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lifewas 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 of
it。 Be the original commodity what it might； it was gold within
his grasp。 It might be said of him； as of Midas in the fable；
that whatever he touched with his finger immediately glistened；
and grew yellow； and was changed at once into sterling metal； or；
which suited him still better； into piles of coin。 And； when Mr。
Gathergold had become so very rich that it would have taken him a
hundred years only to count his wealth； he bethought himself of
his native valley； and resolved to go back thither； and end his
days where he was born。 With this purpose in view； he sent a
skilful architect to build him such a palace as should be fit for
a man of his vast wealth to live in。
As I have said above； it had already been rumored in the valley
that Mr。 Gathergold had turned out to be the prophetic personage
so long and vainly looked for； and that his visage was the
perfect and undeniable similitude of the Great Stone Face。 People
were the more ready to believe that this must needs be the fact；
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