The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-01-14
Sarge Plunkett.
atlanta Constitution.

NOL worry lal AoLu AL1auto tuoAo 40 on
old grave that has for headstone an old
blacksmith's anvil. The Oldest inhabi.
tants have almost forgotten the brawny
smith who sleeps there. but the passing
away of the old year and the entering in
of the snew brings to mind the asaocia'
tions of the smith and the anvil.
Close by the grave, even till this day,
there is little mound that marks the
spot where the smiths forge had stood
There are yet the remnants of some great
oaks where his children uster play, and
the little spring still runs off from the
bluff and sparkles across valley in the
field. The old smith unlettered himself,
worked cheerfully to give his children
opportunities he had never known, but
with all the advance Of progress there
was one custom of his that he never de.
parted from Il was ringing out the old
and ringing in the new upon every New
Years eve night.
1t was only whim of this old man to
begin bis New Year in this way. People
said it was supersttious notion that if
he done good days work the first day
of the year that be would be blessed with
health and plenty of work throughout
the year. Anyhow, he always did it, and
his wife always heartily joined in with
him, and upon every New Years eve
night as the clock struck IL he began a
hammering upon the old anvil that
sounded out in the stiffness of night loud
and weird, together with tingling mel.
ody, that made chime of sweetness. he
did 80 like to follow this whim that in
his later years he had learned his old
wife to beat an accompaniment, and
together they would make the anvil ring
till every child would be drawn to the
shop, the chickens would crow, the hogs
would squesl and the dogs would prance,
howl and bark. Of course the children
had their sport, till all in all the New
Year at the smiths place was an occa.
sion of bustling energy, noise and merri-
ment. For years these people were con.
tented with their lot and blessed with an
abundance, but change came.
The children grew, and with their
growth grew the idea of progressiveness.
The old smiths whims seemed to be
coarse, and there was many more ele.
giant way of making money than by
swinging the big hammers. To the town
was the thought of his boys, and to the
town they went. From one town to an.
other till to the west they found their
way. They we're soon in the whirly.
hurley of business One of them went TO
railroading, another to merchandising
and the other one at something else.
They were fairly successful, and upon
one New Year's eve night they chanced
to meet ct hotel in great city. They
had heard from their childhood home
often, but never complaint had come
from the old smith. A "God bless you"
vas always received, and one time the
news of their mothers death.
1t was natural for the thoughts and
conversation Of these young men to turn
to the old smiths shop. Would he not
this very night hammer upon. the old
anvil as he uster do, and woald it not be
Just the thing for them all together to
pay the old home q visit? 1t was no
sooner proposed by the Oldest than they
all agreed, aud in less than hour they
were speeding that way.
II took fast ride of several hours for
them to make the trip, but the nearer
they got the more anxious they were to
make the old smiths heart resl glad at
their coming. At the little station the
people had heard the old anvil's ring
upon the night before, b.t it was not so
loud nor continued so long as it had at
other times, but this was accounted for
by the increased years of the old smith,
as the SONS hurried to their youthful
homes.
They went into the dwelling first. The
place where they first saw the light was
before them, the door was open and there
was nothing to do but to step in. The
old fireplace was cheerless. No blazing
fire greeted the young men as in days Of
yore. The old clock had ceased its tick
and the hands pointed to 1910 o'clock
There were walnuts, hickory nuts and
chestnuts in some boxes by the hearth
and some cake on the table under g
cloth, &t it had not the soft touch OF
their &ther upon it, not a chick moved
in the yard, and not hog squealed any
where, not dog was to be seen as they
tearfully stepped outside the house, but
bark from the old shop led the brothers
there.
There by the anvil With his hammer
firmly cliuched in his right hand, the OLD
smith lay cold in death. His falt2
dog was all that kept watch 9S
and the dog refused to alloTaa
touch their father. > :
"Right," said The Fl
the deg"he wasd
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