proved a lawyer"you areresponsible for the man you left there. He refuses to do any

copying; he refuses to do any thing; he says he prefers not to; and herefuses to quit the premises."

"I am very sorrysir" said Iwith assumed tranquillitybut aninward tremor"butreallythe man you allude to is nothing to

me--he is no relation or apprentice of minethat you should hold meresponsible for him."

"In mercy's namewho is he?"

"I certainly cannot inform you. I know nothing about him. Formerly Iemployed him as a copyist; but he has done nothing

for me now for some time past."

"I shall settle him then--good morningsir."

Several days passedand I heard nothing more; and though I often felt acharitable prompting to call at the place and see

poor Bartlebyyet a certain squeamishness of I know not what withheld me.

All is over with himby this timethought I at lastwhen through anotherweek no further intelligence reached me. But

coming to my room the day afterI found several persons waiting at my doorin a high state of nervous excitement.

"That's the man--here he comes" cried the foremost onewhom Irecognized as the lawyer who had previously called upon

me alone.

"You must take him awaysirat once" cried a portly person amongthemadvancing upon meand whom I knew to be the

landlord of No. -- Wall-street. "These gentlemenmy tenantscannotstand it any longer; Mr. B----" pointing to the lawyer

"has turned him out of his roomand he now persists in haunting thebuilding generallysitting upon the banisters of the

stairs by dayand sleeping in the entry by night. Every body is concerned;clients are leaving the offices; some fears are

entertained of a mob; something you must doand that without delay."

Aghast at this torrentI fell back before itand would fain have lockedmyself in my new quarters. In vain I persisted that

Bartleby was nothing to me--no more than to any one else. In vain:--I was thelast person known to have any thing to do with

himand they held me to the terrible account. Fearful then of being exposedin the papers (as one person present obscurely

threatened) I considered the matterand at length saidthat if the lawyerwould give me a confidential interview with the

scrivenerin his (the lawyer's) own roomI would that afternoon strive mybest to rid them of the nuisance they complained

of.

Going up stairs to my old hauntthere was Bartleby silently sitting upon thebanister at the landing.

"What are you doing hereBartleby?" said I.

I motioned him into the lawyer's roomwho then left us.

"Bartleby" said I"are you aware that you are the cause ofgreat tribulation to meby persisting in occupying the entry after

being dismissed from the office?"

No answer.

"Now one of two things must take place. Either you must do somethingorsomething must be done to you. Now what sort of

business would you like to engage in? Would you like to re-engage in copyingfor some one?"

"No; I would prefer not to make any change."

"Would you like a clerkship in a dry-goods store?"

"There is too much confinement about that. NoI would not like aclerkship; but I am not particular."

"Too much confinement" I cried"why you keep yourselfconfined all the time!"

"I would prefer not to take a clerkship" he rejoinedas if tosettle that little item at once.

"How would a bar-tender's business suit you? There is no trying of theeyesight in that."

"I would not like it at all; thoughas I said beforeI am notparticular."

His unwonted wordiness inspirited me. I returned to the charge.

"Well thenwould you like to travel through the country collectingbills for the merchants? That would improve your

health."

"NoI would prefer to be doing something else."

"How then would going as a companion to Europeto entertain some younggentleman with your conversation--how would

that suit you?"

"Not at all. It does not strike me that there is any thing definiteabout that. I like to be stationary. But I am not particular."

"Stationary you shall be then" I criednow losing all patienceand for the first time in all my exasperating connection with

bound--to--to--to quit the premises myself!" I rather absurdlyconcludedknowing not with what possible threat to try to

frighten his immobility into compliance. Despairing of all further effortsIwas precipitately leaving himwhen a final

thought occurred to me--one which had not been wholly unindulged before.

"Bartleby" said Iin the kindest tone I could assume under suchexciting circumstances"will you go home with me now--

not to my officebut my dwelling--and remain there till we can conclude uponsome convenient arrangement for you at our

leisure? Comelet us start nowright away."

"No: at present I would prefer not to make any change at all."

