twice-told tales- the great stone face-第3章
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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 that 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
Reverend Doctor 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 in by the surrounding trees；
except where a vista opened eastward； and afforded a distant view of
the Great Stone Face。 Over the general's chair； which was a relic from
the home of Washington； there was an arch of verdant boughs； with
the laurel profusely intermixed； and surmounted by his country's
banner； beneath which he had won his victories。 Our friend Ernest
raised himself on his tip…toes； in hopes to get a glimpse of the
celebrated guest； but there was a mighty crowd about the tables
anxious to hear the toasts and speeches； and to catch any word that
might fall from the general in reply； and a volunteer company； doing
duty as a guard； pricked ruthlessly with their bayonets at any
particularly quiet person among the throng。 So Ernest； being of an
unobtrusive character； was thrust quite into the background； where
he could see no more of Old Blood…and…Thunder's physiognomy than if it
had been still blazing on the battle…field。 To console himself； he
turned towards the Great Stone Face； which； like a faithful and
long…remembered friend； looked back and smiled upon him through the
vista of the forest。 Meantime； however； he could over…hear the remarks
of various individuals； who were comparing the features of the hero
with the face on the distant mountain…side。
〃 'Tis the same face； to a hair！〃 cried one man； cutting a caper
for joy。
〃Wonderfully like； that's a fact！〃 responded another。
〃Like！ why； I call it Old Blood…and…Thunder himself； in a monstrous
looking…glass！〃 cried a third。 〃And why not！ He's the greatest man
of this or any other age； beyond a doubt。〃
And then all three of the speakers gave a great shout； which
communicated electricity to the crowd； and called forth a roar from
a thousand voices； that went reverberating for miles among the
mountains； until you might have supposed that the Great Stone Face had
poured its thunder…breath into the cry。 All these comments； and this
vast enthusiasm； served the more to interest our friend； nor did he
think of questioning that now； at length； the mountain…visage had
found its human counterpart。 It is true； Ernest had imagined that this
long…looked…for personage would appear in the character of a man of
peace； uttering wisdom； and doing good； and making people happy。
But； taking an habitual breadth of view； with all his simplicity； he
contended that Providence should choose its own method of blessing
mankind； and could conceive that this great end might be effected even
by a warrior and a bloody sword； should inscrutable wisdom see fit
to order matters so。
〃The general！ the general！〃 was now the cry。 〃Hush！ silence！ Old
Blood…and…Thunder's going to make a speech。〃
Even so； for； the cloth being removed； the general's health had
been drunk amid shouts of applause； and he now stood upon his feet
to thank the company。 Ernest saw him。 There he was； over the shoulders
of the crowd； from the two glittering epaulets and embroidered
collar upward； beneath the arch of green boughs with inter…twined
laurell and the banner drooping as if to shade his brow！ And there；
too； visible in the same glance； through the vista of the forest；
appeared the Great Stone Face！ And was there； indeed； such a
resemblance as the crowd had testified？ Alas； Ernest could not
recognize it！ He beheld a war…worn and weather…beaten countenance；
full of energy； and expressive of an iron will； but the gentle wisdom；
the deep； broad； tender sympathies； were altogether wanting in Old
Blood…and…Thunder's visage； and even if the Great Stone Face had
assumed his look of stern command； the milder traits would still
have tempered it。
〃This is not the man of prophecy；〃 sighed Ernest to himself； as
he made his way out of the throng。 〃And must the world wait longer
yet？〃
The mists had congregated about the distant mountain…side； and
there were seen the grand and awful features of the Great Stone
Face； awful but benignant； as if a mighty angel were sitting among the
hills； and enrobing himself in a cloud…vesture of gold and purple。
As he looked； Ernest could hardly believe but that a smile beamed over
the whole visage； with a radiance still brightening； although
without motion of the lips。 It was probably the effect of the
western sunshine； melting through the thinly diffused vapors that
had swept between him and the object that he gazed at。 But… as it
always did… the aspect of his marvellous friend made Ernest as hopeful
as if he had never hoped in vain。
〃Fear not； Ernest；〃 said his heart； even as if the Great Face
were whispering him； 〃fear not； Ernest； he will come。〃
More years sped swiftly and tranquilly away。 Ernest still dwelt
in his native valley； and was now a man of middle age。 By
imperceptible degrees； he had become known among the people。 Now； as
heretofore； he labored for his bread； and was the same
simple…hearted man that he had always been。 But he had thought and
felt so much； he had given so many of the best hours of his life to
unworldly hopes for some great good to mankind； that it seemed as
though he had been talking with the angels； and had imbibed a
portion of their wisdom unawares。 It was visible in the calm and
well…considered beneficence of his daily life； the quiet stream of
which had made a wide green margin all along its course。 Not a day
passed by； that the world was not the better because this man；
humble as he was； had lived。 He never stepped aside from his own path；
yet would always reach a blessing to his neighbor。 Almost
involuntarily； too； he had become a preacher。 The pure and high
simplicity of his thought； which； as one of its manifestations； took
shape in the good deeds that dropped silently from his hand； flowed
also forth in speech。 He uttered truths that wrought upon and
moulded the lives of those who heard him。 His auditors； it may be；
never suspected that Ernest； their own neighbor and familiar friend；
was more than an ordinary man； least of all did Ernest himself suspect
it； but； inevitably as the murmur of a rivulet； came thoughts out of
his mouth that no other human
