The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-07-06

seat with smile of joy that was al
most beatific. The heavenly chimes
were complete. His work was done,
and now thousands would stand
speeches., struck dumb with the mag
nifcent melody of his chimes his
bells. He with his own hands would
make such music with his bells that
wherever they We're the whole world
would come to hear them. These were
the thoughts that filled the mind of the
young musician-mechanic as he listen
ed to the reverberating melody of the
tone of the last bell. Then he fell back
in his chair and the color fed from his
face. The fever, which his untiring
energy had kept off for so long, seized
him at last.
The next morning a neighbor passing
by the shop CHANGED to look in the win
dow and 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. ply
sician was summoned, and an old wo-
man was sent to nurse him.
For five weeks Giuseppe tossed on
his cot raving about his bells-"his
glorious chimes"-"his 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
hof 80
first year. He had borrowed on the
strength of the generous sum that had
been promised him by the cathedral
which was to have his chimes. When
he fell sick and gave promise never to
regain his health again, the bailiffs
came and took away his chimes to
satisfy his creditors
But Giuseppe Giovanni did get we'll,
his health came back, and when he had
strength enough to get up 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 We're gone he
became stupid-he could not realize
that they We're gone. Who could have
come and taken away his bells, his
children, whose conception had taken
years-long years of unremitting toll?
He went to the physician who had
tended him during his fever and was
told that the bailiffs 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 pub
lie sale to the highest bidder, a foreign
er whose name or country was not
known to them. He begged them on his
knees to give him some clew that might
lead him to the purchaser. They told
him gruff1y and uncivilly that it was
, none of their concern who bought the
, chimes SO long as they We're sold and
| his creditors satisfied There was
, little money over the claims against
) him. he was told-a few lire-but he
, flung the offered money in their faces
and 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
lluS, anu WI uIuS CdllC lc IOuS.
! ed himself and, raising his hands above
? his head, said, God grant that some
> where in this world of thine may
again find my chimes-my bells-and,
if but once, only once. that may hear
f again their voices!"
: The next morning the Genoan set
T. out with one purpose-to travel the
! world, if need be, to search for his
: chimes Day after day, week after
. week, month after month and year aft
f er year he trudged along from town to
j town, city to city, country to country,
I vainly seeking his chimes. Part of the
y time he spent in various cathedrals
V and churches mending chimes and ring
|. ing them, to the delight of all who lis
a tened. Before he had even reached
= middle age he was a bearded old man,
Y bowed and bent and travel worn; but,
e like the Wandering Jew, he pursued
y his weary way.
Y The broad waters of the Shannon
g were colored Il beautiful red by the
, fading rays of the setting sun, which
d was almost visibly dropping through
-
s Limerick, when an old man with head
5, and shoulders bent and leaning heavily
n Oh stout staff came slowly along the
a highway that led to little ferry at the
river bank. His long beard was as
g white as snow and hung nearly to his
+ waist His iace was swarthy like that
e of man constantly exposed to the
II sun. When he spoke to the ferryman.
II it was in a voice used to many tongues.
h The boatman helped him from the
e shore into his skiff and gave him his
y coat for cushion on the rough hewn
d plank which answered for seat. The
b old man raised his head feebly and
e looked about him. Finally his eyes
j, fell on the spire of Hereford cathedral.
h and there they rested, lighting up for
It few seconds with glmmer Of hope.
IS The boatman pushed off from the
shore, and slowly and noislessly the