The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-24

that the Great Stone Faoe was bending forward
to listen too. lie gazei earnestly into the poets
| glowing eyes.
a. Who rre ycs, my strangely gifted snHst he
said
The poet laid his finger on the volume that Err
nest had been reading.
"You have read these poems,p said he "You
know me, then---for wrote themp
Again, and still more earnestly than before,
Ernest examined the poets features then turned
towards the Great Stone Face then back, with
an uncertain aspect, TO his guest. But hfs coun-
tensnce fell; he shoot his head. and sighed.
Wherefore are You sad ~ inquired the poet.
because replied Ernest, " all through life,
have awaited the ilfulment of prophecy and,
when read these poems, hAoped that it might be
fulfilled in you"
"You hoped, answered the poet, family smil
ing, to find in me the likeness Of the Great
Stone Face And you are Disappointed as for
merly with Mr.. Gathergold, and Old Blood-and-
Thunder, and Old Stony Phizl Yes, Ernest, it
is my DOOM You must add my name to those of
the illustrous Three, and record another failure
of your hopes Form shame and sadness do
speak it. Ernest am not worthy to he typifed
by yonder benign and majestic imsgep'
and whyW asked Ernest he pointed to the
volume. "Are not those thoughts divine %
"They have strain of the Divinity replied
the poet "You can hear in them the far-off echo
of a heavenly song But my life dear Ernest,
has not corresponded with my thought have
had grand dreams, but they have been only
dreams, because have lived-and that, too, by
my own choice--among poor and mean realiti, $.
Sometimes even--shall dare to say it IL lack
faith in the grandeur, the beauty, and the good
~; oh he aid L. IL
more evident in nature and in human life Why,
then, pure Seeker of the Good and True, should'st
thou hope to find me, in yonder image of the
Divinep
The poet spoke ssdiy, and his eyes we're dim
with tears. So, likewise, were those of Ernest
At the hour of sunset, as had long been his fire.
quent custom, Ernest was to discourse to an as
semblage Of the neighboring inhabitants, in the
open air. He and the poet, arm in arm, still
talking together as they went along, proceeded to
the spot IL was small nook among the hills
with gray precipice behind the stern front of
which was relieved by the pleasant foliage of many
creeping plants, that made tapestry for the naked
rock, by hanging their festoons from all its rug
ged angles. At smsll elevation above the ground,
set in a rich framework of verdure there appear
ed niche, spacious enough to admit a human
figure, with freedom for such gestures as sponta-
neously accompany earnest thought and genuine
emotion. Into this natural pulpit Ernest ascend
ed, and threw o look Of familiar kindness around
upon his audience. They stood, OF sat, or re-
clined upon the grass, as seemed good to each,
with the departing sunshine falling obliquely over
them and mingling its subdued cheerfulness with
the solemnity of grove of ancient trees, beneath
and amid the boughs of which the golden rays
we're constrained 70, pass, In another direction
was seen the Great Stone Fscs With tbA so,.e
cheer, combined with the same solemnity, in its
benignant aspect.
Ernest began to speak, giving TO the people of
what was in his heart and mind His words had
power, because they accorded with his thoughts,
and his thoughts had reality and depth, because
they harmonized with the life which he had al
ways lived. 1t was not mere breath that this
preacher uttered they were the words of life, be-
cause life Of good deeds and holy love was melt
ed into them Pearls, pure and rich, had been
dissolved into this precious draught. The poet,
as he listened, felt that the being and character
of Ernest were nobler strain Of poetry than he
had ever written. His eyes gistening with tears,
he gazed reverentialy at the venerable man, and
said within himself that never was there an as
pect so worthy of prophet and a sage as that
mild, sweet, thoughtful countenance with the
glory Of white hair diffused about it. At dis
lance, but distinc ly to be seen, high up in the
golden light Of the setting sun, appeared the
Great Stone Face, with hoary mists around it,
like the white hairs around the brow of Ernest
Its look Of grand benefcence seemed TO embrace
the world.
At that moment, in sympathy with thought
which he was about to utter, the face of Ernest
assumed grandeur of expression, so imbued with
benevolence, that the poet by an irresistible i'm
pulse threw his arms aloft, and shouted
Behold! Behold Ernest is himself the like
ness of the Great Stone Facep
Then all the people looked, and saw that what
the deep-sighted poet said was true The proph-
ecy was fulfilled But Ernest, having finished
what he had to say, took the poets arm, and
walked slowly homeward, still hoping that some
wiser and better man than himself would by-and-
by appear, bearing resemblance to the GREAT
STONE FACE.