Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-03-17

who was fond Of spicing his sliscourses
with anecdotes. once made the blacksmith
The principal character in long sermon.
His pecularilies were dilaled on, and his
herecies dealt with in becoming severity.
He was rdiculed by the preacher. All
this came to the ears Of Forgeron, with
such additions and embellishments as a
story usually receives is passing toa third
person.. 1t would be as useless to attempt
tn describe mountain storm, as to PIC
tire the wrath Of this moun'aineer. But
if we canno, portray the storm. the con-
sequences may he easily told. The black
smith sworc in his wrath that he would
whip every Methodist preacher that pass
ed the gap, in revenge for his insult.
Forgeron was man Of his word. as the
bruised features Of many Of John Wes-
ley's deciples could testify. His charac-
ter soon went abroad, and the good old
matrons of the surrounding counties on
each side OF the mountains, tremblel al,
his name In short. the mountain pass,
which was really as romantic place as a
landscape painter wood seek for picture.
and was just the place 10 remind youth
fresh from his classic studies. Of the place
where Leondas and his three hundred
Spartans fell, in attempting to defend
Greece against the army of Xerxes; in
despite Of the grandeur Of its bee'ling
cliffs, and the beauty of its verdure, was
associated in the minds of many pious
persons with the BRoND GATE that leads
to destrnci"n. And Ned Forgeron. the
handsome blacksmith. was invested with
the attributes Of his Satanic majesty, by
MANY a mountain girl. who would doubt
less have fallen in love at first sight with
him. under any other name.
The preacher whose circuit, Law on either
side Of the mountain. at the time Ned's
direful edct was promulgated to the world,
was a meek and lowlv man. who ap
preached nearly in his natural disposition
to willing obedience 10 the mandate rela-
tive to turning the cheek to the smiler -
The poor soul passed many s!eepless
nights in view of the fate tina. awaited
him in the mountain pass. In his dreams
lie saw Forg will, huge sle,'ge ham
mer rcaay 10 DASH OFT -His brains. an.
would start with such violence as to wake
himself. He enqured if there was no
other place at which the mountain could
I've passed, only to learn his doom more
certainly Being ,irnid man, but wi,hal
devouuy impressed with sense of duty,
he resolved TO discharge his duty faithful
", be the consequences what they might.
Like lamb going to the slaughter did he
wend his way toward the gap; as he came
in front Of the shop. the blacksmith was
striking the last blow On a shovel and sing
ing The tune Of :" Clear the Kitchen
Old Georgia is noble State,
Her laws are good and her people great.
On catching glimpse Of the parson,
who had na,ercd himself ,ha, he was a
bout 10 pass will. impuni:y, Ned sung on,
-" Stop there, you eternal shad- belly,
and pay the penalty for my injured repu-
taion.'
The holy man protested innocence Of
having ever intentionally injured him by
word or deed
The mans subdued looks and earnes,
voice had half dissuaded Ned from Iii,
stern purpose, when the giggling 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, ant
reflect if he has never been urged to acts
| his conscience smo,e him for. by the opin.
ions Of others. before Mr.. Forgeron is sen
fenced as a devil. The preacher received
several boxes OH the ears, and heard ma
ny denuncia,ions against his sect before he
| was permitted to depart; and when thai
| permission was received, he was not slow
in availing himself Of the privilege.
At the next annual conference, when
circuits were assigned to the different
preachers. this one made his appearance
puncluaiIy, but by some process Of casui
s,ry, convinced himself that his duty did
no, call for revelation Of his suf1erings
II lie was too sensitive Of ,he blacksmith. s
character to expose i, 10 remark, or if he
had preference that some worlhcr broth
er should occupy that healthy station a.
| mong the mountains, is difficult TO coniec
,ure. But Forgeron's reputation had cx
tended beyond the circuit, and was done
ample and severe justice to by others, who
| had heard Of his fame. 1t soon became
| the subject of animated conversation, and
there was no little wincing. each one fear
ing il would be his cruelfat 10 be sent ;
| victim 10 appease the wrath Of this humat
mino,eur against the Methodist church q
Af'erIa time it was agreed that the Rev
Mr.. Subblewor,h as the doomed indiyid.
ual, and when the annnnciation came, nra
ny an eye Of mingled pity and curiosi,,
was turned on his ruddv good natnree
face. TO see how the dispensa,ion wa.
borne. but not muscle was moved. Will