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

tHo NOlhIuk VI tuV iOuuuiJ, W "uo
seemed sort of brute instinct, though
really his strange sagacity in this was {
remnan, of once bright mind.
If anything happened or went in al
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. lie was the son
of designer connected with the foundry
company, and had always been allowed
free access TO the shop and to mingle
with the men and watch their work. But
one day a very large lifting chain broke
with its load and an iron fragment struck
him in the head, iunicting serious in
jury. From this he partially recovered,
and only partially, for his reason was i'm
paired. But his natural love for ma
chinery and mechanical experiments re-
mained, and as he gained his bodily
strength he spent most of his time max
ing small wheels and shafts, and putting
together odd contrivances, which he
would exhibi, with immense pride and
satisfaction.
This peculiar trait in the young fellow
gained for him the humorous title OF the
Inventor" All the men ielt great
kindness for him, even though their man
ner toward him was occasionally harsh
and impatient.
Such was the person lett to help watch
the great blsst 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 little distance
away and began to eat his supper
Doubtless the latter intended 10 keep q
kind oi general oversight, but be GER
tainly made the Inventors" eyes do the
looking. Whether he folt kind OF reck-
less trust in the instinct of his halt-wit,ed
companion, or indolently concluded that
nothing wrong could happen, he was
sadly to blame tor charging himself SO
little with the important duty before him.
Not word was said by either watcher,
and only the deep roar OF the furnace
was heard through tue vast foundry,
George finished his supper and saun-
,or,d into one OF the tool shops to find his
uipe. Inventor" sat alone before the
.t,a, blast. Tue one rational faculty OF
NJ feeble mi,d enabled a,m to compre-
herG what i, mcaut, and eseu something
Of me magnitude OF the enterprise that
was lipeniug inside those burning walls.
IT, Knew that the furnace was tall OF val
us6.e metal, and That close beside him,
uuIied iu The deep sand. was the huge
mold "a soon to De- ti..ed iIh tho precious
cast. II. knew snd c1u.d see that all the
channels tor toe ilJW OF the fiery liquid
were ready, and that near the mouth OF
Inc furnace s.OOd The long iron rod lnat
vas to be used when the moment came
10 let on the molten stream.
All this his limited thoughts took in by
habit. Dimly conscious that something
erea, was soon to be done. he sat with
his eyes on the furnace, absorbed and in
tent.
Suddenly something startled him.
There was a slight noise, and burning
crack appeared near the top OF the fur
mace. Then another crack and scorch-
inc brick tell out and rolled to the ground
at his feet.
The lad opened his mouth and shrieked
but so terrified was he that the sounds
stuck in his throat, as il ho had been 10
lit Of nightmare.
A thin red stream followed the fallen
brick. and trickied down the furnace-side
like running lava. Then came another
alarming noise, and a thin gap half way
down the masonry let out more OF the
Kissing metal.
Where was George? Was the un-
faithful fellow still hunting Tor his pipe
The furnace was bursting, with only a
poor half idiot lad to guard it.
Wha, could he do? He did what per-
hans lad in his right mind would not
have dared TO 90. Rushing 10 the mouth
of the furnace. he seized the long iron
rod that stood near, and tapped the vent
Oae desperate thrust with sharp point
uu The terrible funnel,-a few quick, pry'
ing strokes! Stand back, now! The
conlning clay tell away, and the yellow
white flood spurted out with resistles;
force. 1t leaped into the clay'lined
troughs, and Kissed its way.
The fool" has done deed worthy OF
a general on field of battle.
Was it too late? Every moment new
assures opened in the doomed furnace
Some OF the upper stones toppIed over
Still the metal poured out into the mold
But the waste was great from those gap
irg flaws. The pressure was relieved by
the open vent, but the leaks multiplied
conuou4liy. Ii was running q race witt
ruin.
Poor "Mopu," stood powerlcss before
the coming catastrophe. His knees
knocked together. and his head swan. A
.raaf hean OF rubbish lelL at his feet. He