The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1895-10-03
THE BELL OF ST johns

lGrsest bell Of the ST Join Oatbedra
chine Oaly ~ honr mote, aud thel
would let the s.rus bubbllng meta
fow from the hase iurpsoe inio the noulc
whish Vas buried deep IN the black esrit
close by.
! II wss lnst at evening sud 10 the gstt
efiug islligbt the lurid, blns himes tbs
burst from the tops OF the tail chlmney'
dashed unesrlbly CLEANS upon The nelst
/ berlns Windows sud housetops,
Ibe scene sitbiu lhe ioundy wSseird
and slmost awful. The swsrthy forms oi
the workmen partly lighted by the yell
/ low glare. moved shout like Tsrtatisn' =
/ shadows, aud the sooly beams and ponder
ous chains crossing. bali black. half gol
den, under the glowing roof, recalled the
engines Of the CycIops under Mt i'na.
The town clock stFuek siI 1t was
time for supper All the men threw down
their tools, snd rsn snd put 90 their outer
clothing.
BE back 10 half sn hour, sharp cried
the ioremsster We shall mske the cast
st q quarter TO seven
All right, sir. cried the men, IN res
ponse,
besr some OF the town folks are COM
ing down to see the work, said one
Yes, said another; and it'll be something
to open their eyes There never was
such bell cast 10 the whole state as this
one will be,
moment more only one workman
and master we're left 10 the foundry. The
former was to stay and watch the blast -
He hal Brought double tsllovance OF
dinner, and he would make supper on
whst remained
Perhaps We can get the Inventor to
stay with you, George. said the master
lsuphi2gly, as be prepared to go,
Yes, where is hs2 returned the msn, IN
the same jesting tone.
He's been round the works long enough
10 know " hen suything goes wrong, Hal
lol HalloI ! say Where's tbs lnven
tor? Come here. Alb. there be is.
And 10 silent answer to the summons,
A shocked haired fellow, with large, gray
eyes and q pale, vacsnt face, appeared
ON behind pile OF castings. He had
on his back gray shirt, much soiled
witt dust and be wore a pair OF huge
psutaloous held up by single suspend
er.
Well, Mopus, quoth the man George
slapping him rather roughly on the should
er, suppose you've got wit enough to help
yell if anything's the matter.
The fellow It oked stupidly around, and
nodded his head.
Then sit here and look at the furnace
and don't take your eyes on
The poor lad smiled and meekly did as
be was ordered, just as an ohedient dog
would have lam down towstch his owners
coat.
A queer fellow was this "Mopus," stu
pid enough in ordinary things to need
world OF watching, but vithsl wonderfully
1T TO watch furnace. He knew well sll
the workings OF the foundry, by what
seemed q sort of brute instinct, though
really his strange ssgscity in this WAS 3
remnant of once bright mind.
II anything happened or went in 40 un
usual way, he would always notice 1t and
say what ought to be done though be
could not tell, perhaps, why it ought to
be done.
Two years before be had been an iDtllli
gent promising lad He was the SOD OF
designer connected with the foundry
company, and had always been allowed
free access to the shop and to minPle with
the men and watch their work. Bat one
dsy great lifting cham broke With ils
load, and an iron fragment struck him Oh
The head lBflicting serious injury. From
this be partially recovered. and only par
italy; for his reason was impaired, But
his nat ural love for machinery and mechsn
ical experiments remained, and as be re
gained bis bodily stength lie spent most
of bis time making small wheels and
shafts and putting together odd contfli
yanees which be would exhibit with imt
mense pride and satisfaction.
This peculiar trait 10 the young fellow
gained for him the humorous title OF tue
Inventor. All the mn felt great kind
ness for him, even though their manner
toward him was occasionally harsh and
impatient
Such was the person LETT to help watch
the great blast for the casting Of the King
Of the chime Of 81. Johns. Faithfully be
kept bis place before the furnace, while
the man George sat down at little de
,apoe and began to eat Lis supper. Doubt
less the latter intended 10 keep general
overnight but be certsinly made the ln'
yenfors eyes DO the looking. Whether be
felta Mind Of reckless trnst IN the instinct
Of hls bail sitted companion, or ndolent
" concluded that nothing wrong could
happen. be vas ssdl7 to blame for chsrs
ias b mself With the important duty be
fore him.
Notsuord Was ssid by either watcher,
and Only the deep roar Of the iurnSee vi"
heard through the vast iouudry,
George flushed be supper, aud sunt
tered into ole OF lhe tool chops 10 find biz
pipe. Inventor sat alone before the
srea, blast. The one rs,ionsI faculty Of
his feeble mind ensbled bin 10 eompre
bend What It meant, sud even something
Of The mssuitude Of the enterpnse that
vas ripeuiug iasiie tho,e buruios ~'Ils.