twice-told tales- the great stone face-第4章
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it； but； inevitably as the murmur of a rivulet； came thoughts out of
his mouth that no other human lips had spoken。
When the people's minds had had a little time to cool； they were
ready enough to acknowledge their mistake in imagining a similarity
between General Blood…and…Thunder's truculent physiognomy and the
benign visage on the mountain…side。 But now； again； there were reports
and many paragraphs in the newspapers； affirming that the likeness
of the Great Stone Face had appeared upon the broad shoulders of a
certain eminent statesman。 He； like Mr。 Gathergold and Old
Blood…and…Thunder； was a native of the valley； but had left it in
his early days； and taken up the trades of law and politics。 Instead
of the rich man's wealth and the warrior's sword； he had but a tongue；
and it was mightier than both together。 So wonderfully eloquent was
he； that whatever he might choose to say； his auditors had no choice
but to believe him； wrong looked like right； and right like wrong； for
when it pleased him； he could make a kind of illuminated fog with
his mere breath； and obscure the natural daylight with it。 His tongue；
indeed； was a magic instrument： sometimes it rumbled like the thunder；
sometimes it warbled like the sweetest music。 It was the blast of war…
the song of peace； and it seemed to have a heart in it； when there was
no such matter。 In good truth； he was a wondrous man； and when his
tongue had acquired him all other imaginable success… when it had been
heard in halls of state； and in the courts of princes and
potentates… after it had made him known all over the world； even as
a voice crying from shore to shore… it finally persuaded his
countrymen to select him for the presidency。 Before this time… indeed；
as soon as he began to grow celebrated… his admirers had found out the
resemblance between him and the Great Stone Face； and so much were
they struck by it； that throughout the country this distinguished
gentleman was known by the name of Old Stony Phiz。 The phrase was
considered as giving a highly favorable aspect to his political
prospects； for； as is likewise the case with the Popedom； nobody
ever becomes president without taking a name other than his own。
While his friends were doing their best to make him president；
Old Stony Phiz； as he was called； set out on a visit to the valley
where he was born。 Of course； he had no other object than to shake
hands with his fellow…citizens； and neither thought nor cared about
any effect which his progress through the country might have upon
the election。 Magnificent preparations were made to receive the
illustrious statesman； a cavalcade of horsemen set forth to meet him
at the boundary line of the state； and all the people left their
business and gathered along the wayside to see him pass。 Among these
was Ernest。 Though more than once disappointed； as we have seen； he
had such a hopeful and confiding nature； that he was always ready to
believe in whatever seemed beautiful and good。 He kept his heart
continually open； and thus was sure to catch the blessing from on
high； when it should come。 So now again； as buoyantly as ever； he went
forth to behold the likeness of the Great Stone Face。
The cavalcade came prancing along the road； with a great clattering
of hoofs and a mighty cloud of dust； which rose up so dense and high
that the visage of the mountain…side was completely hidden from
Ernest's eyes。 All the great men of the neighborhood were there on
horseback： militia officers； in uniform； the member of Congress； the
sheriff of the county； the editors of newspapers； and many a farmer；
too； had mounted his patient steed； with his Sunday coat upon his
back。 It really was a very brilliant spectacle； especially as there
were numerous banners flaunting over the cavalcade； on some of which
were gorgeous portraits of the illustrious statesman and the Great
Stone Face； smiling familiarly at one another； like two brothers。 If
the pictures were to be trusted； the mutual resemblance； it must be
confessed； was marvellous。 We must not forget to mention that there
was a band of music； which made the echoes of the mountains ring and
reverberate with the loud triumph of its strains； so that airy and
soul…thrilling melodies broke out among all the heights and hollows as
if every nook of his native valley had found a voice to welcome the
distinguished guest。 But the grandest effect was when the far…off
mountain…precipice flung back the music； for then the Great Stone Face
itself seemed to be swelling the triumphant chorus； in
acknowledgment that； at length； the man of prophecy was come。
All this while the people were throwing up their hats and shouting；
with enthusiasm so contagious that the heart of Ernest kindled up； and
he likewise threw up his hat； and shouted； as loudly as the loudest；
〃Huzza for the great man！ Huzza for Old Stony Phiz！〃 But as yet he had
not seen him。
〃Here he is； now！〃 cried those who stood near Ernest。 〃There！
There！ Look at Old Stony Phiz and then at the Old Man of the Mountain；
and see if they are not as like as two twin…brothers！〃
In the midst of all this gallant array； came an open barouche；
drawn by four white horses； and in the barouche； with his massive head
uncovered； sat the illustrious statesman； Old Stony Phiz himself。
〃Confess it；〃 said one of Ernest's neighbors to him； 〃the Great
Stone Face has met its match at last！〃
Now； it must be owned that； at his first glimpse of the countenance
which was bowing and smiling from the barouche； Ernest did fancy
that there was a resemblance between it and the old familiar face upon
the mountain…side。 The brow； with its massive depth and loftiness； and
all the other features； indeed； were boldly and strongly hewn； as if
in emulation of a more than heroic； of a Titanic model。 But the
sublimity and stateliness； the grand expression of a divine
sympathy； that illuminated the mountain…visage； and etherealized its
ponderous granite substance into spirit； might here be sought in vain。
Something had been originally left out； or had departed。 And therefore
the marvellously gifted statesman had always a weary gloom in the deep
caverns of his eyes； as of a child that has outgrown its playthings；
or a man of mighty faculties and little aims； whose life； with all its
high performances； was vague and empty； because no high purpose had
endowed it with reality。
Still； Ernest's neighbor was thrusting his elbow into his side； and
pressing him for an answer。
〃Confess！ confess！ Is not he the very picture of your Old Man of
the Mountain？〃
〃No！〃 said Ernest； bluntly； 〃I see little or no likeness。〃
〃Then so much the worse for the Great Stone Face！〃 answered his
neighbor； and again he set up a shout for Old Stony Phiz。
But Ernest turned away。 melancholy； and almost despondent； for this
was the saddest of his disappointments； to behold a man who might have
fulfilled the prophecy； and had not willed to do so。 Meantime； the
cavalcade； the banners； the music； and the barouches； swept past
him； with the vociferous crowd in the rear； leaving the dust to settle
down； and the Great Stone Face to be revealed again； with the grandeur
that it had worn for untold centuries。
〃Lo； here I am； Ernest！〃 the benign lips seemed to say。 〃I have
waited longer than thou； and am not yet weary。 Fear not； the man
will come。〃
The years hurried onward； treading in their haste on one
another's heels。 And now they began to bring white hairs； and
scatter them over the head of Ernest； they made reverend wrinkles
across his forehead； and furrows in his cheeks。 He was an aged man。
But not in vain had he grown old： more than the white hairs on his
head were the sage thoughts in his mind； his wrinkles and furrows were
inscriptions that Time had graved； and in which he had written legends
of wisdom that had been tested by the tenor of a life。 And Ernest
had ceased to be obscure。 Unsought for； undesired； had come the fame
which so many seek； and made him known in the great world； beyond
the limits of t
