Masterpiece test

I believe that the only test that a writer could use to prove teh value of his work is to show a small excerpt that can gain the interest of the reader. Provided below is a small excerpt that demonstrates both my voice and tone in my novel.

Glen pulled the iron out of the flame when it was white hot and placed it upon his anvil and began to fold the iron. “Have I told you boys the riddle of steel and the man’s heart yet?”  Both of his boys shook their heads.  As he continued to fold the iron into a sword he began to tell his sons what his own father had told him when he was a young boy. “Once iron is pulled from the earth it has no shape, no purpose and no master. It is corrupted and must be placed in the forge to remove the impurities, much like a man must first become pure of heart. Then the hammer folds the metal, each fold becomes a lesson that the blade learns. It teaches the iron how to be a sword and to have purpose. Each sword must be soft on the inside so that it will not shatter in battle when its master needs it the most. It must also be strong on the outside so that will keep its shape.”  Glen placed the iron back into the fire as it cooled so that he could keep folding the iron into the blade he wanted and then placed it back on his anvil once it was hot enough again.  “The hammer is like a trail that a man faces in his life as a boy.  It gives him shape, teaches him to be good and kind to those around him. And much like the blade must be strong on the outside so must a man keep his body.”