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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
intertwined laurel； 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
weatherbeaten 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。 Butas it always didthe 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 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