The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-03-22
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.;
! CHIMES OF LIMERICK
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| followed tho tone from its inception
until its last vibration ceased, with an
earnestness that made tho veins in
his forehead stand out and drew every
muscle tense; then he sat back in
his seat with smile of Joy that was
almost beatihc. The heavenly chimes
were complete. His work was done.
and now thousands would stand
speechless, struck dumb with the mag
nifcent melody OF his ohimes--his
bells. He, with his own hands, would
make such music with his bells that
wherever they were the whole world
would come to hear them. These were
tho thoughts that filled the mind Of the
young musician echnnio as he list
ened to the reverberaiing melody OF
the tone of his last bell. Then he fell
back in his chair, the color fled from
his face; the fever, which his untiring
energy had kept of for 30 long, seized
him at last.
The next morning, a neighbor pass
ing by the shop, chanced to look in at
the window aud saw the form of the
fever-stricken young man lying across
his work bench. He went inside,
thinking that he might be dead, and
when he found what his real trouble
was lifted Giuseppe to the cot he had
used for bed in the back of the
shop. 4 physician was summoned
and all old woman was sent to nurse
him.
For five weeks Giuseppe tossed on
his cot raving about his bells--''his
glorious chimes" children with
the heavenly voices"
In order to go on with his work in
making his set OF chimes Giuseppe
had been compelled to borrow. What
little his father had left behind him
had been exhausted before the end of
the first year. Ho had borrowed on
the strength of the generous sum that
had been promised him by the cathe-
dral which was to have his chimes.
When he fell sick and gave promise
never to regain his health again the
bailiAis came and took away his
chimes to satisfy his creditors.
But Giuseppe Giovanni did get well,
his health came back, and when he
had strength enough to get mp from
his couch he went to find his children
his bells. His first thought was to
hear again their voices, to make them
sing such melodies as the world had
never heard, as no bells had ever sung.
And when he found that they were
gone he became stupid--he could not
realize that they were gone. Who
could have come and taken away his
bells-his children, whose conception
had taken years-long years of unre-
mitting toll? He went to the physi-
clan who had tended him during his
fever and was told that the baiiiffs
had come to his shop and taken them
for his creditors. He went to the
bailiffs and was told that his chimes
had been sold at public sale to the
highest bidder-a foreigner, whose
name or country was not known to
them. He begged them on his knees
to give him some clue that might lead
him to the purchaser. They told him
gruffiy and uncivilly that it was none
OF their concern who bought his chimes
so long as they were sold aud his
creditors satisfied. There was lit
tie money over the claims against him
he was told-a few liras, but he flung
the offered money in their faces aud left
them, his heart broken and his spirit
gone.
That night he sat before his bench
in the little shop, his chin resting on
his breast, the picture of despairing
and broken man. All night long he
sat thus, and when morning came he
reused himself and raising his hands
above his head, said: "God grant Ii at
somewhere in this world Of Thine I
may again find my chimes my bells
and if but once, only once, that
may hear again their voices"
The next morning the Genoan set
out with one purpose: to travel the
world il need be, to search for his
chimes. Day after day, week after
week, month after month and year af-
ter year he trudged along from town
to town, city to city, country to coun-
try, vainly seeking his chimes. Part
OF tho time he spent in various cathe-
drals and churches mending chimes
and ringing thon to the delight OF all
who listened. Before he had even
reached middle age he was n bearded
old man, bowed and bent and travel
worn, but like the Wandering jew he
pursued his weary way.
The broad waters OF tho Shannon
were colored beautiful red by the
fading rays Of the setting sun, which
was almost visibly dropping through
the trees to the west of the City of
Limerick, when an old man with head
and shoulders bent and leaning heav-
lily on a stout staff came slowly along
the highway that led to little ferry
at the river bank. His long beard was
as white as snow and hung nearly to
his waist. His face was swarthy like
that OF man constantly exposed to
the sun. When he spoke to the ferry
man it was in voice used to many
tongues. The boatman helped him
from the shore into his skiff and gave
him his coat for cushion on the
rough-hewn plank which answered for
q seat. Tho old man raised his head
feebly and looked about him. Finally
his eyes fell on the spire of Hereford
Cathedral and there they rested, light.
ing up for few seconds with q glim.
mer of hope.
The bOatman uuahad off from, tbs