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distinguished friend of peace in whose honor they were assembled。

The tables were arranged in a cleared space of the woods; shut in

by the surrounding trees; except where a vista opened eastward;

and afforded a distant view of the Great Stone Face。 Over the

general's chair; which was a relic from the home of Washington;

there was an arch of verdant boughs; with the laurel profusely

intermixed; and surmounted by his country's banner; beneath which

he had won his victories。 Our friend Ernest raised himself on his

tiptoes; in hopes to get a glimpse of the celebrated guest; but

there was a mighty crowd about the tables anxious to hear the

toasts and speeches; and to catch any word that might fall from

the general in reply; and a volunteer company; doing duty as a

guard; pricked ruthlessly with their bayonets at any particularly

quiet person among the throng。 So Ernest; being of an unobtrusive

character; was thrust quite into the background; where he could

see no more of Old Blood…and…Thunder's physiognomy than if it had

been still blazing on the battle…field。 To console himself; he

turned towards the Great Stone Face; which; like a faithful and

long remembered friend; looked back and smiled upon him through

the vista of the forest。 Meantime; however; he could overhear the

remarks of various individuals; who were comparing the features

of the hero with the face on the distant mountain…side。



〃 'Tis the same face; to a hair!〃 cried one man; cutting a caper

for joy。



〃Wonderfully like; that's a fact!〃 responded another。



〃Like! why; I call it Old Blood…and…Thunder himself; in a

monstrous looking…glass!〃 cried a third。 〃And why not? He's the

greatest man of this or any other age; beyond a doubt。〃



And then all three of the speakers gave a great shout; which

communicated electricity to the crowd; and called forth a roar

from a thousand voices; that went reverberating for miles among

the mountains; until you might have supposed that the Great Stone

Face had poured its thunderbreath into the cry。 All these

comments; and this vast enthusiasm; served the more to interest

our friend; nor did he think of questioning that now; at length;

the mountain…visage had found its human counterpart。 It is true;

Ernest had imagined that this long…looked…for personage would

appear in the character of a man of peace; uttering wisdom; and

doing good; and making people happy。 But; taking an habitual

breadth of view; with all his simplicity; he contended that

Providence should choose its own method of blessing mankind; and

could conceive that this great end might be effected even by a

warrior and a bloody sword; should inscrutable wisdom see fit to

order matters so。



〃The general! the general!〃 was now the cry。 〃Hush! silence! Old

Blood…and…Thunder's going to make a speech。〃



Even so; for; the cloth being removed; the general's health had

been drunk; amid shouts of applause; and he now stood upon his

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 thes

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