Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-08-25
King Solomon's Blacksmith.


And it 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 artifcers, and
cunning workers in silver and gold, and in
wood, and IA ivory, and stone-yea, all
who had aided in rearing the Temple of
the Lord, and he said unto them:
"Sit ye down at my table have pre-
pared feast for all my chief workers, and
cunning artifcers. Stretch forth your
hand therefore, and eat and drink and be
merry. Is not the laborer worthy of his
hire? Is not the skiIlful artifcer deserv-
ing Of honor 2 Muzzlc not the OK that
treadeth out the cern.r
| And when Solomon and the chief work
men were seated, and fatness Of the land
and the oil thereof were set upon the ta-
bic, there came one who knocked loudly
at the door and forced himself even into
the festal chamber. Then Solomon, the
King was wroth, and said
What manner Of man art thou 2"
And the man answered and said
| When men wish to honor me, they
cah me.Son Of the Forge but when they
desire to mock me, they call me black
smith and seeing thai the toll of working
in fire covers me with sweat and smut, the
latter name, O! King, is not iHapt, and, in
truth, thy servant desires no better"
But" said Solomon "why came you
TINS rudely and unbidden to the feast,
where none save the chief workmen Of the
Temple are invited"
"Please We, my lord, I came rudely," re-
piled the man because thy servant
obliged me to force my way, but came
not unbidden. Was itnot proclaimed that
the chief workmen of the Temple were in
vited to dine with the King of Israel 7"
Then he who carved the cherubim said
| This fellow is nosculptor," and he who
e inlaid the roof with pure gold said =
f Neither is he workman ia 6ne metals
| And he who raised the walls said He
is not q. cutter Of stone"
= And hewho made the roof cried out
) EEe is not cunning in cedar wood, Meth
n er kneMeth he the mystery Of uniting pic
r ces of strange timber together"
4 Then said Solomon, "what hast thou t.
: say, Son of the Forge. why | should moi
e order thee be plucled by the beard
: with stones"
n Bat when the. Son of the Forge hearc
It this, he was in no sort dismayed, but ad
y vaneing to the table, snatched up auC
It swallowed cup Of wine, and said
b 90, King, live forever! The chief mel
5. of the workers in wood, and geld and stone
S have said that | ara. not of them, aad they
Il. have said truly. am their superior be
IS fore they lived was created. T am thei
Y master, and they are all my servants
e And he turned him round, and said to tn,
It chief of the carvers in stone:
t, "Who made the tools with which yol
y carve 2"
l. And he said :: 1.-THE blacksmith"
d And he said to- the chief of the nasons
y "Who made the chisels with which ID
u stones of the Temple were squared ?'
st And he said {: "The blacksmith"
d And he said to the chief Of the worker
le in wood ::
e, "Who made the tools with which yO
d hewed the trees on lebanon, and fOrne
is them into the. pillars and roef of the Ten
pie !"'
ol And he said "The blacksmith"
lie Then said he to the artifcer in gold an
IN in invory:.
~ "Whe makesyour instruments by whie
lie you work beautiful things for my lord, tn
a. King ?"'
O. And be said 1.-THE blacksmith"
u Enough, enough, good fellow sal
e Solomon, "thou hast proved that invite
ly thee, and thou art all mems father in ar
C Go wash the smut of the forge from tn
Sc face, and come and sit at my right hand
ed The chiefs of my workmen are but me
a thou art mere"
re So it happened at the feast Of Solomo
We and blacksmiths have been honored eY
"a since.-LOndon Magazine.
ng