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grown out of his habits and success in life… was 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 on 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 weather…beaten 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 bed…chamber；
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 a little 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 claw…
the very same that had clawed together so much wealth… poked 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 not that the Great Stone Face had become a
teacher to him； and that the sentiment