Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-12-22

direction. \ Methodist preacher over
IN iehnes~sis, who was fond of spic,ng
his dsconrses with anecdntes, once
a~fie the blacksmith the principal CHAR
scter IN long sermon. Ills prculiari-
lies were dilated on, and his here csIrs
dealt with, IN becoming severity. lie
was ridiculed by tho preacher. Al this
came to the ears Of Forgcron, with
such additions and bpiiishnients rs
stories usually receive 10 passing To n
thmd person. 1t would be as useless to
attempt to describe "a mountain storm, as
10 picture the wrath of this mountaineer.
But il we cannot portray the storm, the
consequences may be easily told. The
Blacksmith sWcrc IN his praih that he
woaid ~hip erc,y .Mihodisi preachp that
p0s,ed he gap, M rerenge oi his insult.
tmgcron was man of his word as
the bruised features OF many of John
Weslry's disc ples could testify. Ills
vharacter soon went abroad, and The
good old mairons of the surrounding
counties on each side Of the mountain,
trcnbled at his name. In short, the
mountain pass, which was really as ro-
maniic n place as n landscape painter
would seek ior picture, and was Just
The spot TO remind youth fresh from hS
class'c studies, of the place where
Ieonidas and his three hundred Spartnns
fell, IN attempting to defend Greece
against the army of Xcrxes IN despite
at the grandeur of It's beetllng cliffs, and
the beauty lis verdurr, was associated
~ The minds ol many pious persons, with
the broad gate that leads TO destruction.
Aud Ned Fnrgeron, the handsome black
smith. was invested with the attributes
aud hldpous aspect of his Satanic ma les.
~, hy many n mountain giri, who would
doubtless have fallen 10 love al FIRST
sight with him, under any other name
The preacher, whose circuit lay on
either side oi the mountain, at the time
Ned's direinl edict was promul gated to-
The world, was u meek aud lowly man,
who approached nearly in his natural
disposition 10 willing obc cdience To the
mandate relative To turning the cheek to
the smit"r. The poor soul passed many
sleepless nights in view Of the fate that
awaited him at the mountain pass. InI
his dreams he saw Forgeron with huge
sicdge hammer in hls hand, ready to-
dash out his brains, and would start with
such violence as To wake himself. He
inquired If there was no other place al
which The mountain could be passed,
only Ia learn his doom more certainly. -
Being a tlmid man, but wilhal devou,ly
Impressed with sense of duty, he re-
solved To discharge his duties faithfully ;,
be The consequences what they might
Like lamb going to the slaughter did
he ~rnd his way toward The gap as he
came IN front Of The shop, the blacksmith
was striking the last blow ON II shovel,
and singing, 10 the tune OF Clear the
Kitchen
sold Georgia is noble State,
Her laws are good and her people great"
On catching n glimpse of the poor par
son, who had flaltered himself that he
was about TO pass with impuniiy, Ned
sung out-'S,op there you eternal shad-
belly, aud pay the penalty Of my injured
reputation
The holy man protested innocence of
having ever intentionally injured hun,
by word or deed.
The mans subdued looks and earnest
voice had half dissuaded Ned from his |
stern purpose, when the giggllng OF his .
striker and the cheering OF two or three
oilers nerved him to do what he felt was
mean. Let any one pause moment,
and reflect II he has never been urged
on To acts his conscience smote him for, |
by the opinion OF others, before Mr.. |
Forgerou Is sentenced as devil The |
preacher received several boxes on his
ears, and heard many nunciaions
against his sect before he was permitted
10 depart and when that permission was
received, he was not slow in availing .
himself OF the privilege.
At The next annual conference, when .
cIIculIS were assigned 10 the different
?renchers, this one made lis appeal ancc .
punctnaIly, 0ut by some process of casu-
Istry, convinced himself that his duty
dId not call Tor revelation of his suffer
Ings. II he was too sensitive OF the l
blacksmiIh's character To expose il to
To rude remark, or il he had preference I
that some worthier brother should occupy /.
that healthy station among the mountains, II
Is difficult 10 conjecture. But Forge
ron's reputation had extended beyond !.
the circuit, and was done ample and
severe justice To by others, who had
heard of hts fame. Ii soon became the II
subject OF animated conversation, aud II
there was no little wincn., each one |
fearing II would be his cruel lnte To be !
sent victim To appease the wrath of this
human mmotaur against the Methodist
church. Il
After tire il was decreed the Reve- /
rend MIR. Stnbbleworlh was the dnomed |
individual; aud when the annunciaIion
came, many al eye OF mingled pity aud /
curiosity was turned on his rudy good |
nniurrd face, To see how the disprnsa-
tom was borne, bu. not muscle moved.
Nnh a quiet smile, he proiessed per.
feet Willingness to 90 where he was sent
~" WAS clay in the hands oflhe potter
bn said. u he piqued himselon stold
Ia the blacksmth's pun
meetings.. or u he relied on his ample dl-
mcnslnns Ia protect himself, he never
disclosed, but apppared as sell satisfied