The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-09-24
Miscellaneous.
THE BELL OF ST. JOHNS.
BY RUFUS SARGENT.

In huge and smoky foundry close By the
wharyes in the town of B, a gang of
worllmen were getting ready to cast the
largest bell Of the st. Johns cathedral chime.
Only an hour more, and they would let the
glaring, bubbling metal, flowing from the
huge furnace, into the mold, which was
buried deep in the blacl; earth close by.
1t was just mt evening, and in the gather
ing twilight the lurid blue flames that burst
from the top of the tall chimney, flashed un-
earthly CLEANS upon the neighboring win
dows and house-tops.
The scene within the foundry was wierd
and almost awful. The swarthy forms of
the workmen, partly lighted by the yellow
glare, moved about tile Tartarcan 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 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.
''Be back in half an hour sharpw cried
the forge-master 1--WE shall make the cast
at quarter of seven"
"All right, sir!" cried the men in re-
sponse.
Ihear some Of the town folks are coming
down to see the work." said one.
"Yes," said another, "and it'll be some
thing to open their eyes. There was never
such Il bell cast in the whole State as this
one will be-"
the master were left in the foundry. The
former was to stay and watch the "blast."
He had brought double allowance ofdiuner,
and he would make a supper on what re-
maincd.
perhaps we can get the Inventor to stay
with you, George said the master, laugh
ingly, as he prepared to 60.
"Yes, where is hep returned the man, in
the same jesting tone.
"He's been round the works long enough
to know when anything goes wrong. Hollo!
hollol say Where's the InyentorY-
Come here! All, there he sw And in 81
lent answer to the summon, a shock-h haired
fellow, with large gray eyes, and pale, va.
cant face, appeared from behind pile OF
castings, lie had on his back gray shirt
much soiled with dust, and he wore pain
of huge pantaloons, held up by single sus-
pender,
"Well, Mopus," quoth the man George
slapping him rather roughly on the shoul
der, suppose you've got wit enough to helE
yell if anything the matter?"
The young fellow looked stupidity arounC
and nodded his head
"Then sit here and look at that furnace
and don't take your eyes oh'W
The poor lad smiled, and meekly did IL
he was ordercd-just as an obedicnt dog
would have laid down to watch his owner
coat
A queer fellow was this "Mopus;" :" stupi,
enough in ordinary things to need a work
of watching, but withal wonderfully fit tC
watch a furnace. lie knew all the working
of the ioundry,by what seemed sort of brut
instinct, though really his strange sagacit!
in this was Il remnant of Il once bright mind
If lfanything happened or went on in Al
unusual way, he would always notice it, an,
say what ought to be done, though he coul,
1 not tell, perhaps, why it ought to be done.
Two years before, he had been an intelli
gent, promising lad. He was the son Of
designer connected with the foundry com
pany, and had always been allowed lre
access to the shops, and to mingle with tn
men and watch their work, But one day
great liitng-chain broke, with its load, an
an iron fragment struck him ON the heaC
nficting dangerous injury, From thi
he partially recovered, and only partially
for his reason was impaired. But his natu
raj love for machinery and mechanical eS
perments remained, and as he regained hi
bodily strength, he spent most oil his tim