Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-04-01
Selett Storp.
The BLACKSMITH.

and q sood natHred face, well Scrth
seeing. if only for the bath Of good
hsnor it gave yeu.
Everybody liked him, and biz
forge Was . resort for village idlsrs,
who loved to watch him striks the
shining sparks fron the glow,sg iron,
and listen to his CHEEKY voics-foi
something Of siager was Joe.
There was IA henr in the day. froa,
three to foar in the afternoon. when
Joe would have none Of them. Why
Because the child Nellie across the
way--a blus.sysd, sunny thing, dear
ly loved by the blscksnith--alwsy'
spent that hour with hin.
/ Joe worked, she Was wont to
stand, With hands behind her back
watching him in an old fashioned
way quiet and tslkativs BY turns
Sometimes she asked strange ques'
tions that puzzled him.
Joe 7" sic would commence.
well, ohsrub 2
Doesn't tbs Ere burn beautiful,
Joe
"Yes dear"
"What makes it, Josf"
"Ths wind from the t'sllows. cherub.
"What makes the wind from tk'
bellows do it, Joe ?"
my working of ON, dear"
II don't mean that, Joe bat wha:
should make the wind do it even
then 2"
Muoh pushed, and being No soisn'
tist he would answer:
"Joe's not wise enough to tell yor
ID :. cheiuh r. and then fndin.. hin
ruzzIsd by her questions. the plu'
eye-, on occasiu - llk. t7rse, wsre
wont ~ Fi'ea vita astonsshmss'
for she u,ht Jse knew very nearly
everything.
When she was leaving, it WIS he
hahi. to pnt hor srns aronpd hi
aeck ahd kias .,m and ,hey ioys,
sach other very, vers much.
But time goes by for young and old
1t seemed but q little while till Nell
lie became slnost . woman, and j
was ne longer proper for her to 10 t.
Joe's forge; but to be ssr, he oou 4 9
to her.
And now, not to lingor BY the way
J1s had lsatned to love her Wit.
the love of manhood, and abs return
ed bis love. They vould have bee'
very happy but for Nnilis's father
the old man would have her look high
or than a blacksmith. So Hken Richsr,
Roas--yoang, hsndsoms ana rich
com to the cottage the old mss smile'
and encouraged him.
This Richard Roas vas not wor' b.
OF Nellie. For all his riches his hear
was mersst dross beside tbs pur,
gold Of Jos's Wssn he passed tbs
shop the sturdy smith brought hi
h,mmsr down like an angry giant
fer. you seq, this Richard Ross wa
stssling his life away.
Yes, stealing his life away. Jos'
luddy face grew pale; if the tortur
continued long. death would be th
end. You may judge from this ho'
much he loved her.
Sill he went to see her. If b
found Richard Ross there. he lsf
hastily, aad rushing to- the forss
worked like mad till nidnight.
Oae evening Nslliss father shu,
the door in bis face. with a II DON
want yos oomiag here any more Il
Joe knew how obsdisut the cir
was, and the words struck him like ,
sword. The next day he received
a note. 30 sad, from little Nellie. 1
said she loved him still, but he mus
not come again. Her father said 50
He commanded her to listen to Rich
ard Ross; she had never disobsyet
her father yet; she could not 10 e
now. "But I will plead and pray
4 ar joe. aid you must hope"
BIT Joa did not hope. He CAV.
her up He tot angry with her, to-
Tor her cledl.pcs to her father.
Tias went on. asd tue bIacksmitl
grew pslsr yet. he grew raorose, tso
and unlike himssif; and the villsg,
louDgers no longer loved to gather =
the forge. The name Of Ri hard Ros
naddsned Lim. Oncs ha csush'
one by the throat for saying Richard
and Nellie ware to 30 narrisd soon.