Year: 1877


the wharves, in the town of B-,a gang
of workmen We're getting ready to cast
the largest bell OF the st. Johns cathe-
dral chime. Only an hour more, and
then they would let the glaring, bubbling
metal flow from the huge furnace into
the mold, which was buried deep in the
black earth close by.


II was just at evening, and in the gath
ering twilight the lurid blue flames that
burst from the top of the tall chimney
flashed unearthly CLEANS upon the neigh-
boring windows and house-tops.


The scene within the foundry was weird
and almost awful. The swarthy forms
of the workmen, partly lighted by the
yellow glare, move about like Tartarian
shadows, and the sooty beams and pom
derous chains crossing, half black, half
golden, under the glowing roof, recalled
the engiras of the Cyclops under Mount
Etna.


The town clock struck six. 1t was
time for supper. All the rnen threw down
their tools, and ran and put on their outer
clothing.


BE back in half an hour sharp !"
cried the forge-master. " We shall make
the cast at a quarter to seven"


"All right, sir !" cried the men in re-
sporse.


81 hear some Of the town folks are
coming down to see work." said one.


" Yes" said another, "and it'll be
something TO open their eyes. There was
never such a bell cast in tho whole State
as This one will be-"


In moment moro only ono workman
and the master were left in the foundry
The former was to stay and watch the
blast" He had brought n double al.
lowance of dinner, and he made supper
on what remained.


Perhaps we can get the 'Invontor' to
stay with you, George" said the master,
laughingly, as he prepared to go.


Yes, where is he ?" returned the
man in the same jesting tone.


He's been around the WORKS long
enough to know when anything goes
wrong. IIullo ! Hullo ! say ! Where's
the Inventor p Come here. All, there
he is !" And, in silent answer 90 the
summons, shock haired fellow, with
large gray eyes and n pale vacant face,
appeared from behind pile Of castings
He had on his back n gray shirt, mach
soiled with dust, and he wore pair of
huge pantaloons, held up by single sus.
pender.


Well, Mopus," quoth tho man,
George, slnpping him rather roughly on
the shoulder; "suppose you've got wit
enough to help yell if anythng's the mat
ter ?"


The young fellow looked stupidity
around and nod led his head.


"Then sit here and look at the furnace,
and don't take your eyes off,"


The poor lad smiled and meekly did as
he was ordered, just as an obedent dog
would have lain down to watch his own
er's coat.


A queer fellow was this "Mopus y
stupid enough in ordinary things, to need
a wor Id Of watching, but wihal wonder
fully fit to watch furnace. He knew
all the working Of the foundry, by wha;
seemed sort of brute instinct, though
really his strange sngocity in this was a
remnant of II once brigh. mind.


If anything happened or went in an
unusual way he would always notice it,
and say what ought to be done, though
he could not tell, perhaps, why it ought
to be done.


Two years before he had been an intel
ligent, promising lad. He was the son
OF designer connected with the foundry
company, and had always been allowed
free access to the shop and to tominglc with
the men and watch their work. But one
day very large lifting chain broke with
its load and an iron fragment struck him
on the head, inllicting n serious injury
From this he partially recovered, and
only partially, for his reason was impair
ed. But his natural love for machinery
and mechanical experiments remained,
and as he gained his bodily strength he
spent most of his time making small
wheels and shafts, and putting together
odd contrivances, which he would exhib-
it with immense pride and satisfaction.


This peculiar trait in the young fellow
gained for him the humorous title Of the
"Inventor." All the men felt n great
kindness for him, even though their man =
ner toward him was occasionally harsh
and impatient.


Such was the person left to help watch
the great blast for the casting Of the king
of the chime Of St. Johns. Faithfully
he kept his place before the furnace,
while the man George sat down little
distance away and began to eat his sup
per. Doubtless the latter intended to
keep a kind of general oversight, Tut he
certainly made the " Inventors eyes do
the looking. Whether he felt kind Of
reckless trust in the instinct of his half
witted companion, or indolently conclud-
ed that nothing wrong could happen, he
was sady to blame for charging himself
so little with the important duty before
him.


Not a word was said by either watch
er, and only deep roar Of the furnace
vas heard through the vast foundry.


George finished his supper and saunter-
ed into one of the tool shops to find his
pipe. Inventor sat alone before the
great blast. The ono rational faculty of
his feeble mind enabled him to compre-
! IL ...l.nt - r.annnt anl nmnn annnnl Lii o.