THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH HENRY WADSWORTH LongFELLOW 1 Under a spreading chestnut tree With large and sinewy hands; 2 His hair is crisp, and black, and long, His face is like the tan; His brow is wet with honest sweat, He earns whate'er he can, And looks the whole world in the face, For he owes not any man. 3 Week in, week out, from morn till night, 4 And children coming home from school They love to see the flaming forge, And catch the burning sparks that fly 5 He goes on Sunday to the church, He hears the parson pray and preach, And it makes his heart rejoice. 6 It sounds to him like her mother's voice, He needs must think of her once more, And with his hard, rough hand he wipes Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend, Historical: HELPS TO STUDY The "village smithy" stood "under a spreading chestnut tree' in Brattle Street, Cambridge, not far from the Longfellow home. In time it gave place to a dwelling-house, and the chestnut tree had to be cut down. On the morning this event took place every one came out to see the wood choppers at work and to see the old tree, immortalized by the poet, tumble over. It was a great event in the village and Longfellow felt very sad. On his seventy-second birthday, an arm-chair made out of the wood of the old chestnut tree was presented to Longfellow by the children of Cambridge. It was carved with horse chestnuts. One stanza of the poem was inscribed upon it: "And children coming home from school Look in at the open door; They love to see the flaming forge, And hear the bellows roar, And catch the burning sparks that fly Like chaff from a threshing-floor." A brass plate on the chair bore this inscription: "To the author of 'The Village Blacksmith,' this chair, made from the wood of the spreading chestnut tree, is presented as an expression of grateful regard and veneration by the children of Cambridge, who, with their friends, join in the best wishes and congratulations on this anniversary, February 27, 1879." This remembrance was very pleasing to Longfellow, who in reply to the children wrote the poem, "From My Arm-chair.'' Notes and Questions What picture does the first stanza give you? What does the second stanza add to your picture? What reason does the poet give for saying, "For he owes not any man''? In the third stanza what things are compared? What habits of the blacksmith does this stanza tell you about? What comparison is used in the fourth stanza? What lesson has the blacksmith taught? What is compared with "the flaming forge''? With the sounding anvil''? What is "the flaming forge of life''? Notice that when a comparison is direct, the figure of speech is called a metaphor, e. g., "the flaming forge of life." But when like or as is used the comparison is indirect and the figure of speech is called a simile, e. g., "like chaff from a threshing floor." 3 By day its voice is low and light; And seems to say, at each chamber-door,— "Forever-never! Never-forever!" 4 Through days of sorrow and of mirth, Of changeful time, unchanged it has stood, Never-forever!" 5 In that mansion used to be His great fires up the chimney roared; Never-forever!" 6 There groups of merry children played, There youths and maidens dreaming strayed. O precious hours! O golden prime, And affluence of love and time! |