Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-01-26
KING soLoM0N's BLAcKsMITH

And 1t came to pass when Solomon, the son
of David. had finished the temple of Jerusa-
lem, that he called unto him the chief archi-
tects, the head arti6cers aud cunning workers
in silver and gold and in wood and in ivory
and stone yea, all who aided in working on
the Temple of the Lord, and said unto them
Sit you down at my table; [ have prepar-
ed a feast for all my chief workers and artif
GERS Stretch forth your hands, therefore,
and eat and drink and be merry, Is not the
laborer worthy of his hire? Is not the skill
full artiicer. deserving of honor? Muzzle not
| the OK that treadeth out the corn %
And when Solomon and the chief workmen
we're seated, and tho fitness Of the land aud
the oil thereof were set upon the table, there
came one, ,who1 knocked loudly at the door,
and forced himself even into the festal cham
! Der. Then Solomon, the King, was wroth
and said, What manner of man art thou
And the nan answered aud said: ''Wheu
men wish to honor me they call me Son of the
Forge; but when they desire to mock me,
they called me blacksmith; and seeing that
| the toll of working in fire covers me with
sweat and smut. the latter name, y King, is
not inapt, and in truth thy servant desires no
4 better u 'sa q ri Da-a 54 IL r4a.aa 4
but" said Solomon 'swhy came you
thus rudeiy and unbidden to the feast, where
none save the chief workmen of the Temple
4 are ipvitedy'k .., ? ..,-.-r-..7r -.-- q
pleas ye, my Lord. came rudely," re-
piled the man, because thy servant obliged
me to force my way; but came not unbid
den. Was it not proclaimed that the chief
| King of Israel?' a'''
| Then. he who carved the cherubim said:
"This fellow is no sculptor" s g 111
nd he nj he NIL
said: Neither is he aworkman in fine net
ais. 81.
And he who raised the walls said: He is
not a cutterl of stone --l..--.., -
| And he who made the roof cried out: ''He
is not cunning in cedar wood; neither know
eth he .he mystery of uniting pieces Of stran &c
Timber together T H. g.....z rr..-
Then said Solomon: "What hast thou to
say, Son of the Forge. why should not or
der thee d be plucked by the beard with 8
scourge and stoned to death with stonesa'
/ When the Son of the Forge heard this be
was In no way dismayed; but, advancing te
the table, sua,ched up and swallowed cnp o
wine. and said. '1.- PED q,
, 20 King, live forever. The chief men O
the workers in wood and gold and stone, hav,
! said that am not of them and they have
said truly 1 am their superior, before they
lived was L created. am their master, ant
they are all my servants" Aud he turnes
} him around, and said to the chief of the car
vars Of stone. ,l-5, ~. q
: "Who made the the tools with which yor
carve?'' @ ' - .a7a -5l
And he said. ''The Blacksmith"
Aud he said to the chief of the workers il
; wood ''Who made the tools with which 20,
l hewd the Trees of Lebanon, and formed then
into pillars and roof for the Temple?"
And he said; ''The Blacksmith. %
Then he said to the arti6cer in gold ant
d ivory '.Who makes your instruments b
J, which you work beautiful things for my .4or
the King?" -..s-.5
Y And he said; The Blacksmith" la
it Enough, enough, my good fellow, sal
: Solomon, .sthou has. proved that invite
! thee, and thou art all mems father in ar
$ Go wash the smut Of the forge from. thy tact
1t and come and sit at my right hand. I'll
'e chiefs of my workmen are but men thou a
n more" t.-'5t- t'-2-
So it happened at the feast Of Solomon. ar
D. biacksmiths have been honored ever since.
ID London Magazine.