St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-04-21
THE CALIFORNIAN,
for the itnuAa FOLKS.


childhood were passed, and where my
father made iron for the blacksmiths Of
the valley, and the jolly Dutch farmers,
whose wcll-tlled farms clustered along
the sunny slopes, and beneath the broken
peaks OF the Blue Ridge.
loved 10 hear the pondcrous forge
hammer pounding the glowing ''bloom, >
and to watch the forgcmcn making iron.
To see old Dan'l sprinkle the pulyerizcl
iron ore, from the stamping mill, over
the hot, charcoal fires, while the Kissing
air from the 'watcr bellows blew the
amber flames roaring up the chimney OF
the forge.
Beautiful streams Of liquid cinder ran
like golden ribbons out Of the fires, quiet
", ard sluggisLly, down the bank bn'
10! see it plunge into the stream U'io"'
Q, then the sight was grand, Inc wa
tiers Kissed and boiled, and the steam
rushed mn in sreat binding clouds. Then
We would often get such delightfully."- fan
tostic picces of sca-foam glass, and white,
and blue, and green, and yellow cindcrs,
which made the prettiest playhouse orna-
mcnts for Mollic and Oracle.
think, however, the grandest sight
was when old Uncle Dan-BIack Dan
some folks called him, because he was Il
colored man-Graggcd out the great mass
cs of glowing and sparkling iron from
his fire, and, with his big tongs, lifted
the hot bloom on the anvil, while Ike
would draw the flumc gate, and LET the
pcnt-up water, rushing and ioaming, into
the immense forge wheel.
In a moment the pondcrcus wheel
would commence to rcvolvc, and the
hammer to strike quick and heavy blows
on the white hot iron. Great drops OF
sweat would roll down Uncle Dams dus
ky face, as he turned the weighty iron
mass from side to side and from end to
end, while the bright sparks flew about
like showers Of golden stars, and the
heat was so intense that | could not ven
turc near, and the noise So deatening that
scarce word could be heard.
But soon the clashing of the hammer,
and the surging of the water wheel would
cease, and Uncle Dan had his iron cut
up into convenient sizes to be hammered
at leisure into wagon tires, pillow shares,
harrow teeth, nail rods, etc.
would like to talk long time about
in the deep pool. willie its darkling rocks.
lay beneath the falls Of the forge
dam. What splendid, specklcd beautie:
we caught under the bridge, and in tho
shadow of the grand, old trees in the
meadow, where the fish found such mic,
hiding places under the roots that savct
the shelving banks.
Indeed | must hurry on, and tell how
terribly frightened We were that after
noon when Seth and Silas Sturdy has
that fearful race for their lives, inside
the forge wheel, all because of Joe Stur
dy's fun.
After many years Of faithful service
the old wheel at the forge ''gavc out,
as Uncle Dan said, not because its tim
berS were not sound and strong, but be-
cause the water of Laurel Greek became,
year after year, less in volume, as the
woodmcn and charcoal burners cut the
forest trees that shaded its mountain
springs. And now, during a dry fall,
the old wheel could not be made to worl,
the great forge hammer.
But the carpenters had been preparing
TO build new whccl<or a long time. A
mighty oak log formed the main shaft,
and many great pine trees were cut, to
make the wheel twenty-icur feet high,
and, my pa says, eight feet wide, which
would be more powerful than the old
breast wheel, and yet use much less wa,
ter.
When the great wheel was set up il
looked as big as a house, and Just a
nice, with its smooth, white boards
without paint Or polish. Pa gave u
liberty, when he was there himself, t.
run around inside 1t was grand fun
rs the great wheel rcvolvcd above on
heads and dipped in the wafer below oul
feet. Eight little boys and girls coul,
run abreast, by keeping close together
and the faster we run the faster we mad
the wheel 90 round.
We were delighted with the sport
and would have enjoyed i! very often
had we not been told never to 90 int,
the wheel without permission, on &C
count of the danger and it was, peg
haps. fortunate that our instruction
were so positive.
One fine afternoon, before the vince
was put to work Eammering iron, bu
after its completion, while Sias Sturd,
was home from school, he formed a par
ty for picnic under the great maple. h,
the big spring, in sight Of the forge.
During a temporary lull in cur amusc
ment, when we were discussing what +
10 next, some one suggested the sport O
turning the forge wheel. And, as nj
one was there to prevent it, all the ga
party, boys and girls, little and big, ex
cept myself, were soon inside of it
marching in n body with lis steady on
ward motion.
But, in the excitement, NJ one no
ticcd little Sue Sturdy, who, tired an,
out OF breath, with trying to keep VI
with the others, sat down TO rest. Sh
was instantly carried up on the inside O
the wheel, but soon came rolling dowl
again, nearly under the feet of her Older
sisters. Her cries quickly hushcd tn
laughing and excited party, who stoppe,
the wheel as soon as they could, and all
except Seth and Silas, got out to condol
with little Sue, and try to still her lam
entation.
Joe Sturdy soon made up his min
that Sue was more frightened than hurt
and, in moment OF thoughtlessness, h
drew down the gate and let the waite
on, Tor the fun of seeing his big brother
double quick" around with the wheel.