American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-11-13
THE BELL OF ST. JOHNS.


In huge and smoky foundry, close by
the wharves in the town of B., gang
OF workmen were getting ready to cast
the largest bell of the st. Johns Cathe-
drL chime. Only an hour more and they
would let the glazing, bubbling metal
flow from the huge furnace into the mold
which was buried deep in the black earth
close by
ering twilight the lurid blue flames that
burst from the top of the tall chimney
dAshed unearthly CLEANS upon the neigh
boring windows and house-tops.
The scene within the foundry was
weird and almost awful. The swarthy
forms of the workmen, partly lighted by
the yellow glare, moved about like Tar
tartan shades, and the sooty beams and
ponderous chains, crossing, half black,
halt golden, under the golden roof, re.
called the engines of Cyclops under Mt.
Gma.
The town clock struck six. 1t was time
for supper. All the men threw down
their tools and ran and put on their outer
clothing.
BE back in half an hour, sharpp'
cried the forge-master 1--WE shall make
the cast ct quarter of seven"
All right, sir!" cried the men in re-
az hear some of the town-folks are
coming down to see the work." said one.
something to open their eyes. There was
never such bell cast in the whole State
e 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 q double al
lowance of dinner, and he would make q
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 testing tone.
He's been around the works long
enough to know when anything goes
wrong. Hallol halloI / say! Where 8
the Inventor Come here All, there
he is" And in silent answer to the sum-
mons . shock haired fellow, with large,
gray eyes, and q pale, vacant face, APP
peared from behind . pile of castings
He had ON his back gray shirt, much
soiled with dust, and he wore pair Of
huge pantaloons, held up by q single
suspender.
"Well, Mopus," quoth the man George,
slapping him rather roughly on the Shout
der, suppose you've got wit enough to
help yell if anything's the matter?"
Theyoung 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 ordered, 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
q world of watching, but withal wonder
fully fit to watch a furnace. He knew
all the working of the foundry by what
seemed q sort OF brute instinct, though
really his strange sagacity in this was a
remnant of a once bright mind.
If anything happened or went in an un-
usual 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
igent, promising lad. He was the son of
a designer connected with the foundry
company and had always been allowed
free access to the shops and to mipgle
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 serious injury
From this he partially recovered, and only
partially, for his reason was impaired
But his natural love for machinery and
mechanical experiments remained, and as
he regained his bodily strength he speni
most Of his time making small wheels and
shafts and putting together odd contriv.
ances which he would exhibit with i'm
mense pride and satisfaction.
This peculiar trait in the young fellow
gained for him the humorous title of the
Inventor" ALI the men felt a grea
kindness for him, even though their man