The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1891-12-26
OLD BLACKSMITH SHOPS.
Osss . fsmiiAr tixsrs ct the Csssssv
Roadside. Now Passed late Decay.

Osse . Familiar tixsrs 81 The CeestSv
Eo.d.iis. Sow Passed late Decay.
One thing you mus, have noticed
driving through any OF the old states
is the blacksmith shop a, the eorner>
says tho Chicago Herald. These days
there is sad appearance OF decay
and dilap!daiion about tho old struo'
turo; but the ghosts OF old wagons
s,il! haunt the erumbling walls
There arr tire, that have stood In tho
rain and tho shine ill "a comfortable
arc is buried Ia rust. There are hubs
tina, have sunk half out OF sight in
tho gathering litter Of years There
srs wheels and holsters. and now and
then tho runner of sleigh But time
has covered them al! with 10 mantle
and they arr buried In tho ysrdurs Of
fOrsotfulnesA Inside tho anvil alone
s,aIds as IL used Ia stand The block
ha, supports 1, Is rOi,ing and erumb-
ling. and tho staples that iasien il,
corners are shaky and lOOsa Hut tho
great pointed iron itself has offered
It's weight aguins, tho tide Of removal
and i, stands thero unchanged while
the seasons run The charcoal bin
disappeared winters aga when tho
boys wanted kiniling, Tho forge fol-
down when bricks wsro wanted Tho
ragged bellows have hold lhoir breath
and lAIn In Z c1Fhor till chip, and wal
nut shells. dried leaves and feather,
have hid ihem from sight and tho
fires thoy I'D mr. no more Il memory.
Tho aoEG-baHeh ,hA, stood AZ tho cad
Of tho shop under tho window ths,
slid undulss 10 opeu In tho summer
and was chinkoi win do whom tho
winter winds bicW-,hh, beach Ian,
vanished ll,,lo by .i;le I'll! tho ,!so
.is1.f l. all that 10 loft
Ihrrp used 10 10 bits o. !rDn sbog.
tho floor and n!ut,erlng heap o, hoof
shAylnFN with fragments Of good and
occasional coal ihuru ssoi 10 b. .
stack II disabled gigs In u corner.
with ends ~ harness and n cluster Of
cAH.na IAwrs used 10 - tub tina.
va, lined with rust dupn-l, from
chilling iron and "a space GA tho sail
marked OH for hammers and tools
Tho tub foil - pieces age, ago and
followed tho chArroal bin into an
"ar!s morning nru Tho odds and
ends OF vehicle, have gone ,hoir soy.
oFAl ways some - tho playhouse, o!
girls some To furnish hand -lctls for
the boy, bu, mostly 'hoy have simply
passed assay from Garth md no ono
knows whore thuy vanished.
There u.ci To b. s,rons men hero
Who worked tho farm In ploa,an,
weather aud turned an homes, dollar
Ia tho shop when tho days werp bad.
They ~cru tho sirrs who could fashion
whatever tho noishborhooL needed
They had shoemaker, bench In tho
hog,, and shod their ehlldron ~ com
foT,ably "a. ,hUy did their nolghhors'
hors-> They kept . cheat OF Jaws
aud ch!sol- aud made tho milk trough,
and tho woodwork for tho plows
lhoy know little Of tho roughor
chemistry mud had cupboard full Of
bottles ut the hnasn All the common
complaints ut man and boast ,h.y
ircai'i with hand heroic. never pro-
scriting till assured tina. nature needed
ASSISTANCE
Nut times have changed from tho
early day. Tho blacksmith shop NJ
TIC roadside has fallen is,o decay. and
the spirit tina, dllcd IL has Como With
tho days whom each man stood alone
and asked NO inyora u IA part OF Tho
pa, thu, cnn never como back any
morn. I, Is part Of tho age which
ended whom our fathers vanished