Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-04-01
DAILY. STORY.
LEGEND OF ST. MARY'S BELL.
.Original.l

one in verse by the German poet Null
Ter. Since the bell was cast more than
800 years ago, it is not likely that more
than the main features can be given
with certainty.
There was great ado about the bell
to he made for St Marys. For a long
while it was uncertain who would cast
it. and at last, when an ironmaster was
found with sufficient reputation for
skill I'm bell casting, So great were the
expectations of the people that he en-
tered upon the work with fear and
trembling.
The ir0nmaSter was ready for the
last act in n work that had for years
taken up his attention. A long time he
had been engaged on his calculations;
carefully he had prepared his mold: in
tcntly he had dwelt on the combina-
ton of metals. especially as to the
quantity of silver on which he relied
to soften the harsher sounds produced
by the others, giving sweetness and
harmony. The component parts were
all in the huge crucible. under which
the fires had been burning sufficiently
long to dissolve them into one molten
mass. The long continued effort was
ready for contamination.
But the result-would the bell be a
wonder of melody or give out Il harsh
clang? 1t might he anything between
these extremes. If thought. calcula-
ton. care. could make it perfect. it
would be perfect. But in the calcula-
tons might there not be some error?
And the castng-if the mold should he
defective. if the melted metal should
not he ut the proper temperature all
this long continued effort would be lost
Satisfying himself that the metallic
fluid was about ready to run off into
the mold. the ironmaSter, feeling that
lie would be better able to bear the
last concentrated effort by preparing
himself for it physically. resolved to
30 to his house for Il meal and Il glass
of wine. During the whole of his long
labOrs Il young apprentice had assisted
him. Placing implicit confidence in
| the young mans discretion. the master
| left the cruciblc the fire under It. the
| mold ready to receive the casting. in
his care
When he had gone the apprentice
stood looking up at the huge crucible
that contained what was to be the bell
| of the Church of st. Mary's. He had
watched every effort of his master. as
sisting at many of them. and with the
| enthusiasm of youth believed it would
| be one of the famous bells of the
| world. At the base of the crucibIe was
| the stopcock which held the metal in
| its place and when opened would LET
| it run into the mold That was all
| there was to be done-OItnn the stop
| cock, and gravity would make the bell.
Just as the apprentices eye rested
| on the stopcOck a thought lit. like
| bird on Il branch. on his brain. Why
not himself open the stopcock? He
| would suffer the wrath of his master
| but his name would 20 down through
| the centuries as the caster of the
world renowned bell. Whenever it
| sent its musical Vibrations far and
| wide those who heard it would think
| Of the story of the apprentice who per
formed the concentrating act in its
| construction
The impulse was irresistible. Going
to the stOpcock. he pulled it Open and
out ran the molten mass At the same
| moment Il diabOlic "IIa. haw rang
| in the youths ears. Satan. unable to
| prevent the bell from exciting through
its musical tones the piety and revcr-
cnce of countless human beings. had
chosen to bring about Il tragedy which
| should forever be connected with it's
history. While the metal was running
into the mold the ironmastar. having
finished his meal, returned. When he
saw what had been done. turning
white as the snow. he demanded to
know who had opened the cock The
apprentice falteringly admitted that he
had done it himself. The MASTER draw
ing his poniard. rushed upon him.
I'm the name of Jesus. l beg you to
spare me"'
The master, disreGarding the appeal,
plunged his poniard into the appren-
tees breast
Time passed. The ironmaster was in
prison condemned to die for the muir
der Of his apprentice. and the bell was
hung high in the Church of St Mary's
There one evening at the hour of the
angelus it sent out melody of such
: strength and sweetness that all who
heard it dropped on their knees. Not
only had its makers care and calcula-
tons produced a marvel, but the pre-
mature opening of the stopcock had
not been any detriment.
But the man who had produced this
result was not permitted to hear the
melody. Within prison walls through
which the sounds could not penetrate
he lauguished, wondering if his efforts
had been effective, if they had not
been rendered abortive by the ap
prentice. Then when his jailers were
about to take him to the scaffold he
begged that he might be permitted tC
hear the bell. His request was grant
: ed, and his journey was lightened by
its exquisite tones. The last sound he
heard before the eXecutiOner's ak fel