Under a spreading chestnut tree The village smithy stands; The smith, a mighty man is he, With large and sinewy hands; And the muscles of his brawny arms Are strong as iron bands. 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. Week in, week out, from morn till night, You can hear his bellows blow; You can hear him swing his heavy sledge, With measured beat and slow Like a sexton ringing the village bell, When the evening sun is low. 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 Life chaff from a threshing floor.

The background music on this page is "The Black Cat Rag".

Acknowledgment Genealogy Photographs Reunions Blacksmiths Marriage Licenses James Stark 1798 Will A Tail of a Cow's Tail (Poem by 12 year old Rowland boy) Cemeteries Our Family Hero A Tribute to Lawrence Stark General John Stark Winslow, Missouri Albany, Missouri Franklin Stark Letter