按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
TWICE…TOLD TALES
THE GREAT STONE FACE
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
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 further 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 all 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 name… but I could
never learn whether it was his real one； or a nickname that had
grown out of his habits and success in life… was Gathergold。 Being
shrewd and acti