Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-07-25

child, as bright as steel. His great
jaws vented his laughter, with the sound
OF roaring breath, like the respiration
and giant gayety OF his bellows, and
when he lifted his arms with that move
ment Of satisfied power which toll at the
anvil had made his habit, he appeared to
carry his 80 years even more gayly than
he raised ''La Dsmoiselle," hammer
weighing Is livres, o terrible bulk which
he alone from Vernon to Rouen could set
dancing.
Il was while recovering from Q sick
ness that spent O year ct the black.
smiths. had lost both heart and sense;
went straight ahead In search Of some
corner devoted to peace and labor In
which could recover my tone. Thus IT
happened that one evening on the high
road, aiter having paused through the
village, I saw the isolated smithy stand.
Ing Sidewise near the cross Of the Quatre.
was the illumination that the rush of
light through the big door wide open for
the passage Of carts made the cross roads
seem on fire, while the row Of populars on
the other side OF the way smoked like
torches. Amid the soft twilight the
crash Of the hammers could be heard for
half Q league, suggesting the gradual ap-
proach Of some regiment Of iron. Happy
and consolod already by the exhibition
Of toll, BY watching the manly hands
twist and hatten the Ted.hot bars,
paused in front Of that yawning door.
way, amid the brightness, the din and
the crashing Of the thunder.
That autumn evening saw the black.
smith for the FIRST time. He was shaping
plowshare. With open shirt display.
ing his brawny chest, where the RIBS at
each breath defined their tried frame.
work, he drew himself back, gave o
twist and brought down the hammer.
He toiled on without pause, with Q
supple and continuous swaying Of the
body, accompanied by q tremendous
swelling of the muscles. The hammer
swung in . regular circle, bearing on
sparks, leaving behind IL . fash. IL
was ola Demoiselle" to which the
blacksmith thus gave motion with both
hands, while his son, an athletic young
in long pair of pincsrs and struck
In his turn, but the sound OF his
blows was drowned by the loud ring
ing dance Of his iather's terrible
"DemoiSeIle. Too, too, toe, toe. It
sounded like mothers grave voice en-.
couraging the nrst lispIng efforts Of q
baby. ella Demoisollep coAselessly
waltsed, agitatinR the spangles Of her
dress and leaving the marks Of her heels
on the plowshare she was shaping every
time she reboundsd upon the anvil.
A ruddy flame like Q trail of blood
flowed to the floor, lighting mp the
whose huge shadows stretched away into
the Rombcr and obscure corners Of the
smithy. The brightness gradually paled;
the blacksmith paused. Like some huge
dark object he stood, leaning upon the
handle OF the hammer, with sweat on his
forehead which he did not even wipe OF.
Amid the rumbilng of the bellows which
his son was slowly working, heard the
humping Of the bIacksmith's ribs which
were yet in motion.
Ispsnt that night ct the blacksmith's,
taking mp my abode there for the future. !
There was an unoccupisd room upstairs |
over the smithy, which the blacksmith |
offered me, and / accepted. Before day, |
at O'Clock in the morning, Icommencsd |
to enjoy the labor OF my host. was |
aroused by the laughter Of the entire |
house, which was animated until night
fall By its colossal gAyety. The ham
merS were dancing beneath me. II |
seemed a. n ella Demoiselle" had |
hurled me out Of bed by rapptng on the
calling, the while charging me with lazi.
ness. The whole humble chamber, with
it, vast clothes-presS, it, white wood
table and it, two chairs, creaked and /
called to me to listen. So ! was ocm-
PEELED TO 60 down stairs. There found
the forge already glowing. The bellows
roarsd; = blue and pink fame arose from
the coal, amid which round spot shone
like star beneath the wind which dug
into the FIRE.
The blacksmith was meanwhile pre-
pairing for the days work. He ratified
The Iron in the corners, turned over the
plOus and examined the wheels. The
worthy man, when he saw me, put his
hands on his hips and laughed, with his
hugo mouth open - far - u would 90.
He was triumphant - having dislodeod i
me fr ~ Del. 50 early. Il e really my /
opinion that st dawn he raped fer the
Saka Of tapping. IN Qrdeg p give The alg- !