The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-11-12
THE BELL OF ST. JOHNS.
BY RUFUS SARGENT.

( largest bell of the St. Johns cathedra
chime. Only an hour more, and the.
would le. the glaring, bubbling meta
flow from the huge furnace into th,
mould, which was buried deep in the blacl
! earth close by.
1t was just at evening, and in the gather
ing twilight the lurid blue flames that burs
from the top of the tall chimney flashed
tinearthlS CLEANS upon the neighborinf
windows and house-tops.
The scene within the foundry was weird
and almost awful. The swarthy forms OF
the workmen, partly lighted by tie yellow
glare, moved about like Tartarean shad
ows, and the sooty beams and ponderous
chains crossing, half black, half golden,
under the glowing roof, recalled the en-
gnes of the Cyclops under Mt. Etna.
The town clock struck six. 1t was time
for supper. All the men threw down their
tools, and ran and put on their outer cloth
ing.
t'Be back in half an hour sharpv' cried
the forge master. "We shall make the cast
at quarter to seven.''
"All right, sir p cried the men in re-
sponse.
81 hear some Of the town folks are COM
ing down to see the work. said one.
eyes," said another, "apd it'll be some
thing to open their Dyes. There was never
such bell cast in the whole State as this
one will be.''
In moment more only one workman
and the master we're left in the foundry.
The former was to stay and watch the
''blast.'' He had brought double al
supper Oh what remained.
''Perbaps we can get the Inventor to
stay with you, George, said the master,
laughingly, as he prepared to go.''
eyes, where is he 2'' returned the man.
in the same jesting tone.
'He's been round the works long enough
to know when anything goes wrong
Halo +! halo say Where's the Tnven-
tor?' Come here. Ah, there he is 20 And
in silent answer to the summons, a shock
haired fellow, with large gray eyes, and a
pale, vacant face, appeared from behind a
pile of castings. He had on his back a
gray shirt much soiled with dust, and he
wore pair of huge pantaloons, held up by
a single suspender.
"Well, Mopus," quoth the man George,
slapping him rather roughly on the shoul-
der, 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 off,
The poor lad smiled, and meekly did as
he was Ordercd-just as an obedient dog
would have laid down to watch his owners
coat.
A queer fellow was this ''Mopus :" stupid
enough in ordinary things to need a world
of watching, but withal wonderfully fit to
watch furnace. He knew all the work
ings. of the foundry, by what seemed sort
of brute instinct, though really his sagaci-
ty, in this was a 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, perhaps, why it ought to be
done.
Two years before, he had been an intel
ligent, 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 a great lifting chain broke, with its
load, and an iron fragment struck him on
the head, infiicting dangerous injury.
From this he partially recovered, and only
partially, for his reason was impaired. But
his natural love for machinery and me-
chanical experiments remained, and rs lie
regained his bodily strength, he spent most
of his time making small wheels and
shafts, and putting together odd contri-
vances, which he would exhibit with inl-
mense pride and satisfaction.
This peculiar trait in the young fellow
gained for him the humorous title Of the
''Invontor." All the men felt great
kindness for him, even though their man
ner toward him was occasionally harsh and
impatient. sg1
Such was the person lett 70 Eefp Watcn
the great blast for The casting of the king
bell of the chime of st. Johns. Faithful
ly 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 certainly made
the Inventors eyes do the most of the look
ing. Whether he felt kind of reckless
| trust in the instinct of his half witteo com
panion, or indolently concluded that moth
| ing wrong could happen, he was sadly t
blame for charging himself so little will
the important duty that was before him.
Not word was said by either watche
and only the deep roar of the furnace wa
heard through the vast foundry.
George finished his supper, and sauntere'
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