Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-04-08

/ pei Of Peace You carry on more than your
mere trade in this workshop, friend see to
/ it that the record be written by him who
keeps a book Of remembrance Of them that
fear the Lord and think upon his name
What messenger you might be Of love and
mercy from the Prince of peace TO those who
came to talk with you here %
"They would not come for a sermon, reck-
on said Jefry, attempting to laugh as he
looked round
"Try it, and the next piece Of iron you
mould by your fire, liken it in your mind TO
a hard human heart. cast under the sottcning
influence of Divine love, and reshaped by the
omnipotent Creator for holy and happy uses.
Good night, friends ALL and the Lord be with
you"
"Stop, sir, said the smith. stepping after
the traveller, and laying his hand on the bri-
die. "Who are you that talks to Jetiry Hayes
/ in this uncommon way
zone who has message from God unto
you, and has delivered it, replied the stran-
ger, as he rode quietly away, leaving the smith
gazing after him into the darkness, until the
sound Of his steps had died away on the soft
night air.
About half an hour afterwards as Mary
Hayes sat knitting by her cottage fire, she
was surprised by the arrival of her husband,
full two hours before his usual time and be-
ling a person of good sense. she uttered no
comment but set his chair, and whhe he
washed away the marks of his daily totl' pre-
pared supper, and brought a smell jug Of ale,
as naturally as if 1t was his custom to drink
it quietly in her company at home Hayes
did not seem to have much appetite, nor was
be disposed to be very communicative but at
ter looking at the fire some time he suddenly
spoke.
MARY. said he, "Eaye we got Bible
"A Bible o, yes don't you remember the
big book that mistress gave me when we were
married =
"Ah' to be sure! Get it. will you. want
to find something in it,
But leaf after leaf was turned over in vain I;
the Bible to Jetiry Hayes was like a foreign
land, to one Ignorant OF geography
Il can't find it, said he' ''can you, Mary
Something about feet shod with the Gospel Of
Peace
Alas. Mary was not much better informed
than her husband, until she remembered there
was passage about armor, in one of the Epis-
ties. whereupon with her knitting needle TO
guide before her eyes down the page. verse
5th verse of the last chapter in the Episue
to the Epheslans.
That's 1t - SAID her husband, gratihed at
the discovery and having read the verse ne
read the chapter and afterwards the Epistle
too.
MARY said he again. after another rove
ne. there to be a hght between ouns Moss
of the dell and VIII Cro!ts OF our village.
f|r H.
nouncoment was the turtherest from her busy
thoughts at the moment; "and are you to be
in the thick of it as usual:
81 promised to be with them. and see fair
play. and / must keep my word
Then what have You to do with the Blole
and the Gospel OF Peace asked Mary quick
ly
i want 10 see II we can nave ialr pay
and yet no fighting, said Hayes thoughtfully,
'and l shall search here TOR way I'LL / hnd
+ one.
Mary marvclled greatly as her husband
came regularly home every evening to resume
that search, and she remarked how much few
er were the proiane or angry expressions
which now mingled with hls conversation
The day fixed for the fight at last arrived
= and Jefry Hayes standing between the wait
lHS VOH"at'HIo' anu 9"iAO"ii'UN "y az N"S %
ring OF village gazers' took hand OF each.
well, SAID he, looking from one to the
other, which OF you Is tine most IKE CAM
which Is prepared to show himself a muir
derer
The young men, surprised and sullen'
sought to withdraw their hands from the black
smith grasp.
Look you, my friends, SAID he, Il prom
ised to come here and see ialr play and as /
helped on the quarrel IN the beginning 1t IS
fit should see the end OF IT. tell you both
that fair play IS to forgive one another ana
the bravest OF you Is he who dares to forgive
first. Come down, now, and talk II over with
me at the forge and | Il prove to you that this
Is the right way OF thinking Good morrow
: friends there will be no lighting here to-day
promise you.
"Hou are making fools OF us, Smith, SAID
one OF the youths, angrily'
"No, no, you dld that Tor yourselves when
you quarreled about nothing and | want to
see you wise men again
"What queer end OF night exclaimed
the disappointed villagers, as Jetfry Hayes
marched triumphantly of the ground, with "A
shout, with sheepish looking youth on either
side sOnlV think of the great ,IcHrV HIVES