Smyrna times., 1877-12-19
The Bell Of st, Johns.

In huge and smoky foundry close by
the wharves in the town of b. a ran1
OF workmen were getting ready to cast the
largest bell of the St. Johns cathedral
! chime. Only an hour more. and thew
would let the glaring, bubbling metal flow
from the huge furnace into the mould
which was buried deep in the black earth
close by.
1t was just at evening. and in the gather
ing twilight the lurid blue flames that
burst from the top Of the tall chimney
flashed unearthly CLEANS upon the neigh.
6orlng windows and house tops.
The scene within the foundry was weird
ana almost awful. The swarthy forms of
the workmen, partly lighted by the yellow
glare moved about like Tartarian shadows.
ana the sooty beams and ronderous chains
crossing, half black, half golden. under the
glowing roof, recalled the engine, Of thc
Cyclope under Mt. Etna.
The town clock struck six. II was time
for supper. All the men threw down their
tools, and ran and put on their outer cloth
ing.
" Be back in half an hour sharpr' cried
the forgemaster. "We shall make The
cast at q quarter to seven"
All right, sir!' cried the men in re.
sponsc.
e" hear some Of the town folks are com.
ing down to see the work." said one.
. Yes" said another, "and it'll be some
thing to open their eyes. There was never
such 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 allow
ance OF dinner, and he made supper on
what remained.
Perhaps we can get the inventor to
stay with you, George" said the master,
laughingly, as he prepared to CO."
Yes, where Is hep returned the man in
the same jesting tone.
" Hes been round the works long enough
to know when anything goes wrong. |
MONO Hollo! | say Where's the In |
Ventorf Come here. All, there he isv |
And in silent answer to the summons.
shock-haired fellow, with large. gray evcs
and pale. vacant face, appeared from |
behind pile of castings. He had ON his |
back gray shirt, much soiled with dust |
and he wore huge pair of pantaloons |
held up by single suspender.
Well, Mopus," quoth the man, George.
siapPlng him rather roughly on the |
shoulder, suppose you've got wit enough |
to help yell if anything's the matter ~
The young fellow looked stupidity around |
and nodded his head.
Then sit here and look at the 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 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 furnace. He knew all the working |
OF the foundry, by what seemed a sort Of |
brute instinct, though really his strange
sagaclty in this was a remnant of once |
bright mind.
II anything happened or went in an unu. |
sual 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 intelli. |
gent promising lad. He was the son of a |
designer connected with the foundry |
and had always been allowed |
free access to the shop and to mingle with |
the men and watch their work. But one |
day great lifting chain broke with its load |
and an iron fragment struck him in the |
head, inflicting serious injury. From
this he partially recovered, and only par.
TALLY, for his reason was impaired. But his |
natural love for machinery and mechanical |
remained, and as he gained |
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 pride and
This peculiar trait in the young fellow
gained for him the humorous title of the
" Inventor" All the men felt great
kindness for him, even though their man.
ner toward him was occasionally very harsh
and impatient.
Such was the person left to help watch
the great blast for the casting Of the king
of the chime Of st. Johns. Faithfully he |
kept his place before the furnace, while
the man George sat down at little dis.
tance and began to eat his supper. Doubt
lnA Il.