The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-09-26
Stories of
Stories
THE GREAT STONE FACE
Bn Nathaniel Haipthorne.


~ RNEsT dwelt In a rich. popuious
- valley. ringed in by a wall Of
rock-ribbed mountains. Nature
had carved the steep side Of ono
OF these mountains into the image OF q
great stone face.
For many miles the Face was visible.
And on II rested a look of benianant
majesty. Ernest used TO gaze upon Il
az on the face Of a dear and goil,ke
friend
When he was a child his mo her told
him the ancient prophecy:
AT some future day a child shall lie
born hereabouts who 10 destined 10 be-
sonage OF his time, and whose counte-
nance IN manhood shall bear an exact
resemblance to the Great Stone Face"
The Peoples Verdict.
Ernest longed to see this wonderful
man. when he should arrive. And he
strove to shape his own life 30 that he
night be worthy OF such O mans friend
ship. lie grew up poor. but wise and
good and gentle; and ever he sought to
make himself worthy OF the prophesied
visitor who should resemble the Face.
who had left the valley in boyhood bsd
become the richest man In the world
and was returning Z. live in his boy
n nsSea home S1rn w Tales Of hi. wealth pre-
Ssoy EVERY o %ee tbr ns IN the
And everybody exclaimed:
lie u the very image Of the Great
But Ernest's heart sank. To him there
was no resemblance at all between the
nobly majestic Face and the wisened
and and crafty visagc Of the newcomer.
little later the rich man lost all HIS
money. And people began to say they
had been mistaken In thinking the i'm
poverishsd old fellow bore any likeness
Then from the wars returned a soldier
who was a native OF the valley. lie was
the most renowned warrior in ali Amer.
lea. And again the people declared he
was the man foretold In the prophecy.
They said his resemblance to the Face
But Ernest knew better. All he could
see In the generals bronzed countenancs
was cruelty blended with a savage fe.
And when some other soldier won s,i,,
more fame and the general became dis.
creaiteu, the people decided he did no,
iook at all INK the Great Stone Face.
,,on.d came : statesman: a man men.
States. He had been born in the yaiiev
ana mad come back for n yisIt TN
people acclaimed him the absolute do".
yie OF tne Great Stone Face. But AGAR
ernest turned away disappointed. ATE,
crafty eyes. And when . graft exposnr,
soon afterward blighted the statesrnan.s
iame, the people gravely agreed that h.
Face. 'o"' "ne ths
SO time went on, with one ts,,,r,
after another In the effort 10 find ths
human duplicate OF the Great Stons
sSe Ernest was growing old. He was
10 the happiness OF others, instead ol
seeking his own welfare.
re had long since given up hone a,
meeting the man who should resembI,
the Face. But he stiIl tried 10 max,
himseif worthy OF such a mans friend.
hhip. And so his life went on-obscur,
useful. filled with the quiet peace tba,
| comes from good deeds.
A Prophecy Fulfilled.
And when Ernest was an old ma,
an Inspired poet came to visit tn,
valley-a poet who had won great.
ness because OF his divineiy beautiful
thoughts and because OF his stranR,
| power OF reading the hearts OF men.
All the valley turned out to WELDON,
him. But the poet would go 10 no hous,
but Ernests. For, pointing to him ant
then to the distant mountains, the noe
I cried out In ecstacy:
Behold! behold! Ernest is himself tn,
| likeness OF the Great Stone Facet
The people, their eyes opened b,
these words. stared at Ernest. AMI
they shouted aloud for Joy. Ernest wa
! the only person there who did no
realize that the prophecy was at las
Copyright. 1861