The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-07-31
KING sol,oMoN,s BLACKSMITH.

KING SOLOMONss BLACKSMITH
Aud il came II pass when solomon, the
81 of David. had finished the Temple Of
Jerusalem, ihst he called unto him the chlei
rchitects, the bend artitieers, and cunning
orkcrs in silver and gold, and in wood and
vory, and said unto lhem-.Sit ye down
nv table, have prepared feast for all
~ Chief workers and cunning ar,ihcers.
Sretch farih your hands, therefore, and
:, and drink and be merry. Is not the
Aborer worthy OF his hire! Is not the skill
III asliiicer worthy of honor? Muzxle not
Elhc OK that ,readesh oai the corn
And when Solomon and the Chief work
men were seated, and the .ainess OF the
1 land and The oil thereof were set upon the
table, there came Que Via knocked loudly
Il The door, and forced himself into The fes-
tal chamber. Then Solomon the kiag was
wroth, and said:
aWhat manner Of man srt thnng"
And the nan answered aud said-"When
men wis!, to honor me they call me Son OF
ibe Forge! but when lhes desire to mock
ne, they call me the blacksmith; and see,
iug that the toll Of working in fire covers
no with sweat aud smut. tie isitor name,
D King, is no, inapi; aud in truth thy scr
rant desireih no better. :
aBui," said Solomon, ..hy came We thus
sorudely and unbidden 10 the feast, where
none save the chief werkmea of The Temple
are inviied?n
aplease We, my Lard, came rudely,''
replied the man. ''beeause thy servant Oh
lged me to force nv way; bu, came not
uubidden. Was it not proclaimed that the
chief workmen ofthe Temple were invited
10 dine with the King OF IsrRel?'
Then be who carved The cheruhim, said !;
AThis fellow is no SCULPTOR and he VIII
inlaid tie roof with pure gold, said, "Neiiher
10 he a workman in fine metals"
And he who rajsed lie wall said, ale is
not cutter of stone.n
And he who made The root, cried out,
ale is not cunning in eeiar wood; neither
knoweih be the mystery OF uniting pieces
Of strange timber tegelher.a
Then said Solomon, .Nhal hast thou to
say. Son Of the Forge, Why should not or
der thee TO be plueked By the beard, scourg-
cd with scourge, and stoned 10 death With
stones!''
And when the Son 81 tie Forge heard
this, hp was in no sort dismayed, but ad
yanced to the table, SWITCHED up aud swal.
lowed a cup Of wine, and said. 20 King
live forever. The chief men OF the work,
ers ia wood, aud gold. end stone. have said
that am no, one Of them. and they have
said truly. lam their superior; belore they
lived, YVES | crested. am their master,
add they are all my servants" Aud be
turned him round, and said 10 the chief Of
The cafyers in stone, ..iYAo made The tools
with which you carver
And he said, s-The blacksmith
And be said 10 the clief Of the inasons,
Who made the chisels with y which tie stones
OF The Temple were sgaaret?"
And be said, The blacksmith"
And he said to the cbiei Of The workers
in wood, "Who made the tools with which
YOU hewed the trees on Lebanon, and form
ed them into the pillars and roof Of the
Temple?"
And be said. .T'he blacksmith
Then said he 10 the arlilicer 10 gold aud
ivory, "Who makes your instruments, by
which you work beautiful things for my
Lord tie King?'
And be said, "The Blacksmith
Enough, enough, good fellow said
Solomon, 'ihou hast proved that invited
thee, aud thoa art oh mems father in art.
Go wash the smut Of Tie forge from thy
face, aud come aud sit al my right hand.
The chiefs olt wofkmen are but men,
thou art more" So il happened al the
feast Of Solomon, and biacksmilhs have
been honored ever since--L London bag.