River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-11-18

began nervously to heave away the no
mass that lay piled over the bell mold. i
was hercuoan task, but he worked lik,
giant, and three or four Of his men tool
hold and helped him.
Brick bats, ore, Stag, and ashes flew i,
erery direction, Presently the master
spade penetrated the sand and touched
something hard. He stopped down. Their
he leaped up like one half frantic, anC
plying his spade with redoubled encgry
tore away the remaining sand, disclosing
what looked like a great metallic ring.
"Men,' he cried out, lifting his flushed
face, 'the bell is cast T.
"Who did this!' asked every excited
voice, as soon as the cheering died away
"Come with me, two or three Of you !
cried the master. 81 think know who
did it, lit miracle! !"
They hurried away to the home of the
half.witted boy. The attendant met
them with his finger on his lips.
"The poor boy is in brain fever" said
he.
"Does he say anything in his delirium!1
whispered the master.
"0h, yes, he raves all the time about
the big bell mold. i hope it will fill
hope 1t will fill, he says"
The men exchanged glances. L. was
indeed true. The idiot'had cast the great
bell Of st. Johns. just then the phys
ician came out. "Perhaps he will re.
cover his reason by this shock and sick
ness" he said. "Such things have hap.
pened."
"Do you think so! Pray heaven he
may y solemnly calculated the master
and his men; and turned away deeply
moved.
Two months later the great bell hung
from huge derrick in the lathe room
the factory, and beneath it stood a
heavy truck upon which it was about to
be lowered. A silence fell upon the
group of workmen as the pale face and
feeble form of "Inventor'' appeared,
borne in on small reclining chair. lie
had recovered his reason, and was fast
getting back his strength. His large eyes
instantly fastened themselves on the bell,
that splendid masterpiece, whose making
meant so much to him. They had told
him the whole story of the casting. and
the disaster in the foundry, but it all
sounded like wild romance to him.
81 remember nothing that happened,
said he, shaking his head, with a smile.
otis all new to me; all new and strange
SO strange!"
yes said the master, devoutly; sit
was Gods hand.'
Every eye turned upon the invalid.
Some of the men felt almost afraid, it was
so much like resurrection to have him
there among them, the boy they had
known so long unidentified, now young
man, keen and intelligent, as if changed
into another being.
II should like to strike the bell once -
two men lifted him up and put a small
hammer in his hand.
lie struck one gentle blow. A deep,
sweet, mournful tone, solemn as the
sound of distant waterfalls, rolled from
the great bell and echoed through the
foundry. Tears filled the eyes of the
rough men as they heard it.
"Ah!" said the master, there's hal.
lelujah in that, and it may we'll begin
here. long may this bell praise God
He saved it in the ruins of the furnace
by one wise thought in the ruins of hui
man brain. Our furnace is rebuilt, and
behold, this dear boy has his reason
again The bell and the boy shall glo-
rify God together"
"Amen!' murmured the listeners.
Then the great bell was lowered, and
as the truck was rolled away with its
melodious burden the boy was lifted and
carried after it, and both went out into
the sunny day together, the rough men
standing in the doorways waving their
hands.
''Little Inventor" afterward well
proved his claim to the title so lightly
given him in his unfortunate boyhood.
His name is now read on many a hell
whose matchless richness Of tone his gen.
Jus and skill in metals alone created.