I answered nothing; but effectually dodging every one by the suddenness andrapidity of my flightrushed from the building

ran up Wall-street towards Broadwayand jumping into the first omnibus wassoon removed from pursuit. As soon as

tranquillity returned I distinctly perceived that I had now done all that Ipossibly couldboth in respect to the demands of the

landlord and his tenantsand with regard to my own desire and sense of dutyto benefit Bartlebyand shield him from rude

persecution. I now strove to be entirely care-free and quiescent; and myconscience justified me in the attempt; though

indeed it was not so successful as I could have wished. So fearful was I ofbeing again hunted out by the incensed landlord

and his exasperated tenantsthatsurrendering my business to Nippersfor afew days I drove about the upper part of the

town and through the suburbsin my rockaway; crossed over to Jersey City andHobokenand paid fugitive visits to

Manhattanville and Astoria. In fact I almost lived in my rockaway for thetime.

When again I entered my officeloa note from the landlord lay upon thedesk. I opened it with trembling hands. It informed

me that the writer had sent to the policeand had Bartleby removed to theTombs as a vagrant. Moreoversince I knew more

about him than any one elsehe wished me to appear at that placeand make asuitable statement of the facts. These tidings

had a conflicting effect upon me. At first I was indignant; but at lastalmost approved. The landlord's energeticsummary

disposition had led him to adopt a procedure which I do not think I wouldhave decided upon myself; and yet as a last resort

As I afterwards learnedthe poor scrivenerwhen told that he must beconducted to the Tombsoffered not the slightest

obstaclebut in his pale unmoving waysilently acquiesced.

Some of the compassionate and curious bystanders joined the party; and headedby one of the constables arm in arm with

Bartlebythe silent procession filed its way through all the noiseandheatand joy of the roaring thoroughfares at noon.

The same day I received the note I went to the Tombsor to speak moreproperlythe Halls of Justice. Seeking the right

officerI stated the purpose of my calland was informed that theindividual I described was indeed within. I then assured

the functionary that Bartleby was a perfectly honest manand greatly to becompassionatedhowever unaccountably

eccentric. I narrated all I knewand closed by suggesting the idea ofletting him remain in as indulgent confinement as

possible till something less harsh might be done--though indeed I hardly knewwhat. At all eventsif nothing else could be

decided uponthe alms-house must receive him. I then begged to have aninterview.

Being under no disgraceful chargeand quite serene and harmless in all hiswaysthey had permitted him freely to wander

about the prisonand especially in the inclosed grass-platted yards thereof.And so I found him therestanding all alone in

the quietest of the yardshis face towards a high wallwhile all aroundfrom the narrow slits of the jail windowsI thought I

saw peering out upon him the eyes of murderers and thieves.

"Bartleby!"

"I know you" he saidwithout looking round--"and I wantnothing to say to you."

"It was not I that brought you hereBartleby" said Ikeenlypained at his implied suspicion. "And to youthis should not be

so vile a place. Nothing reproachful attaches to you by being here. And seeit is not so sad a place as one might think. Look

there is the skyand here is the grass."

"I know where I am" he repliedbut would say nothing moreand soI left him.

As I entered the corridor againa broad meat-like manin an apronaccostedmeand jerking his thumb over his shoulder

said--"Is that your friend?"

"Yes."

"Does he want to starve? If he doeslet him live on the prison farethat's all."

"Who are you?" asked Inot knowing what to make of such anunofficially speaking person in such a place.

"I am the grub-man. Such gentlemen as have friends herehire me toprovide them with something good to eat."

"Is this so?" said Iturning to the turnkey.

He said it was.

"Well then" said Islipping some silver into the grub-man's hands(for so they called him). "I want you to give particular

attention to my friend there; let him have the best dinner you can get. Andyou must be as polite to him as possible."

"Introduce mewill you?" said the grub-manlooking at me with anexpression which seem to say he was all impatience for

an opportunity to give a specimen of his breeding.

Thinking it would prove of benefit to the scrivenerI acquiesced; and askingthe grub-man his namewent up with him to

Bartleby.

"Bartlebythis is Mr. Cutlets; you will find him very useful toyou."

