menandgirlstolookthroughtheglassorificesofthemachine，and
　　proceededtoexhibitaseriesofthemostoutrageousscratchingsand
　　daubings，asspecimensofthefinearts，thateveranitinerant
　　showmanhadthefacetoimposeuponhiscircleofspectators。The
　　pictureswerewornout，moreover，tattered，fullofcracksand
　　wrinkles，dingywithtobacco-smoke，andotherwiseinamostpitiable
　　condition。Somepurportedtobecities，publicedifices，andruined
　　castlesinEurope；othersrepresentedNapoleon’sbattlesand
　　Nelson’ssea-fights；andinthemidstofthesewouldbeseena
　　gigantic，brown，hairyhand-whichmighthavebeenmistakenforthe
　　HandofDestiny，though，intruth，itwasonlytheshowman’s-pointing
　　itsforefingertovariousscenesoftheconflict，whileitsownergave
　　historicalillustrations。When，withmuchmerrimentatits
　　abominabledeficiencyofmerit，theexhibitionwasconcluded，the
　　GermanbadelittleJoeputhisheadintothebox。Viewedthroughthe
　　magnifyingglasses，theboy’sround，rosyvisageassumedthestrangest
　　imaginableaspectofanimmenseTitanicchild，themouthgrinning
　　broadly，andtheeyesandeveryotherfeatureoverflowingwithfun
　　atthejoke。Suddenly，however，thatmerryfaceturnedpale，andits
　　expressionchangedtohorror，forthiseasilyimpressedand
　　excitablechildhadbecomesensiblethattheeyeofEthanBrandwas
　　fixeduponhimthroughtheglass。
　　“Youmakethelittlemantobeafraid，Captain。”saidtheGerman
　　Jew，turningupthedarkandstrongoutlineofhisvisage，fromhis
　　stoopingposture。“Butlookagain，and，bychance，Ishallcauseyou
　　toseesomewhatthatisveryfine，uponmyword！”
　　EthanBrandgazedintotheboxforaninstant，andthenstarting
　　back，lookedfixedlyattheGerman。Whathadheseen？Nothing，
　　apparently；foracuriousyouth，whohadpeepedinalmostatthe
　　samemoment，beheldonlyavacantspaceofcanvas。
　　“Irememberyounow。”mutteredEthanBrandtotheshowman。
　　“Ah，Captain。”whisperedtheJewofNuremberg，withadarksmile，
　　“Ifindittobeaheavymatterinmyshow-box-thisUnpardonableSin！
　　Bymyfaith，Captain，ithasweariedmyshoulders，thislongday，to
　　carryitoverthemountain。”
　　“Peace。”answeredEthanBrand，sternly，“orgettheeintothe
　　furnaceyonder！”
　　TheJew’sexhibitionhadscarcelyconcluded，whenagreat，
　　elderlydog-whoseemedtobehisownmaster，asnopersoninthe
　　companylaidclaimtohim-sawfittorenderhimselftheobjectof
　　publicnotice。Hitherto，hehadshownhimselfaveryquiet，well
　　disposedolddog，goingroundfromonetoanother，and，bywayof
　　beingsociable，offeringhisroughheadtobepattedbyanykindly
　　handthatwouldtakesomuchtrouble。Butnow，allofasudden，this
　　graveandvenerablequadruped，ofhisownmeremotion，andwithoutthe
　　slightestsuggestionfromanybodyelse，begantorunroundafterhis
　　tail，which，toheightentheabsurdityoftheproceeding，wasa
　　greatdealshorterthanitshouldhavebeen。Neverwasseensuch
　　headlongeagernessinpursuitofanobjectthatcouldnotpossibly
　　beattained；neverwasheardsuchatremendousoutbreakofgrowling，
　　snarling，barking，andsnapping-asifoneendoftheridiculous
　　brute’sbodywereatdeadlyandmostunforgivableenmitywiththe
　　other。Fasterandfaster，roundaboutwentthecur；andfasterand
　　stillfasterfledtheunapproachablebrevityofhistail；andlouder
　　andfiercergrewhisyellsofrageandanimosity；until，utterly
　　exhausted，andasfarfromthegoalasever，thefoolisholddog
　　ceasedhisperformanceassuddenlyashehadbegunit。Thenextmoment
　　hewasasmild，quiet，sensible，andrespectableinhisdeportment，as
　　whenhefirstscrapedacquaintancewiththecompany。
　　Asmaybesupposed，theexhibitionwasgreetedwithuniversal
　　laughter，clappingofhands，andshoutsofencore，towhichthecanine
　　performerrespondedbywaggingallthattherewastowagofhis
　　tail，butappearedtotallyunabletorepeathisverysuccessfuleffort
　　toamusethespectators。
　　Meanwhile，EthanBrandhadresumedhisseatuponthelog，and
　　moved，itmightbe，byaperceptionofsomeremoteanalogybetweenhis
　　owncaseandthatofthisself-pursuingcur，hebrokeintotheawful
