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                                TWICE…TOLD TALES

                              THE GREAT STONE FACE

                             by Nathaniel Hawthorne



   ONE AFTERNOON; When the sun was going down; a mother and her little

boy sat at the door of their cottage; talking about the Great Stone

Face。 They had but to lift their eyes; and there it was plainly to

be seen; though miles away; with the sunshine brightening all its

features。

   And what was the Great Stone Face?

   Embosomed amongst a family of lofty mountains; there was a valley

so spacious that it contained many thousand inhabitants。 Some of these

good people dwelt in log huts; with the black forest all around

them; on the steep and difficult hill…sides。 Others had their homes in

comfortable farm…houses; and cultivated the rich soil on the gentle

slopes or level surfaces of the valley。 Others; again; were

congregated into populous villages; where some wild; highland rivulet;

tumbling down from its birthplace in the upper mountain region; had

been caught and tamed by human cunning; and compelled to turn the

machinery of cotton factories。 The inhabitants of this valley; in

short; were numerous; and of many modes of life。 But all of them;

grown people and children; had a kind of familiarity with the Great

Stone Face; although some possessed the gift of distinguishing this

grand natural phenomenon more perfectly than many of their neighbors。

   The Great Stone Face; then; was a work of Nature in her mood of

majestic playfulness; formed on the perpendicular side of a mountain

by some immense rocks; which had been thrown together in such a

position as; when viewed at a proper distance; precisely to resemble

the features of the human countenance。 It seemed as if an enormous

giant; or a Titan; had sculptured his own likeness on the precipice。

There was the broad arch of the forehead; a hundred feet in height;

the nose; with its long bridge; and the vast lips; which; if they

could have spoken; would have rolled their thunder accents from one

end of the valley to the other。 True it is; that if the spectator

approached too near; he lost the outline of the gigantic visage; and

could discern only a heap of ponderous and gigantic rocks; piled in

chaotic ruin one upon another。 Retracing his steps; however; the

wondrous features would again be seen; and the further he withdrew

from them; the more like a human face; with all its original

divinity intact; did they appear; until; as it grew dim in the

distance; with the clouds and glorified vapor of the mountains

clustering about it; the Great Stone Face seemed positively to be

alive。

   It was a happy lot for children to grow up to manhood or

womanhood with the Great Stone Face before their eyes; for all the

features were noble; and the expression was at once grand and sweet;

as if it were the glow of a vast; warm heart; that embraced all

mankind in its affections; and had room for more。 It was an

education only to look at it。 According to the belief of many

people; the valley owed much of its fertility to this benign aspect

that was continually beaming over it; illuminating the clouds; and

infusing its tenderness into the sunshine。

   As we began with saying; a mother and her little boy sat at their

cottage door; gazing at the Great Stone Face; and talking about it。

The child's name was Ernest。

   〃Mother; said he; while the Titanic visage smiled on him; 〃I wish

that it could speak; for it looks so very kindly that its voice must

needs be pleasant。 If I were to see a man with such a face; I should

love him dearly。〃

   〃If an old prophecy should come to pass;〃 answered his mother;

〃we may see a man; some time or other; with exactly such a face as

that。〃

   〃What prophecy do you mean; dear mother?〃 eagerly inquired

Ernest。 〃Pray tell me all about it!〃

   So his mother told him a story that her own mother had told to her;

when she herself was younger than little Ernest; a story; not of

things that were past; but of what was yet to come; a story;

nevertheless; so very old; that even the Indians; who formerly

inhabited this valley; had heard it from their forefathers; to whom;

as they affirmed; it had been murmured by the mountain streams; and

whispered by the wind among the tree…tops。 The purport was; that; at

some future day; a child should be born hereabouts; who was destined

to become the greatest and noblest personage of his time; and whose

countenance; in manhood; should bear an exact resemblance to the Great

Stone Face。 Not a few old…fashioned people; and young ones likewise;

in the ardor of their hopes; still cherished an enduring faith in this

old prophecy。 But others; who had seen more of the world; had

watched and waited till they were weary; and had beheld no man with

such a face; nor any man that proved to be much greater or nobler than

his neighbors; concluded it to be nothing but an idle tale。 At all

events; the great man of the prophecy had not yet appeared。

   〃O; mother; dear mother!〃 cried Ernest; clapping his hands above

his head; I do hope that I shall live to see him!〃

   His mother was an affectionate and thoughtful woman; and felt

that it was wisest not to discourage the generous hopes of her

little boy。 So she only said to him; 〃Perhaps you may。〃

   And Ernest never forgot the story that his mother told him。 It

was always in his mind; whenever he looked upon the Great Stone

Face。 He spent his childhood in the log…cottage where he was born; and

was dutiful to his mother; and helpful to her in many things;

assisting her much with his little hands; and more with his loving

heart。 In this manner; from a happy yet often pensive child; he grew

up to be a mild; quiet; unobtrusive boy; and sun…browned with labor in

the fields; but with more intelligence brightening his aspect than

is seen in many lads who have been taught at famous schools。 Yet

Ernest had had no teacher; save only that the Great Stone Face

became one to him。 When the toil of the day was over; he would gaze at

it for hours; until he began to imagine that those vast features

recognized him; and gave him a smile of kindness and encouragement;

responsive to his own look of veneration。 We must not take upon us

to affirm that this was a mistake; although the Face may have looked

no more kindly at Ernest than at all the world besides。 But the secret

was; that the boy's tender and confiding simplicity discerned what

other people could not see; and thus the love; which was meant for

all; became his peculiar portion。

   About this time; there went a rumor throughout the valley; that the

great man; foretold from ages long ago; who was to bear a

resemblance to the Great Stone Face; had appeared at last。 It seems

that; many years before; a young man had migrated from the valley

and settled at a distant seaport; where; after getting together a

little money; he had set up as a shopkeeper。 His name… but I could

never learn whether it was his real one; or a nickname that had

grown out of his habits and success in life… was Gathergold。 Being

shrewd and active; and endowed by Providence with that inscrutable

faculty which develops itself in what the world calls luck; he

became an exceedingly rich merchant; and owner of a whole fleet of

bulky…bottomed ships。 All the countries of the globe appeared to

join hands for the mere purpose of adding heap after heap to the

mountainous accumulation of this one man's wealth。 The cold regions of

the north; almost within the gloom and shadow of the Arctic Circle;

sent him their tribute in the shape of furs; hot Africa sifted for him

the golden sands of her rivers; and gathered up the ivory tusks of her

great elephants out of the forests; the East came bringing him the

rich shawls; and spices; and teas; and the effulgence of diamonds; and

the gleaming purity of large pearls。 The ocean; not to be behindhand

with the earth; yielded up her mighty whales; that Mr。 Gathergold

might sell their oil; and make a profit on it。 Be the original

commodity what it might; it was gold within his grasp。 It might be

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