Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-04-08
THE BEL. OF ST. JOHNS.

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and they would let the glaring, bub-
bling metal flow from the huge furnace
into the mold, which was buried deep
in the black earth close by.
1t was Just at evening, and as the
twilight. gathered The lurid blue flames
that burst from the top of the tall
chimney flashed unearthly CLEANS upon
the neighboling 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
Tartarian shades, and the sooty beams
and ponderous chains crossing, half
black and half golden, under the glow
ing roof, recalled the engines of the
Cyclops under Mount Etna.
The town clock struck six. 1t was
time for supper. All the men threw
down their tools, and ran and put on
F.! their outer clothing.
"Be back in an hour and half
sharp cried the forgemaster. " We
shall make the cast at a quarter of
seven.'
"All right, SIR. cried the men, in
response.
Il hear some of the town-folks are
coming down to see the work. said
one.
eyes," said another, "and it'll be
something to open their eyes. There
was never such bell cast in the whole
State ne this one will bn "
In a moment more only one workman
and the master were left in the foun-
dry.
The former was to stay and watch
the "b!ast" He had brought double
allowance of dinner, and he would
make supper on what remained.
Perhaps we can get the Inventor
to stay with you, George" said the
master, laughingly, as he prepared to
so.
! 6" Yes, where is he?" returned the
man, in the same jesting tone.
! He's been round the works long
enough to know when anything goes
wrong. Halloo! halloo! / say! Where s
the Inventor Come here. All,
there he isl And, in silent answer to
the summons, a shock-haired fellow,
with large gray eyes, and pale, va
cant face, appeared 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 a single suspender.
Well Mopus, quota 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.
"Then sit here and look at that fur
mace, and don't take your eyes off.
The poor lad smiled and meekly did
Us he was ordered-just as an obedient
dog would have lain down to watch his
owners coat.
a queer fellow was this "Mopus, -
stupid enough in ordinary things to
need world of watching, but withal
wonderfully fit to watch a furnace. He
knew all the working of the foundry by
what seemed sort of brute instinct,
though really his strange sagacity in
this was remnant of once bright
mind.
If any thing happened OF went 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 he done.
Two years before he had been an in
telligent, promising lad. lie was the
son of designer connected with the
foundry company, and had always been
allowed free access to the shops, and
to minglo with the men, and watch
their work. But one day great lift
ing chain broke, with it's load, and an
iron fragment struck him on the head
inflicting serious injury. From this
he partially recovered, but only partial
ly, for his reason was impaired. But
his natural love for machinery and me-
chanical experiments 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 ex-
hibit with immense pride and satisfac-
ton.
This peculiar trait in the young fel-
low gained for him the humorous title
of the INVENTOR All the men felt
great kindness for him, even though
their manner toward him was occasion,
ally harsh and impatient.
Such was the person left to helr
watch the great blast for the casting OF
the king hell of chime of st. Johns
Faithfully he kept his PLACE before the
furnace, while the man George sat down
at a little distance and began to eat his
supper. Doubtless the latter intended
to keep general oversight, but he Ger
tainly made the Inventors" eyes dc
the most of the looking. Whether he
felt kind Of reckless trust in the in
stinct of his half-witted compa nion, ol
indolently concluded that nothing
wrong could happen, lie was sadly tt
, blame for charging himself so little
with the important duty before him.
Not word was said by either watch
er, and only the deep roar of the fur
mace was heard through the vast foun
+ dry.
George finished his supper, ane
1 sauntered into one of the tool-shops t,
. find his pipe. "Inventor' sat alon,
before the great blast. The one ration
nj faculty of his feeble mind enabled
, him to comprehend what it meant, an,
even something of the magnitude O
the enterprise that Ws ripening insid
those burning walls. He knew tha
the furnace was fulI of valuable natal