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 always lived. It was not mere breath that this preacher uttered; they were the words of life, because a life of good deeds and holy love was melted 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 a nobler strain of poetry than he had ever written. His eyes glistening with tears, he gazed reverentially at the venerable man, and said within himself that never was there an aspect so worthy of a prophet and a sage as that mild, sweet, thoughtful countenance, with the glory of white hair diffused about it. At a distance, but distinctly 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 beneficence seemed to embrace the world. At that moment, in sympathy with a thought which he was about to utter, the face of Ernest assumed a grandeur of expression, so imbued with benevolence, that the poet, by an irresistible impulse, threw his arms aloft, and shouted,-- "Behold! Behold! Ernest is himself the likeness of the Great Stone Face!" Then all the people looked, and saw that what the deep-sighted poet said was true. The prophecy was fulfilled. But Ernest, having finished what he had to say, took the poet's arm, and walked slowly homeward, still hoping that some wiser and better man than himself would by and by appear, bearing a resemblance to the GREAT STONE FACE. HELPS TO STUDY. Notes and Questions. What part of the description of the Great Stone Face do you like the best? What influence had this Face upon the valley? Upon the clouds? Upon the sunshine? Show how each of the four characters failed to realize the ideal. What purpose do you think Hawthorne had in creating these characters? Why did so many people think that each of these men was the image of the Great Stone Face? Why did not Ernest think so? What were the characteristics of the ideal? What words name them? What does the Great Stone Face symbolize? What words tell you the source of Ernest's power? What lines tell you of his humility? Summarize his characteristics. What pictures do you find in the selection? Point out sentences that contain examples of alliteration. Find a humorous sentence. Who were the Titans? Who was Midas? Words and Phrases for Discussion. "infusing its tenderness into the sunshine" "transform himself into an angel of beneficence" "the mountain visage had found its human counterpart" "a kind of illuminated fog" "the prophecy was fulfilled" * * * * * MY VISIT TO NIAGARA NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE