Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-04-13
LlilSUla NIAOUSo
From the Family Companion

From the Family Companion
THE EXPERIENCE OF TIE BLACKSMITH
OF THE MuUrAlN PASS.
At the entrance to one Of those gorges
or gaps in the grea. Appalachian chain OF
mountains, in their passage across the
northern portion of Georgia, blacksmith
had erected his forge in the early settle
men, of that region by the American
race, and drove II thrifty trade III the way
Of facing axes and pointing ploughs for
the settlers, and shoeing horses for way
faring people in their transit through the
country to examine gold mines aud land.
As he was no ordinary parsonage IN
The affairs of his neighborhood, and will
make conspicuous figure in this narrative,
some account of his pecal;arlties will not
be undressing. Having acted through
life on h"meiy maxim OF his own
"pay up as you go up"-he had acquired
some money and was out of debt, and
consequently enjoyed 1.-THE glorious privi-
lege of being independent, in degree
that is unknown to many who occupy a
arger portion OF the worlds attention
than himself. He wasa bully, well look.
ing man Of thirty FIVE, just young enough
to feel that all his faculties, mental AMI
physical, had reached their greatest de-
veIopment, and just old enough TO have
amassed sufficient experience Of men and
things, to make the past serve US linger
post TO his future j urney through HE.
With shrewd but open, bold and honest
| look, there was gieeIul expression in
the corners of his mouth that spoke OF
fun. The "laughing devil in his eye"
was not malicious spirit however. His
| physical confirmation was that which
combined great strength with agility, and
# he had been tated 10 have been a con-
temporary Of his great prototype, Vulcan,
there can be no donbt but the Lqmnan
blacksmith would have allotted 10 him II
front forge in his establishment, 10 act
Us sort of pattern card, and to divert
the public gaze from his own lame leg to
the fair proportions Of his foreman.
Now, although Ned Fo,geron, for such
WAS the name he had inherited from some
Gallo ancestor, was a good natuIed man,
| yet the possession Of great muscular
strength aud courage, and the admiration
which n successful exercise of this power
never fails to command, had somewha,
spoiled him. Without meaning TO inlure
any mortal, ne had managed nevertheless,
TO try his proves on sundry OF his neigh.
bors, and liom the success which always
crowned his honts ST efforts III that way
had nnconsciously acquired The charactei
of 6uUy.
Win very few early advantages o
elementary education, he had neserlhe
less, at different perio $, collected mass
of heterogeneous Information, which h,
was very fond of displaying on occasions
He was Il sort OF political antquary, one
could tell the opinion Of Mr.. Jetferson OF
any subject, aud was referred to on al
disputed points of the theory and history
Of the government, that arose among iht
candidates for the legislature and coun
try politicians. This he studied on &C
count Of the consequence it invested hin
with. But why he had treasured up al
old and well thumbed copy of "Palne
Are Of Reason" affected sccp,cism a
to the veracily of the sloy Of Jonah an'
the Whale, and Baiaam and his Ass
would be hard accounting for, unless !
proceeded from the desire Of charaeie
for singularity and erudition. When van
;ty once gets the mastery Of mans rea
son, there is no telling the absurdhies
will lean him into. He was fond OF speak
ing Of Vnney. and being found with
copy of Taylor's "Dicgesls" in his hand
although few Of his neighbors had hear
of the Ruins, or knew what Diegesi
meant.
This PECULIARLY, together with the per
iinacity OF the missionaries. Worceste
and Butler, which carried them to III
peniten,iary, may account for tho grea
aversion Of Mr.. Edward Forseron 10 al
preachers OF the gospel. His dislike 70
them was so excessive, that no coul
scarcely speak OF the hypocri,ieal scouE