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THE GREAT STONE FACE
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 farther 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 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
namebut I could never learn whether it was his real one； or a
nickname that had grown out of his habits and success in
lifewas Gathergold。 Being shrewd and activ