The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-12-24
THE BELL OF sT. JOHNS.
BY RUFUS SARGENT.

cast the largest bell of the St. John
# Cathedral chime. Only an hour NOR
and they would let the glaring, Dublin
metal flow from the huge furnace int
the mold which was buried deep in til
: black earth close by.
, 1t was just at evening, and in tb
gathering twilight the lurid blue flame
that burst from the top of the tall chin
ney flashed uneartily CLEANS upon th
neighboring windows and house top,
The scene within the foundry wa
weird and almost awful. The swarth,
forms OF the worktnen, partly ightet
by the yellow glare, moved about lik
1artarian shades, aud the sooty beam
and ponderous chains crossing, half blacl
half golden, under the golden root, re
called the engines of Cyclops under Mt
Etna.
The town clock struck six. It wa.
time for supper. All the men threw
down their tools, and ran and put OF
their outer clothing.
"Be back III halt an hour. sharp!
cried the forgemaster. 1--WE shall make
the cast at quarter to seven.''
"All right, sir 20 cried the men in
response.
81 hear some of the town folks are
coming down to see the work. said
| one.
.Yes," said another, seand it'll be
something to open their eyes. There
was never such a bell cast in the whole
| State as this one will be-"
| In moment more only one workman
and the master were left in the foundry.
The former was to stay and watch the
''blast." He had brought double al.
lowance of dinner, and be would make
supper of what remained.
Perhaps we can get the inventor
to stay with you. George" said the
master, laughing, as he prepared to go.
"Yes, where is he?' returned the
man in the same jessing tone.
"He's been around the works long
time, long enough to know when any
thing goes wrong. Hello hello |
say Where's the inventor ? Come
here. All, there he is.' And in silent
answer to the summons shock-haired
te low, with large gray eyes, aud a pale
vacant face, appeared from behind a
pile OF castings. lie had on his back
gray shirt, much soiled with dust, and
he wore a pair of huge pantaIoons, held
ap by single suspender
"Well, Mopus." quoth the man
George, slapping him rather roughly on
the shoulder; suppose you've got wit
enough to help yell if any things the
matter ?'
The young fellow looked stupidity
around and nodded his head.
sThen sit here and look at that fur
mace, and don't take your eyes off "
The poor lad smiled and meekly did
as he was ordered. just as an obedient
dog would have laid down to watch bis
owners coat.
A queer fellow was this ssMopus -
stupid enough in ordinary things to
need a world of watching, but withal
wonderfully fit to watch furnace. He
Knew all the working OF the foundry by
what seemed sort of brute instinet,
though really his strange sagac ty in this
was remnant of a once bright mind.
Ifany thing happened or welt 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 in
telligent, 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
mingie with the men and watch their I
work But one day great lifting chain
broke, with its load, and an iron frag-
ment struck him on the head, iufiicting
a serious injury From this he partial
ly recovered, and only partially, for his
reason was impaired But his natural
love for machinery and mechanical ex-
periments remained, and as he regained
his bodily strength he spent most of his
time making small wheels, and shafts.
and putting together odd contrivances.
which he would exhibit with immense
price and satisfaction.
The 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 inpatient
Such was the person left to help
watch the great blast for the casting of
,he king bell of the chime of st. Johns.
Faithfully he kept his place before the
nrnace, while the man George sat down
1t little distance and began to eat his
supper. Doubtless the latter intended
q keep general oversight, but he GER
,ainly made the inventors eyes do the
most OF the looking. Whether he felt.l
! kind of reckless trust in the instinct ofl
bis lalf-witted companion, or indolently
concluded that nothing wrong could B
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