Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-11-20

pISCesJ anu uotutuB was iOit cNt HS'f' "
steaming rubbish.
Poor Inventor" who had been found
with the tapping-rod in his hand, lying
on his face in the sand, irightiullJ
burned, had been carried to his home.
Little WAS said, but the few word:
spoken, uttered with no mild emphasi:
the natural wrath of the master and hands
against the man George. whose excuses
for himself only exaggerated his otfense
SEQ what he's DONE" said they. few
days later, as they stood in the half
burned foundry. "Five thousand dollars
gone to waste in q minute The best Job
in twenty years spoiled The rascal to
go hunting tor his pipe, and leave the
Suffering idiot to watch Is that all he
can say Tor himself? Out upon such care
lessnoss! Why, the boy didn't even
know enough to bawl out when ne must
have seen the furnace tumbling to
peces!"
The master, who had more at stake
than the men, of course telt the loss more
keenly than they. lie almost wept with
mingled grief and rage. Suddenly some
thing peculiar caught his eye among the
debris, and he cried in startled voice /;
"Holloi What's this? What's this ?"
He scratched up fragment of one OF
the troughs which had led from the fur
nace to the mold. There were traces OF
the stream OF bronze still running in it.
Then the possible meaning of the iron
found in the injured boys hand flashed
upon him.
Bring me n shovel, quick! !" he
shouted.
a spade was put into his hands, and he
began nervously to heave away the hot
mass that lay piled over the bell mould.
1t was herculean task, but he worked
like giant, and three or four of his men
took hold and helped him.
Brickbats, ore, Stag and ashes flew in
every direction. Presently the masters
spade penetrated the sand and touched
something hard. He stopped down
Then he leaped up like one half frantic,
and plying his spade with rodoubled en-
ergy. tore away the remaining sand, dis
closing what looked great metallic ring
Men" he cried out. lifting his flushed
face, "the bell is cast !"
"Who did this?" asked every excited
voice as soon as the cheering died away
Come with me; two or three ofyou !
cried the master. 81 think know who
did it. It's n miracle"
They hurried away to the home OF the
hali-wiited boy. The attendant met
them with her finger on her lips.
The poor boy is in brain fever" she
said.
Does he say anything in his delirium p
whispered the master.
"Oh, yes; no raves all the time about
the big mold. Il hope it will fill hope
it will fill he says"
The men exchanged glauces. 1t was
indeed true. The idiot had cast the great
bell OF S.. Johns. Just then the physi-
elan came out. perhaps he will recover
his reason by this shock and sickness,
he said. "Such things have happened. "
"Do you think SOP" Pray heaven he
may ~ solemnly calculated The master
and his men; and they turned away
deeply moved.
Two months later the great bell hung
from huge derrick in the lathe room OF
the factory, and beneath it stood heavy
truck upon which it was about to be low
cred. A silence fell upon the group oi
workmen, as the pale face and feeble
form of Inventor" appeared, borne in
on a small reclining chair. lie bad re-
covered his reason. and was last getting
back his strength. His large gray 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 sounded
like O wild romance TO him.
81 remember nothing that happened,
said he, shaking his head. with smile.
"It's all new to me, all new and strange
so strange!"
Yes" said the master devoutly. "Il
was Gods hand"
Every eye turned upon the invalid
Some of the men felt almost afraid, il
was so much like resurrection to have
him there among them, the boy they haG
known so long as witless, 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.
He struck one gentle blow. A deep
sweet, mournful tone, solemn as the
sound OF distant waterfalls, rolled fro N
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 is hal
leluiah in that, and it may well begir
here. Long may this bell praise God
He saved it in the ruins of the furnace By