Final answer:
The speaker in "The Village Blacksmith" believes that the blacksmith's strong work ethic allows him independence and self-reliance. Stanza 3 best conveys this idea.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the poem "The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the speaker believes that the blacksmith's strong work ethic allows him independence and self-reliance. The stanza that best conveys this idea is stanza 3. In this stanza, the speaker describes how the blacksmith works hard all day, even when others rest, and how he maintains a sense of dignity and purpose in his work. This demonstrates the blacksmith's independence and self-reliance.