The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-02-24
1ksharxperssuosp Of The Blaoksmish Of
Gsed esllthS Mountain Pass. n9ewi9S

0AO A1pOk1oHC0 VI LAG oAAOAbMAs1A 70
Gsed ssdthS NEountain Pass. ewi9e
ATTN entrance Of one Of those gorees
W gaps ip ihs great Appalachian chain noi
tiouhlalnseih the passage ncrosS the norf
thsmwpOs,iSna Of Georgia, a blacksmith
had erected ,his foige, ID the eatly settle
taen,' of ihai region y, the Ia American
race, and drove a Ihrifly trade IN the WAY,
offacing axes and dlpoin,ing plowsfor the
settlers, and shoeing horses fOrotholway~r
faring in their transit through the coun9
sIySto examins Che gold mines and, and land;
yaAshe3 was no. ordinary parsonage IN
the affairs of the neighborhood, and will
mGks'a conspicuous figure in this parra-
i've; some account Of his peculiaritieS
vill'net bo uninteres,ing. Having acted
through life on 10 homely maxim of his
owu,--''pny up as you 60 uP"-7he had
d6eumulatsd some money and was out Of
,dsb,, and consequently enjoyed the glo>
sious privilege Of being independent in
dsgres tha. is unknown 70 many who ocs
cupy a isrger portion Of The worlds atien-
ton than himself Heowas burly, well
looking man Of thirty-Gve, Just young
enough 10 feel that all his faculties, ,men-
eel and physical, had reached their great
%. dsselopmsnt,--jus, old enough tphavs
GmaSssd sufficien, experience ofmsn and
things 10 make the past serve as an fipger
pest 10 his future journey through life.
,giNsd FOrgsron--ior such was the name
hsohsd inherited from Soins Galtic ahces-
sor-was a good natured man; yet the
possession Of grea: muscular strength and
coulage, and the a1mIration WHICH a sue
csssful exercise OF his power never fails
10 command, had somewhat spoiled him.
With very few early advantages Of cd
uca.ion, he had nevertheless, at different
periods, collected mass Of hetelogene>
Gus information, which he was fond of
displaying on occasions. He was a sort
ofpoli,ical ahtiquary, and could toll the
opinion Of Mr. Jefferson or Mr.. Madison
on any subject, and was referred TO on
all disputed points Of the theory and his
tory Of the Government, lha, arose among
The candidates for the Legislature and
country politicians. But why he had
treasured up sn old and well ihumbed
copy Of Paine's Age of Reasons, and af-
fscted skeptcism as to the yaracIty of
The story Of Jonah and the whale, and
B.laam and his ass, would be hard ac-
counting for, unless ii proceeded from the
desire Of a character for Siagularity and
crudi,icn.
But a circumstance occurred which
gave his Eeal distinct and scctarian d.
.rsction. A Methodist Preacher over in
Tennessee, who was fond Of spicing his
discourses with anecdotes, ,once made the
blacksmith the principal character in a
long sermon. His Hspecuiarities we're di-
lated on, and his heresies dealt with, in
becoming severity He was ridiculedby
The preacher. All this came to the ears
OF Forgeron, Nth such additions and em>
,bsllishmen.s as stories usually receive in
passing TO a third person. /. would be
az useless 10 a.iemp, TO describe a nouns
tain storm, as to picture the wrath Of this
mounta,neer Blu, if we cannot portray
the storm, the consequences may be cas-
gilj told. The blacksmith swore in his
wrath he would whip every Methodist
preacher tha, passed his gap in revenge
fol, the insults ,esgrgs nj gsi,ia ,,ilo s1t.
oil Forgeron was q mau of his word, as
,ths bruised features, Of many Of John
Wesley's deeiples could testify. Ha
character soon went abroad, and the good
eold ihAtE0ns of the surrounding counties
on each side OF the mountain trembled
yatlhis name. 5e.'.9 9 ,a'sasl1 o. 10.
aT The preacher whose circuit lay on Ell
.thef, aide of the mountain, az the time
Ned's direfal edicsnwas promulgated TO
the world, was meek and lowly man,
Who approached in his natural disposi>
zion 10 willing obedience 70 the mandate
relative 70 turning the cheek TO the smi-
aieF:odHs inquired if there was no other
place q. which she mountain could be
passed, but only 10 know his doom more
certainly. Being timid man, but with-
al devo,edly impressed with sense Of
duty, lie resolved 10 discharge his dulles
oflaiii, oflaiii,hfully.Je The consequences what they
might. Like q lamb going 10 The slsugh7
otsr, did he wsndhia way toward the gap,
As lie came in front Of the shop, e,he
.lbll,a blacksmith was striking his las. blow on
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