Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-11-17
Get hear some of the town folks are

was never such bell cast in the whole
State as this one will be-"
In moment more only one work
man and the master were left In the
foundry. The former was to stay and
watch the 'sblast. He had brought La
double allowance of dinner, and ne
would make supper of what remained.
Perhaps we can get the 6 inventor
to stay with you, George" said the
master, laughing, as he prepared to go.
"Yes, where is he?" returned the
man in the same testing tone.
"He's been around the works long
enough to know when anything goes
wrong. Hollo! hollo! / say! Where's
the INVENTOR Come here. All, there
he is" And in silent answer to the
summons a shock haired fellow, with
large grey eyes, and pale, vacant face,
appeared from behind pile of castings.
F had on his back gray shirt, much
soiled with dust. and he wore pair at
huge pantaloon's held up by single
suspender.
"Wen, Mopus,.' quoth the man
George, slapping him rather roughly on
the shoulder; Suppose you've got wit
enough to help yell if anything's the
matter?"
The young fellow looked stupidity
around and nodded his head.
"Then sit here and look at that fur.
mace, and don't take your eyes off,"
The poor lad smiled and meekly did
as he was ordered, just as an obedieni
dog would have laid down to watch his
owners coat.
A queer fellow was this NsMopus;'
stupid enough in ordinary things to
need world of watching, but withal
wonderfully fit to watch the furnace.
He knew all the working of the foundry
by what seemed sort of brute intinct,
though really his strange sagacity in
this was remnant of once bright
mind.
If anything happened or went in an
unusual way he would always notice it,
and say what ought to be done, though
he could not tell, perhaps, why it ought
to be done.
Two years before he had been an in.
telligent, promising lad. He was the
son of designer connected with the
foundry company, and had always been
allowed free access to the shops, and to
mingle with the men and watch their
work. But one day great lifting chain
broke, with it's load, and an iron frag-
ment struck him on the head, infictine
serious injury. From this he partial
~ recovered, and only partially, for his
reason was impaired. But his natural
love for machinery and mechanical ex.
periments remained, and as he regained
his bodily strength he spent most of his
time making wheels and she IT'S, and
putting together odd contrivances,
which he would exhibit with immense
pride and satisfaction.
This peculiar trait in the young fellow
gained for him the humorous title oil
the Inventor All the men felt q
great kindness for him, even though
their manner toward him was occasion
ally harsh and impatient.
Such was the person eft to helr
watch the great blast for the casting OF
the king bell of the chime of ST. Johns s.
| Faithfully he kept his place before the
furnace, while the man George sat down
at little distance and began to eat his
supper. Doubtless the latter intended
to keep general oversight, but he Ger.
tainly made the inventors eyes do most
Of the looking. Whether he felt kind
of reckless trust In the instinct of his
half -witted companion, or indolently
concluded that nothing wrong could
happen, he was sadly to blame fo1
charging himself SO LITTLE with the i'm
portant duty before him. -
Not word was said by either watch
er, and only the deep roar of the fur
mace was heard through the vastfoundry.
George finished his supper and saun-
tered int one of the tool shops to find
his pipe. Inventor" sat alone before
the great blast. The one rational fac
ulty Of his feeble mind enabled him to
comprehend what it meant, and even
| something OF the magnitude OF the en-
terprise that was ripening inside those
burning walls. He knew that the fur
| lace was full of valuable metal, and
that close beside him, buried out OF
sight in the deep eand, was the huge
mold, so soon to be filled with the
precious cast. He knew and could see
that all the channels for the flow of the
fiery liquid were ready, and that near
| the mouth Of the furnace stood lifelong
iron rod that was to be used when the
| moment came to let on the molten
! stream. tf@ - 5tae E3
All this his limited thoughts took in
by habit. Dimly conscious that some
thing was soon to be done, he sat with
his eyes on the furnace absorbed and
intent.
Suddenly something startled him.
There was slight noise, and burning
crack appeared near the top of the fur
mace. Rh~n another crack, and scorch-
ing brick fell out and rolled to the
ground at his feet. gas rs tlsw r
The lad opened his mouth Ito shrek,
bct SO terrified was he that the sounds
stuck in his throat, as if he had been In
q fit of nightmare.
a thin red stream followed the fallen
brick, ana trickled down the furnace
side like running ls#a. Then came an
other alarming noise and thin gap
hall way down the masonry let out more
of the kissing metal .s.e ia
Where was Geosge2 Was the I'M
faithful low still leEtntipp for hianine q