The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-11-17


iiarv, NAV account for the great aversion
Of Mr.. Edsard FoTgefou 10 all preachers Of
the Gospel. His dislike tor them was SO
excessive, lha, he could scarcely speak OF
the " hypocri,ical scouudrels," as he called
their, without flung into passion and U.s.
iug lndecorous language.
Bul IA circumstance occurred which gave
his zeal distinct and seclarian dITectIon.-
A Methodist preacher over IN Tennessee,
who was fond Of spicing his dlscourses with
anecdotes, once made The blacksmith the
/ principal character in long sermon. HIS
peculiarities were dliaed on and his here.
sizes dealt with, in becoming severity. He
was ridiculed by the preacher. All this
cane to The ears OF Forsefon, With such
additions and embellishments as stories usU-
ally receive in passing 10 a third person.
Il v ould be as useless to attempt 10 describe
a mountain storm, Us TO picture the wrath
Of this mountaineer. But If we cannot por.
4 iray the storm, the consequences may be
easily told. The blacksmith Spore in his
,rrath he rouid rhip erery Methodist
preacher that passed the gap, IN rereage Of
his insult.
Forgeron was man of his word, as the
bruised features Of many of John Wesley S
disciples could testify. His character soon
went abroad, and the good old matrons OF
I the surrounding counties on each side OF
The mountain, trembled at his name. In
short, the mountain pass, which was really
as romantic place as landscape painter
would seek for picture, and was just The
spot to remind youth fresh from his clas.
\ sic studies, of the place where Leonldas and
his three hundred Spar,aus fell, IN attempt.
ing TO dotend Greece against the army Of
Nerves.; but in despite OF the grandeur OF
IFS beetllng cliffs, and The beauty Of It's yer.
dure il was associated in the minds OF ma.
ny pious persons, With The bread gate that
leads to destruction. And Ned For.eron,
the handsome blacksmith, was lnveste with
the attributes aud hldeous aspect Of his ga
lanlc majesty, by many a mountain gIrl,
who would doubtless have fallen in love al
lirs, sight" with him, under any other name.
The preacher whose circuit lay on either
+ side Of the mountain, at the time Ned dire.
j ful edct was promulgated 70 the world, was
/ a meek aud lowly man, who approached
nearly in his natural disposition, 70 wiling
obedience to the mandate, relative 10 turn
ing the cheek TO the sml'rr. The poor soul
passed many seepless nights 10 view OF the
fale that awaited him al the mountain pass.
Ia MS dreams he saw Forgeron with huge
,edse hammer in his hand ready TO dash
out bis brains, and would start with such Vi
oleuce as 10 wake himself He inquired
# there was no other place at which the
mountain could be passed, only TO learn his
doom more certainly. Being tinid man,
bu, withal devoUty impressed with a sense
of duty, he resolved 10 discharge his duties
faithfully, be the consequences what they
might. Like lamb going to the sIaugh
ter did he wend his way toward the gap as
he came in iron, Of the shop, the blacksmith
was striking tho last blow on shovel, aad
singing to the tune Of" Clear the kitchen" -
" Old Georgia is 4 noJle State,
Her laws are good and her people great
On catching glimpse Of the poor par.
sou, who had BATTERED hir,oo!f thei no uAs
about to pass with impuulty. Ned sung
out" Stop, there, you eternal Shad belly
aud pay the penalty for my irj1red rePu'a,
ton y
The holy man protested innocence Of
having intentionally injured him, BY word
or de d.
The mans subdJed books and earnest
voice, had half dissuaded Ned from his stern
purpose, when the giggliDg Of his striker
and the cheering of two or three ldlers, nerv
ed him 10 do what he Eel. was mean. Lei
any one pause a moment, and reflect If be
has never been urged on to acts his con
science smote him for, by The opinions O.
Others, before Mr.. Forgcfou is sentenced u:
a devil. The preacher received severa
boxes on bis ears and heard many denun
Citations against his sec, before he was per
ntted TO depart and when that permission
vas received, he was not slow III awaiting
himself Of the privilege.
A, the next annual conference, when cir
cults were assigned TO lie different preach
era, this one made his appearance Punciu
ally, but by some process Of casuistry, con
vlnced himself that his duty did not call fol
a revelation Of his sutienngs. Ii be wa'
too sensitive Of the blacksmlth's charGctel
to expose Il to rude remark, or if he had {
preference that some woTlhier brothe
should occupy the healthy station anon;
the mountains, is difficult 10 Conjecture
Bot Forgeron's reputation had ex,euded be
yond the circuit, and was done ample an
severe Justice 10 by others, who had hear
Of his fame. II soon became the subject @
animated conversation, and there ives no 1t
tie winclng, each one fearing it would b
his cruel fate, TO be sent victim TO appeas
the wrath of this human mluoiauT agalns
the Methodist church.
After time, it vas decteed that the Rev
erend Mr.. S,ubbleworth vas the doomed il
dvidual, and when the annunciatIon came
many an eye of mingled pity and curosii
was turned on his ruddy, good nalured face
10 see how the disponsation was borne, bl
no, a muscle moved. With que, smile
be professed a perfect Willingness to g
= where he was sent. lie was " clay in til