Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-04-10
L eSend Of
ST. MarY'S Bell.
[Origtnal.1

are a number of versions, including
one in verse by the German poet Null
Ter. Since the bell was east more than
500 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 be made for St Mary's. For long
while it was uncertain who would cast
it, and at last when an ironmaster was
found with sufficient reputation for
skill In bell casting, so great were the
expectations of the people that he en-
tered upon the work with fear and
trembling.
The ironmaster was ready for the
last act in work that had for years
had been engaged on his calculations
carefully he had prepared his mold; in.
tently he had dwelt OH 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 harsh
clang? 1t might be 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 casting-if the mold should be
defective, if the melted metal should
not be at 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
he would be better able to bear the
last concentrated effort by preparing
himself for it physically. resolved to
go to his house for a meal and a. glass
of wine. During the whole of his long
labors young apprentice had assisted
him. Placing implicit confidence in
the young mans discretion. the master
left the crucible the fire under 1t. 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 crucible was
the stopcock which held the metal in
its place and when opened would let
it run into the mold. That was ali
there was to be done-open Hle stop
cock, and gravity would make the bell.
Just as the apprentices eye rested
on the stopcock thought lit. like "a
bird on branch, on his brain. Why
not himself open sthe stopcock? He
would suffer the wrath of his master,
but his name would go down through
the centuries as the caster of the
world renowned bell. Whenever it
sent its musical vibrations far and
wide those who heard ii would think
Of the story of the apprentice who per-
formed the concentrating act in It's
construction.
The impulse was irresistible. Going
to the stopcock, he pulled it open, and
out ran the molten mass At the same
moment a diabolic "Ha, hal. rang
in the youths ears. Satan. unable to
prevent the bell from exciting through
its musical tones the piety and rever-
ence of countless human beings, had
chosen to bring about a tragedy which
should forever be connected with its
history. While the metal was running
into the mold the ironmaster, 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. beg you to
spare mev'
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 1t sent out melody of such
strength and sweetness that all who
heard 1t dropped on, their knees. Not
only had it's makers care and calcula-
tons produced 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, IL they had not
been rendered abortive by the APP
prentice. Then when his jailers. were
about to take him to the scaffold he
begged that he might be permitted to
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 fell
was vibrations sent from the work of
his brain. And he knew that IL Satan
had made him murderer and connect
ed tragedy with the result Of his la