The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-07-12

Fond hoy unconscious of the smart
suck'd the poison TO my heart!
HOW THE MOUNTAIN BLACKSMITH
WAS CONVERTED.
The scene is laid in the mountainous regions of
Georgia. Mr. Forgeron. blacksmith had a
great aniipathy agains, all ministers. and Mpthu
dist ministers especially. His shop was in mar
row monnta in pass, and he declared his de,errni.
nation to whip every Methodist preacher that
passed his shop. This threat he had so often
executed, that the circuit was dreaded nv the
preachers. and 1t was with some difficulty that
one was found to fill it. The Rev. Mr.. Siubble
worth, however, readily consented to 90 there,
and the following describes his ride through the
mountains:
Forgeron had heard of his new victim and re-
JoIced that his size and appearance furnished
better subject for his vengeance than the atten-
uated frame of the late parsnn. Oh, what nice
heating he would have! He had heard too, that
some Methodist ministers were rather spirited.
ana hoped that this one might prove go that he
might provoke him TO fight Knowing that the
clergyman mnst pass on Saturday in the afternoon.
he gave his striker holiday, and reclining on, q
nench' RECALLED himself On the beauties of Tom
raIne. awaiting the approach of the preacher.
III was not over an hour before he heard the
words,
. How happy they who their Saviour obev
And have laid up their treasure above"
sung in fnll clear vnice and soon the vocalist
turning the angle of the rock, rode IN with
contenred smile on his face
" How are you, old slabsidcs2 Get off of
your horse, and join in. my DEVOTION" said tina
blacksmith
81 have many miles to ride,7 answered the
preacher, ''and havn't time, nv friend Il
call as retnrn"
g Your name is Stnbheworth, and Won are the
trIfiIng hypOcrite the Methodfs,s have son, be,e
to preach, eh %
:" My name is Siubbleworth." he replied.
meekly.
+" DIDN'T you know my name was Ned For
geron the blacksmith, what whips every Metho-
dist preacher that goes through this gap 2" was
asked with an audacious book and how dare
yon come here 2"
The preacher replied that he had heard For
gernns name, bnt presumed he did not modest
well behaved travellers
9 You presume so! Yes. you are the most
PreSumptuons people, you Methodsts. that over
trod shoe leather. any how Well, what'll YOU
do, yon beef headed disciple you 2"
Mr.. Slubbteworth professed his willingness TO
do any thing reasonable to avoid such NJ nance.
"WeII, there's three things you have to do.
or I'll maui you into ielly The first is. Won
are to quit preaching; the second is, Won must
wear this last will and testament of Tbomas
Fame next to yonT heart, read it every dav. and
believe every word you read and the third is.
that you are to curse The Mehodists in everv
crowd you get into, and the blacksmith
shucked' himself, rolled up his sleeves. and
took quid of tobacco
The preacher looked on during these novel
preparations, without line of his face MOVING.
and at the end replied that the terms were unres'
sonahle and that he would not submit 10 them.
Wei. you have got whaling TO submit 10.
then. III tea! you into doll rags corner wavst
Get down, you eussed long faced hypocriiel"
The preacher demonstrated and Foroeron.
walking up to his horse, threatened To tear him
on IT he did not dsmOunt; whereupon the ,yor
thy man made yrtne of necessity, and aliohted
have hut one request 10 make, my fTiepd
That 49, that you won't beat me with this oveYcoat
on II was present from the ladies of my last
circuit, and do not wish to have it torn. /"
OF with it and that suddenly, you basin
faced imp you!''
The Methodist preacher slowly drew off HE
overcoat, as the blacksmith confined his TRADE of
abuse on himself and his sect. and throwing the
garment behind him he dealt Mr.. FnrpeTon =
tremendous blow between the eyes. which I,id
That person At tufl length on the ground with the
testament Of Tom Paine beside him. The Row
hr. otubblewoTth, with the tact Of a connoisseur
IN such matters, did not wait for his adversary to
rise. bot mounted him with the onickness of +, %,
md bestowed his blows with courleons b,od ~
The stomach and face Of the blacksmith. continn.
ing his song where no had left off on his arrival
at the smthey-
tongue cannot express the sweet comfort and
OF a soul in its earliest love"
3n'iI torgeron, from having experienced " first
love-, or some other sensation ennallv ne,v - Ia
responded Justify "'nouphl 'nongb ,.Lo 49,
oH " Bot unfortunately there was no one bv ,o
perform that kind office, except the preaober,s
OLD roam, and he maunched a bunch Of grass ard
looked on as qoietly as il his master was honnv
at camp meeting. TPS
=, Now" said Mr.. Stubbleworth, there are
three things you must promise me before let vou