"Your sarvantsiryour sarvant" said the grub-manmaking a lowsalutation behind his apron. "Hope you find it pleasant

heresir;--spacious grounds--cool apartmentssir--hope you'll stay with ussome time--try to make it agreeable. May Mrs.

Cutlets and I have the pleasure of your company to dinnersirin Mrs.Cutlets' private room?"

"I prefer not to dine to-day" said Bartlebyturning away."It would disagree with me; I am unused to dinners." So saying he

slowly moved to the other side of the inclosureand took up a positionfronting the dead-wall.

"How's this?" said the grub-manaddressing me with a stare ofastonishment. "He's oddaint he?"

"I think he is a little deranged" said Isadly.

"Deranged? deranged is it? Well nowupon my wordI thought that friendof yourn was a gentleman forger; they are always

touchinglyand paused. Thenlaying his hand pityingly on my shouldersighed"he died of consumption at Sing-Sing. So

you weren't acquainted with Monroe?"

"NoI was never socially acquainted with any forgers. But I cannot stoplonger. Look to my friend yonder. You will not lose

by it. I will see you again."

Some few days after thisI again obtained admission to the Tombsand wentthrough the corridors in quest of Bartleby; but

without finding him.

"I saw him coming from his cell not long ago" said a turnkey"may be he's gone to loiter in the yards."

So I went in that direction.

"Are you looking for the silent man?" said another turnkey passingme. "Yonder he lies--sleeping in the yard there. 'Tis not

twenty minutes since I saw him lie down."

The yard was entirely quiet. It was not accessible to the common prisoners.The surrounding wallsof amazing thickness

kept off all sounds behind them. The Egyptian character of the masonryweighed upon me with its gloom. But a soft

imprisoned turf grew under foot. The heart of the eternal pyramidsitseemedwhereinby some strange magicthrough the

cleftsgrass-seeddropped by birdshad sprung.

Strangely huddled at the base of the wallhis knees drawn upand lying onhis sidehis head touching the cold stonesI saw

the wasted Bartleby. But nothing stirred. I paused; then went close up tohim; stooped overand saw that his dim eyes were

open; otherwise he seemed profoundly sleeping. Something prompted me to touchhim. I felt his handwhen a tingling

shiver ran up my arm and down my spine to my feet.

The round face of the grub-man peered upon me now. "His dinner is ready.Won't he dine to-dayeither? Or does he live

without dining?"

"Lives without dining" said Iand closed the eyes.

"Eh!--He's asleepaint he?"

"With kings and counsellors" murmured I.

There would seem little need for proceeding further in this history.Imagination will readily supply the meagre recital of poor

Bartleby's interment. But ere parting with the readerlet me saythat ifthis little narrative has sufficiently interested himto

awaken curiosity as to who Bartleby wasand what manner of life he led priorto the present narrator's making his

acquaintanceI can only replythat in such curiosity I fully sharebut amwholly unable to gratify it. Yet here I hardly know

whether I should divulge one little item of rumorwhich came to my ear a fewmonths after the scrivener's decease. Upon

what basis it restedI could never ascertain; and hencehow true it is Icannot now tell. But inasmuch as this vague report

has not been without a certain strange suggestive interest to mehoweversadit may prove the same with some others; and

so I will briefly mention it. The report was this: that Bartleby had been asubordinate clerk in the Dead Letter Office at

Washingtonfrom which he had been suddenly removed by a change in theadministration. When I think over this rumorI

cannot adequately express the emotions which seize me. Dead letters! does itnot sound like dead men? Conceive a man by

nature and misfortune prone to a pallid hopelessnesscan any business seemmore fitted to heighten it than that of

continually handling these dead letters and assorting them for the flames?For by the cart-load they are annually burned.

Sometimes from out the folded paper the pale clerk takes a ring:--the fingerit was meant forperhapsmoulders in the grave;

a bank-note sent in swiftest charity:--he whom it would relievenor eats norhungers any more; pardon for those who died

despairing; hope for those who died unhoping; good tidings for those who diedstifled by unrelieved calamities. On errands

of lifethese letters speed to death.

Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!

* * * * * * *