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when they beheld the splendid edifice that rose; as if by

enchantment; on the site of his father's old weatherbeaten

farm…house。 The exterior was of marble; so dazzlingly white that

it seemed as though the whole structure might melt away in the

sunshine; like those humbler ones which Mr。 Gathergold; in his

young play…days; before his fingers were gifted with the touch of

transmutation; had been accustomed to build of snow。 It had a

richly ornamented portico; supported by tall pillars; beneath

which was a lofty door; studded with silver knobs; and made of a

kind of variegated wood that had been brought from beyond the

sea。 The windows; from the floor to the ceiling of each stately

apartment; were composed; respectively; of but one enormous pane

of glass; so transparently pure that it was said to be a finer

medium than even the vacant atmosphere。 Hardly anybody had been

permitted to see the interior of this palace; but it was

reported; and with good semblance of truth; to be far more

gorgeous than the outside; insomuch that whatever was iron or

brass in other houses was silver or gold in this; and Mr。

Gathergold's bedchamber; especially; made such a glittering

appearance that no ordinary man would have been able to close his

eyes there。 But; on the other hand; Mr。 Gathergold was now so

inured to wealth; that perhaps he could not have closed his eyes

unless where the gleam of it was certain to find its way beneath

his eyelids。



In due time; the mansion was finished; next came the

upholsterers; with magnificent furniture; then; a whole troop of

black and white servants; the harbingers of Mr。 Gathergold; who;

in his own majestic person; was expected to arrive at sunset。 Our

friend Ernest; meanwhile; had been deeply stirred by the idea

that the great man; the noble man; the man of prophecy; after so

many ages of delay; was at length to be made manifest to his

native valley。 He knew; boy as he was; that there were a thousand

ways in which Mr。 Gathergold; with his vast wealth; might

transform himself into an angel of beneficence; and assume a

control over human affairs as wide and benignant as the smile of

the Great Stone Face。 Full of faith and hope; Ernest doubted not

that what the people said was true; and that now he was to behold

the living likeness of those wondrous features on the

mountain…side。 While the boy was still gazing up the valley; and

fancying; as he always did; that the Great Stone Face returned

his gaze and looked kindly at him; the rumbling of wheels was

heard; approaching swiftly along the winding road。



〃Here he comes!〃 cried a group of people who were assembled to

witness the arrival。 〃Here comes the great Mr。 Gathergold!〃



A carriage; drawn by four horses; dashed round the turn of the

road。 Within it; thrust partly out of the window; appeared the

physiognomy of the old man; with a skin as yellow as if his own

Midas…hand had transmuted it。 He had a low forehead; small; sharp

eyes; puckered about with innumerable wrinkles; and very thin

lips; which he made still thinner by pressing them forcibly

together。



〃The very image of the Great Stone Face!〃 shouted the people。

〃Sure enough; the old prophecy is true; and here we have the

great man come; at last!〃



And; what greatly perplexed Ernest; they seemed actually to

believe that here was the likeness which they spoke of。 By the

roadside there chanced to be an old beggar…woman and two little

beggar…children; stragglers from some far…off region; who; as the

carriage rolled onward; held out their hands and lifted up their

doleful voices; most piteously beseeching charity。 A yellow

clawthe very same that had clawed together so much

wealthpoked itself out of the coach…window; and dropt some

copper coins upon the ground; so that; though the great man's

name seems to have been Gathergold; he might just as suitably

have been nicknamed Scattercopper。 Still; nevertheless; with an

earnest shout; and evidently with as much good faith as ever; the

people bellowed; 〃He is the very image of the Great Stone Face!〃



But Ernest turned sadly from the wrinkled shrewdness of that

sordid visage; and gazed up the valley; where; amid a gathering

mist; gilded by the last sunbeams; he could still distinguish

those glorious features which had impressed themselves into his

soul。 Their aspect cheered him。 What did the benign lips seem to

say?



〃He will come! Fear not; Ernest; the man will come!〃



The years went on; and Ernest ceased to be a boy。 He had grown to

be a young man now。 He attracted little notice from the other

inhabitants of the valley; for they saw nothing remarkable in his

way of life save that; when the labor of the day was over; he

still loved to go apart and gaze and meditate upon the Great

Stone Face。 According to their idea of the matter; it was a

folly; indeed; but pardonable; inasmuch as Ernest was

industrious; kind; and neighborly; and neglected no duty for the

sake of indulging this idle habit。 They knew not that the Great

Stone Face had become a teacher to him; and that the sentiment

which was expressed in it would enlarge the young man's heart;

and fill it with wider and deeper sympathies than other hearts。

They knew not that thence would come a better wisdom than could

be learned from books; and a better life than could be moulded on

the defaced example of other human lives。 Neither did Ernest know

that the thoughts and affections which came to him so naturally;

in the fields and at the fireside; and wherever he communed with

himself; were of a higher tone than those which all men shared

with him。 A simple soul;simple as when his mother first taught

him the old prophecy;he beheld the marvellous features beaming

adown the valley; and still wondered that their human counterpart

was so long in making his appearance。



By this time poor Mr。 Gathergold was dead and buried; and the

oddest part of the matter was; that his wealth; which was the

body and spirit of his existence; had disappeared before his

death; leaving nothing of him but a living skeleton; covered over

with a wrinkled yellow skin。 Since the melting away of his gold;

it had been very generally conceded that there was no such

striking resemblance; after all; betwixt the ignoble features of

the ruined merchant and that majestic face upon the

mountain…side。 So the people ceased to honor him during his

lifetime; and quietly consigned him to forgetfulness after his

decease。 Once in a while; it is true; his memory was brought up

in connection with the magnificent palace which he had built; and

which had long ago been turned into a hotel for the accommodation

of strangers; multitudes of whom came; every summer; to visit

that famous natural curiosity; the Great Stone Face。 Thus; Mr。

Gathergold being discredited and thrown into the shade; the man

of prophecy was yet to come。



It so happened that a native…born son of the valley; many years

before; had enlisted as a soldier; and; after a great deal of

hard fighting; had now become an illustrious commander。 Whatever

he may be called in history; he was known in camps and on the

battle…field under the nickname of Old Blood…and…Thunder。 This

war…worn veteran being now infirm with age and wounds; and weary

of the turmoil of a military life; and of the roll of the drum

and the clangor of the trumpet; that had so long been ringing in

his ears; had lately signified a purpose of returning to his

native valley; hoping to find repose where he remembered to have

left it。 The inhabitants; his old neighbors and their grown…up

children; were resolved to welcome the renowned warrior with a

salute of cannon and a public dinner; and all the more

enthusiastically; it being affirmed that now; at last; the

likeness of the Great Stone Face had actually appeared。 An

aid…de…camp of Old Blood…and…Thunder; travelling through the

valley; was said to have been struck with the resemblance。

Moreover the schoolmates and early acquaintances of the general

were ready to testify; on oath; that; to the best of their

recollection; the aforesaid general had been exceedingly like the

majestic image; even when a boy; only the idea had never occurred

to them at that period。 Great; therefore; was the excitement

throughout the valley; and many people; who had never once

thought of glancing at the Great Stone Face for years before; now

spent their time in gazing at it; for the sake of knowing exactly

how General Blood…and…Thunder looked。



On the day of the great festival; Ernest; with all the other

people of the valley; left their work; and proceeded to the spot

where the sylvan banquet was prepared。 As he approached; the loud

voice of the Rev。 Dr。 Battleblast was heard; beseeching a

blessing on the good things set before them; and on the

distinguished friend of peace in whose honor they were assembled。

The tables were arranged in a cleared space of the woods; shut i

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