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ETHAN BRAND
A CHAPTER FROM AN ABORTIVE ROMANCE
Bartram the lime…burner； a rough； heavy…looking man； begrimed
with charcoal； sat watching his kiln at nightfall； while his
little son played at building houses with the scattered fragments
of marble； when； on the hill…side below them； they heard a roar
of laughter； not mirthful； but slow； and even solemn； like a wind
shaking the boughs of the forest。
〃Father； what is that？〃 asked the little boy； leaving his play；
and pressing betwixt his father's knees。
〃Oh； some drunken man； I suppose；〃 answered the lime…burner；
〃some merry fellow from the bar…room in the village； who dared
not laugh loud enough within doors lest he should blow the roof
of the house off。 So here he is； shaking his jolly sides at the
foot of Graylock。〃
〃But； father；〃 said the child； more sensitive than the obtuse；
middle…aged clown； 〃he does not laugh like a man that is glad。 So
the noise frightens me！〃
〃Don't be a fool； child！〃 cried his father； gruffly。 〃You will
never make a man； I do believe； there is too much of your mother
in you。 I have known the rustling of a leaf startle you。 Hark！
Here comes the merry fellow now。 You shall see that there is no
harm in him。〃
Bartram and his little son； while they were talking thus； sat
watching the same lime…kiln that had been the scene of Ethan
Brand's solitary and meditative life； before he began his search
for the Unpardonable Sin。 Many years； as we have seen； had now
elapsed； since that portentous night when the IDEA was first
developed。 The kiln； however； on the mountain…side； stood
unimpaired； and was in nothing changed since he had thrown his
dark thoughts into the intense glow of its furnace； and melted
them； as it were； into the one thought that took possession of
his life。 It was a rude； round； tower…like structure about twenty
feet high； heavily built of rough stones； and with a hillock of
earth heaped about the larger part of its circumference； so that
the blocks and fragments of marble might be drawn by cart…loads；
and thrown in at the top。 There was an opening at the bottom of
the tower； like an over…mouth； but large enough to admit a man in
a stooping posture； and provided with a massive iron door。 With
the smoke and jets of flame issuing from the chinks and crevices
of this door； which seemed to give admittance into the hill…side；
it resembled nothing so much as the private entrance to the
infernal regions； which the shepherds of the Delectable Mountains
were accustomed to show to pilgrims。
There are many such lime…kilns in that tract of country； for the
purpose of burning the white marble which composes a large part
of the substance of the hills。 Some of them； built years ago； and
long deserted； with weeds growing in the vacant round of the
interior； which is open to the sky； and grass and wild…flowers
rooting themselves into the chinks of the stones； look already
like relics of antiquity； and may yet be overspread with the
lichens of centuries to come。 Others； where the limeburner still
feeds his daily and night…long fire； afford points of interest to
the wanderer among the hills； who seats himself on a log of wood
or a fragment of marble； to hold a chat with the solitary man。 It
is a lonesome； and； when the character is inclined to thought；
may be an intensely thoughtful occupation； as it proved in the
case of Ethan Brand； who had mused to such strange purpose； in
days gone by； while the fire in this very kiln was burning。
The man who now watched the fire was of a different order； and
troubled himself with no thoughts save the very few that were
requisite to his business。 At frequent intervals； he flung back
the clashing weight of the iron door； and； turning his face from
the insufferable glare； thrust in huge logs of oak； or stirred
the immense brands with a long pole。 Within the furnace were seen
the curling and riotous flames； and the burning marble； almost
molten with the intensity of heat； while without； the reflection
of the fire quivered on the dark intricacy of the surrounding
forest； and showed in the foreground a bright and ruddy little
picture of the hut； the spring beside its door； the athletic and
coal…begrimed figure of the lime…burner； and the half…frightened
child； shrinking into the protection of his father's shadow。 And
when； again； the iron door was closed； then reappeared the tender
light of the half…full moon； which vainly strove to trace out the
indistinct shapes of the neighboring mountains； and； in the upper
sky； there was a flitting congregation of clouds； still faintly
tinged with the rosy sunset； though thus far down into the valley
the sunshine had vanished long and long ago
The little boy now crept still closer to his father； as footsteps
were heard ascending the hill…side； and a human form thrust aside
the bushes that clustered beneath the trees。
〃Halloo！ who is it？〃 cried the lime…burner； vexed at his son's
timidity； yet half infected by it。 〃Come forward； and show
yourself； like a man； or I'll fling this chunk of marble at your
head！〃
〃You offer me a rough welcome；〃 said a gloomy voice； as the
unknown man drew nigh。 〃Yet I neither claim nor desire a kinder
one； even at my own fireside。〃
To obtain a distincter view； Bartram threw open the iron door of
the kiln； whence immediately issued a gush of fierce light； that
smote full upon the stranger's face and figure。 To a careless eye
there appeared nothing very remarkable in his aspect； which was
that of a man in a coarse brown； country…made suit of clothes；
tall and thin； with the staff and heavy shoes of a wayfarer。 As
he advanced； he fixed his eyeswhich were very brightintently
upon the brightness of the furnace； as if he beheld； or expected
to behold； some object worthy of note within it。
〃Good evening； stranger；〃 said the lime…burner； 〃whence come you；
so late in the day？〃
〃I come from my search；〃 answered the wayfarer； 〃for； at last； it
is finished。〃
〃Drunk！or crazy！〃 muttered Bartram to himself。 〃I shall have
trouble with the fellow。 The sooner I drive him away； the
better。〃
The little boy； all in a tremble； whispered to his father； and
begged him to shut the door of the kiln； so that there might not
be so much light； for that there was something in the man's face
which he was afraid to look at； yet could not look away from。
And； indeed； even the lime…burner's dull and torpid sense began
to be impressed by an indescribable something in that thin；
rugged； thoughtful visage； with the grizzled hair hanging wildly
about it； and those deeply sunken eyes； which gleamed like fires
within the entrance of a mysterious cavern。 But； as he closed the
door； the stranger turned towards him； and spoke in a quiet；
familiar way； that made Bartram feel as if he were a sane and
sensible man； after all。
〃Your task draws to an end； I see；〃 said he。 〃This marble has
alrea