　　laugh，which，morethananyothertoken，expressedtheconditionof
　　hisinwardbeing。Fromthatmoment，themerrimentofthepartywas
　　atanend；theystoodaghast，dreadinglesttheinauspicioussound
　　shouldbereverberatedaroundthehorizon，andthatmountainwould
　　thunderittomountain，andsothehorrorbeprolongedupontheir
　　ears。Then，whisperingonetoanotherthatitwaslate-thatthe
　　moonwasalmostdown-thattheAugustnightwasgrowingchill-they
　　hurriedhomewardsleavingthelime-burnerandlittleJoetodealas
　　theymightwiththeirunwelcomeguest。Saveforthesethreehuman
　　beings，theopenspaceonthehill-sidewasasolitude，setina
　　vastgloomofforest。Beyondthatdarksomeverge，thefire-light
　　glimmeredonthestatelytrunksandalmostblackfoliageofpines，
　　intermixedwiththelighterverdureofsaplingoaks，maples，and
　　poplars，whilehereandtherelaythegiganticcorpsesofdead
　　trees，decayingontheleaf-strewnsoil。Anditseemedtolittle
　　Joe-atimorousandimaginativechild-thatthesilentforestwas
　　holdingitsbreath，untilsomefearfulthingshouldhappen。
　　EthanBrandthrustmorewoodintothefire，andclosedthedoor
　　ofthekiln；thenlookingoverhisshoulderatthelime-burnerandhis
　　son，hebade，ratherthanadvised，themtoretiretorest。
　　“Formyself，Icannotsleep。”saidhe。“Ihavemattersthatit
　　concernsmetomeditateupon。Iwillwatchthefire，asIusedtodo
　　intheoldtime。”
　　“Andcallthedeviloutofthefurnacetokeepyoucompany，I
　　suppose。”mutteredBartram，whohadbeenmakingintimate
　　acquaintancewiththeblackbottleabove-mentioned。“Butwatch，ifyou
　　like，andcallasmanydevilsasyoulike！Formypart，Ishallbeall
　　thebetterforasnooze。Come，Joe！”
　　Astheboyfollowedhisfatherintothehut，helookedbackat
　　thewayfarer，andthetearscameintohiseyes，forhistender
　　spirithadanintuitionofthebleakandterriblelonelinessin
　　whichthismanhadenvelopedhimself。
　　Whentheyhadgone，EthanBrandsatlisteningtothecracklingof
　　thekindledwood，andlookingatthelittlespirtsoffirethatissued
　　throughthechinksofthedoor。Thesetrifles，however，onceso
　　familiar，hadbuttheslightestholdofhisattention，whiledeep
　　withinhismindhewasreviewingthegradualbutmarvellouschange
　　thathadbeenwroughtuponhimbythesearchtowhichhehaddevoted
　　himself。Herememberedhowthenightdewhadfallenuponhim-how
　　thedarkforesthadwhisperedtohim-howthestarshadgleamedupon
　　him-asimpleandlovingman，watchinghisfireintheyearsgone
　　by，andevermusingasitburned。Herememberedwithwhat
　　tenderness，withwhatloveandsympathyformankind，andwhatpityfor
　　humanguiltandwoe，hehadfirstbeguntocontemplatethoseideas
　　whichafterwardsbecametheinspirationofhislife；withwhat
　　reverencehehadthenlookedintotheheartofman，viewingitasa
　　templeoriginallydivine，and，howeverdesecrated，stilltobeheld
　　sacredbyabrother；withwhatawfulfearhehaddeprecatedthe
　　successofhispursuit，andprayedthattheUnpardonableSinmight
　　neverberevealedtohim。Thenensuedthatvastintellectual
　　development，which，initsprogress，disturbedthecounterpoise
　　betweenhismindandheart。TheIdeathatpossessedhislifehad
　　operatedasameansofeducation；ithadgoneoncultivatinghis
　　powerstothehighestpointofwhichtheyweresusceptible；ithad
　　raisedhimfromthelevelofanunletteredlaborertostandona
　　star-liteminence，whitherthephilosophersoftheearth，ladenwith
　　theloreofuniversities，mightvainlystrivetoclamberafterhim。So
　　muchfortheintellect！Butwherewastheheart？That，indeed，had
　　withered-hadcontracted-hadhardened-hadperished！Ithadceasedto
　　partakeoftheuniversalthrob。Hehadlosthisholdofthemagnetic
　　chainofhumanity。Hewasnolongerabrother-man，openingthe
　　chambersorthedungeonsofourcommonnaturebythekeyofholy
　　sympathy，whichgavehimarighttoshareinallitssecrets；hewas
　　nowacoldobserver，lookingonmankindasthesubjectofhis
　　experiment，and，atlength，convertingmanandwomantobehis
　　puppets，andpullingthewiresthatmovedthemtosuchdegreesof
　　crimeasweredemandedforhisstudy。
　　ThusEthanBrandbecameafiend。Hebegantobesofromthe
