Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-09-16
Miscellaneous.
THE BELL OF ST. JOHNS.
BY RUFUS SARGEANT.

In huge ard smoky foundry close
by the wharves in the town OF B,
a gang of workmen were getting
ready to cast the largest bell of the
st. Johns cathedral chime. Only an
hour more, an1 they would let the
glaring, bubbling metal, flowing from
the huge furnace, into the muold,
which was buried deep in the black
earth close by.
1t was just at evening, and in the
gathering twilight the lurd blue
flames that burst from the top of the
tall chimney, flashed unearthly CLEANS
upon the neighboring windows and
house tops.
The scene within the foundry was
weird and almost awful. The swar
thy forms of the workmen, partly
lighted by tle yellow glare, moved
about like Tartarean shadows, and
the sooty beams and ponderous chains
crossing half black, half golden, un-
der the glowing roof, recalled the en-
gines of the Cyclops under Mt. Etna
! he town clock struck six. 1t vas
time for supper All the men threw
down their tools, and ran and puc on
their outer clothing.
"Be back in half an hodr sharp"
cried the t0rge-mastcr. I'VE shall
make the cast at quarter of seven.
"Ail right, sir" cried the men in
response.
Il hear some of the town fclks are
coming down 10 see the work. said
one.
"Yes," said another, "and it'll be
something to open their eyes. There
was never such he'll cast in the
whole State aS this one will be.
In moment more one workman
AMI the master we're left in the iouls
dry. The former was 10 stay and
watch the blast He had brought
double allowance Of dinner, and he
worli make supper on what remain
ed.
'Perhaps we can get the Inven-
tor to stay with YOU, George" said
the master, laughinsly, as he prepar-
ei TO go
YES. where is he?' returned the
man, in the same jesting tone,
"He's been round the works long
enough to know whcn ANYTHING goes
wrong. Ioi!o. hollo, | SAY! Where's
the Inventor Come here. Ah,
there he is ~ And in silent answer to
the summons, a shock >haired fellow,
with large gray eyes, and a pale, va
cant face. appeared from behind a
pile of castings. He had on his back
a gray shirt much soiied with dust,
and he wore pair of huge panta>
looms, held up by single suspender.
"Well, Mopus," quoth the man
George, slapping him rather roughly
Oh 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
furnace, and don't take your eyes Oft.
The poor lad smiled, and meekly
did as he was ordered-Just as an obe-
dient dog would have laid down to
watch his owners coat.
A queer fellow was this ''Mopus;"
stupid enough in ordinary things to
need IL world of watching, but withal
wonderfully fit to watch furnace -
lie knew all the working Of the foun-
dry, bv what seemed Il sort of brute
instinct, though really his strange sa-
gacitv in this was remnant OF a once
bright mind.
II anything happened, or went on
in an unusual way, he would always
notice it, and say what ought to be
done, though he could not tell, per
haps. why it ought to he done.
Two years before he had been an
intelligent, 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 mlngle with the men and
watch their work. But one dav a
great lifting-chain broke, with its
load, and an iron fragment struck
Kim on the head, inficting a danger
Gus injury. From this he partially
recovered, and only partially for his
reason was impaired. But his natural
love for machinery and mechanical
experiments remained, and as he re-
gained his bodily strength, he spent
most of his time making small wheels
and shafts, and putting together odd
contrvances, which he would exhibit
with immense pride and satisfaction
This peculiar trait in the young
fellow gained for him the humorous
title of the Inventor" All the men
felt a great kindness for him, even
though their manner toward him was
occasionally harsh and impatient.
Such was the person left to help
watch the great blast for the casting
of the king bell of the chime of st.
Johns. Faithfully he kept his place
before the furnace, where the man
George sat down at little distance
and began to eat his supper. Doubt
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