Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-06-04
KING so1oMoNas BLACKSMITH.

And 1t came to pass when Solomon, the son of
DAVID, had finished the Temple of Jerusalem,
that he called unto him the chief architects, the
head artlflcers, and cunning workers in silver and
gold, and in wood and in ivory, and in stone
yea all who had aided in rearing the temple Of
the Lord, and he said to them ,-"St We down at
my table, have prepared feast for all my chief
workers and cunning art1icers. Stretch forth
your hands: therefore, and eat and drink and be
merry. Is not the laborer worthy Of his hire? Is
not the sklful artifcer deserving of honor? Muz-
zle not the OK that neadeth oct the corn.'
And When Solomon and the chief workmen
We're seated, and the fatness of the land and the
OIL thereof were upon the table, there came one
who Knocked loudly at the door, and forced him
self ln.y the festal chamber Then Solomon, tbs
King Was wroth, and said:
wv hat manner of man art thou %
And the man answered and said ,-'sWhen men
wish to honor me. they call me Son of the Forge;
put when they desire TO mock me, they call me
blacksmith and seeing that the toll of working in
the fire covers me with sweat and smut, the lat
ter name, King is not inapt, and, in truth, thy
servant desires no BETTER
"But," said Solomon, why came YOU thus rude
ly and unbldden to the feast, where none save the
chief workmen of the Temple are invited gu
| PLEASE ye, my lord, came rudely," replied
the man, because thy servant obliged me to force
my way but came not unbidden. Was it not
proclaimed that the chiefworkmen of the Temple
were invited to dine with the King of Israel ?''
Then he who carved tie chernbm said -
1 'Ihs fellow is no soul ptor," and he who inaid
the roof with pure gold said, 'sNeither is he a
workman in fine metals"
And he who raised the walls said, ssHe is not
a cutter of stone'
And he who made the roof, cried out, s.He is
! dor,
the mystery of uniting strange pieces of timber to-
gether."
Then said Solomon, "NVhat hast thou to say
son OF the Forge, why should not order thee &c
be pl'lcked by the beard scourged with scourge
and stoned TO death with stones ?"
And when the Son of the Forge heard this, IL
was in no sort dlsmayed, but advancing to thu
table, snatched up and swallowed cup Of wine
and said, 20 King, live forever! The chiefmer
OF the workers in wood and gold and stone have
said that am not of them, and they have said
truly. am their superior; before they lived was
created. am their master, and they are all my
servants" And he rurned him round, and sale
to the chief of the carvers in stone, 'sWhs mad.
the tools with which you carve?"
And he said "the blacksmith
And ne said to the chief of the masons, "wht
made the chisels with which the stones of The
Temple are squared ?"
And he said ''the blacksmith"
And he said to the chefof the workers in wood
"Who made the tools with which you hewed the
trees on Lebanon, and formed them into the pillars
and roofo the Temple?"
| And he said, .sThe blacksmith"
Then SAID he to the artiicer in gold and il
ivory, "Who makes your instruments, by which
you work beautiful things for my lord the King =
| And he said '"Thc blacksmith"
Enough, Enough, good fellow" said Solomon
"thou hast proved that invited thee, and thou
art all mems father in art. Go wash the smu
Of the forge from thy face, and come and sit al
my right hand The chief of my workmen are
but men-thou art more" So it happened al the
| feast of Solomon, and blacksmths have been hon.
ored ever snce.--London Magazine.