　　momentthathismoralnaturehadceasedtokeepthepaceof
　　improvementwithhisintellect。Andnow，ashishighesteffortand
　　inevitabledevelopment-asthebrightandgorgeousflower，andrich，
　　deliciousfruitofhislife’slabor-hehadproducedthe
　　UnpardonableSin！
　　WhatmorehaveItoseek？Whatmoretoachieve？”saidEthanBrand
　　tohimself。“Mytaskisdone，andwelldone！”
　　Startingfromthelogwithacertainalacrityinhisgait，and
　　ascendingthehillockofearththatwasraisedagainstthestone
　　circumferenceofthelime-kiln，hethusreachedthetopofthe
　　structure。Itwasaspaceofperhapstenfeetacross，fromedgeto
　　edge，presentingaviewoftheuppersurfaceoftheimmensemassof
　　brokenmarblewithwhichthekilnwasheaped。Alltheseinnumerable
　　blocksandfragmentsofmarblewerered-hotandvividlyonfire，
　　sendingupgreatspoutsofblueflame，whichquiveredaloftanddanced
　　madly，aswithinamagiccircle，andsankandroseagain，with
　　continualandmultitudinousactivity。Asthelonelymanbentforward
　　overthisterriblebodyoffire，theblastingheatsmoteupagainst
　　hispersonwithabreaththat，itmightbescorchedandshrivelledhim
　　upinamoment。
　　EthanBrandstooderect，andraisedhisarmsonhigh。Theblue
　　flamesplayeduponhisface，andimpartedthewildandghastlylight
　　whichalonecouldhavesuiteditsexpression；itwasthatofafiend
　　onthevergeofplungingintohisgulfofintensesttorment。
　　“OMotherEarth。”criedhe，“whoartnomoremyMother，andinto
　　whosebosomthisframeshallneverberesolved！Omankind，whose
　　brotherhoodIhavecastoff，andtrampledthygreatheartbeneathmy
　　feet！Ostarsofheaven，thatshoneonmeofold，asiftolightme
　　onwardandupward！-farewellall，andforever。Come，deadlyelementof
　　Fire-henceforthmyfamiliarfriend！Embraceme，asIdothee！”
　　Thatnightthesoundofafearfulpealoflaughterrolledheavily
　　throughthesleepofthelime-burnerandhislittleson；dimshapesof
　　horrorandanguishhauntedtheirdreams，andseemedstillpresentin
　　therudehovel，whentheyopenedtheireyestothedaylight。
　　“Up，boy，up！”criedthelime-burner，staringabouthim。“Thank
　　Heaven，thenightisgone，atlast；andratherthanpasssuchanother，
　　Iwouldwatchmylime-kiln，wideawake，foratwelvemonth。This
　　EthanBrand，withhishumbugofanUnpardonableSin，hasdonemeno
　　suchmightyfavor，intakingmyplace！”
　　Heissuedfromthehut，followedbylittleJoe，whokeptfast
　　holdofhisfather’shand。Theearlysunshinewasalreadypouring
　　itsgolduponthemountain-tops；andthoughthevalleyswerestill
　　inshadow，theysmiledcheerfullyinthepromiseofthebrightday
　　thatwashasteningonward。Thevillage，completelyshutinbyhills，
　　whichswelledawaygentlyaboutit，lookedasifithadrested
　　peacefullyinthehollowofthegreathandofProvidence。Every
　　dwellingwasdistinctlyvisible；thelittlespiresofthetwochurches
　　pointedupwards，andcaughtafore-glimmeringofbrightnessfromthe
　　sun-giltskiesupontheirgildedweather-cocks。Thetavernwas
　　astir，andthefigureoftheold，smoke-driedstage-agent，cigarin
　　mouth，wasseenbeneaththestoop。OldGraylockwasglorifiedwitha
　　goldenclouduponhishead。Scatteredlikewiseoverthebreastsofthe
　　surroundingmountains，therewereheapsofhoarymist，infantastic
　　shapes，someofthemfardownintothevalley，othershighup
　　towardsthesummitsandstillothers，ofthesamefamilyofmistor
　　cloud，hoveringinthegoldradianceoftheupperatmosphere。Stepping
　　fromonetoanotherofthecloudsthatrestedonthehills，andthence
　　totheloftierbrotherhoodthatsailedinair，itseemedalmostas
　　ifamortalmanmightthusascendintotheheavenlyregions。Earthwas
　　somingledwithskythatitwasaday-dreamtolookatit。
　　Tosupplythatcharmofthefamiliarandhomely，whichNatureso
　　readilyadoptsintoascenelikethis，thestage-coachwasrattling
　　downthemountain-road，andthedriversoundedhishorn，whileecho
　　caughtupthenotes，andintertwinedthemintoarichandvariedand
　　elaborateharmony，ofwhichtheoriginalperformercouldlayclaim
　　tolittleshare。Thegreathillsplayedaconcertamongthemselves，
　　eachcontributingastrainofairysweetness。