Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-12-31
saIss ano gAetrsss.
THE BELL OF ST. JOHNS.
BY RUFUS SARGENT.


( In huge and 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
chimes. Only an hour more, and they
would let the glaring, bubblng metal, flow
ing from the huge furnace into the mould,
which was buried deep in the black earth
close by.
1t was just at evening, and in the gather
ing twilight the lurid blue flames that burst
from the top Of the tall chimney, flashed
unearthly CLEANS upon the neighboring
windows and housc-tops.
The scene within the foundry was wierd
and almost awful. The swar;hy forms of
workman, partly lighted by the yellow
glare, moved about like Tarterean shadows,
and the sooty beams and ponderous chains
crossing, half black, half golden, under the
glowing roof, recalled the engines OF the
Cyclops under Mt. Etna.
The toxin clock struck six. II was time
for supper. All the men threw down their
tools, and ran and put on their outer cloth
ing.
BE back i'll half an hour sharp?' cried
the forge. master. we shall make The cast
at quarter to seven.'
'All right, sir Period the men in response.
Il hear some of the town folks are COM
ing down TO see the work. said one.
Yes said another, land it'll be some
thing to open their eyes. There was never
such a bell cast in the whole State as this
one will be-
In moment more only the workman
and the master were left i'll the foundry
Tho former was to stay and watch the
blast He had brought a double allow
ance of dinner, and he would make sup
per on what remained.
Perhaps we can get the Inventor 10
stay with you, George said the master
laughingly, rs he prepared to 90.
Yes, where is he 2 returned the man,
in the same testing tone.
He's been round the works long enough
to know when anything goes wrong. Halo!
halo l say Where's the Inventor ?
Come here. All, there he is : And in ST.
lent answer to the summons, q shock-hair-
ed fellow, with large gray eyes, and pale,
vacant face, appeared from behind pile OF
castings. He had on his back Il gray
shirt much soiled with dust, and he wore
pair OF huge pantaloons, held up by sim
gle suspender.
We'll, Mopus,' Quoth the man George,
sIapping him rather roughly on the sEOuI-
der, suppose you've got wit enough to help
yell if anything's the matter-?'
The young fellow looked stupidly around
and nodded his head.
The poor lad smiled, and meekly did as
he was ordered-iust as an Obedient dog
would have laid down TO watch his owners
coat.
Ifanythiug happened, or went on i'll 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 inteli-
gent promising lad. lie was the son of a
designer connected with the foundry com
pany, and had always been allowed free
access TO the shops, and to mingle with the
men and watch their work. But one day
q great lifting chain broke, with its load,
and an iron fragment struck him on the
head, intlcting dangerous injury. From
this he partially, for his reason WAS i'm
paired. But his natural love for machine
cry and mechanical experiments remained
and as he regained his bodily strength, he
spent most Of his time making small wheels
and shafts, and putting together odd con
trivances, which he would exhibit with i'm
mensc pride and satisfaction.
This peculiar trait in the young fellow
gained for him the humorous title of 'Iu-
ventor.' All the men felt 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. Faithful
fully he kept his place before the furnace,
while the man George sat down at a little
distance and began to eat his supper