Year: 1875

like runping lava Then came another
alarming noise, and a thin gap half way
down the masonry let out more of tho
Kissing metal.


Where was George Was the un-
faithful fellow still hunting for his pipe
The furnace was bursting with only a
poor, half idiot lad to guard it


What could he do He did what per-
haps lad in his right mind would not
have dared to do. Rushing to the mouth
Of the furnace, he seized the long iron
rod that stood near, and tapped the vent
One desperate thrust with sharp point
up the terrible funnel-a few quick pry.
ing strokes Stand back. now The
con6ning clay fell away, and the yellow
white flood spurted out with resistlcss
force. 1t leaped into the clay lined
troughs and hissed its way flaming down
to the mouth of the bell mold.


The "fool" had done deed worthy of
general on field of battle.


Was it too late ? Every moment new
assures opened in the doomed furnace
Some Of the upper stones topplcd over.
Still the metal poured out into the mold.
But the waste was great from those gap.
ing flaws. The pressure was relieved by
the open vent, but the leaks multiplied
continually. 1t was art running race
with ruin,


Poor "Mopus" stood poweTless before
the coming catastrophe. His knees knock.
ed together and his head swan A great
heap of red hot bricks and rubbish fell at
his feet. He had barely thought to get
out Of the way and save his life. He
heard wild shout of human voices in the
distance, then an awful roar behind him,
and he saw and felt himself pursued by
surges of seething fire. Sharp, blistering
pains pierced his flesh at q hundred
points, The rest was all horrible unin.
telligible dream. 1t was as if he had
suddenly sank into the earth and had
been swallowed up forever.


BY seven O'Clock comparative quiet
was reigning again on the scene of the
disaster. Ruins lay everywhere. The
engines had quenched the flames that had
caught the building, and the men, black.
ened with smoke, stood in silent groups
about the remains of the furnace, 1t had
fallen to pieces and nothing was left but
heaps Of steaming rabbish.


Poor Inventor" who had been found
with the tapping-rod in his hands, lying
on his face in the sand, frightfully burned,
had been carried to his home.


Little was said, but the few words
spoken uttered with no mild emphasis the
natural wrath OF the master and hands
against the man George, whose excuses
for himself only exaggerated his offense.


"See what he's DONE" said they, few
days later, as they stood in the half burn.
ed foundry. "Fivo thousand dollars gone
to waste in q minute The best job in
twenty years spoiled The rascal to 60
hunting for his pipe, and leave that slut
tering idiot to watch Is that all he can
say for himself? Out upon such care.
essness Why the boy didn't even know
annnrh IN howl ont whnn he mnst have
seen the furnace tumbling to pieces !"


The master, who had more at stake
than the men, of course felt the loss more
keenly than they. He almost wept with
mingled grief and rage. Suddenly some.
thing peculiar caught his eye among the
debris, and he cried in startled voice


"Hallo What's this ? What's this ?"


He snatched up fragment of one of
the troughs which had led from the fur.
mace to the mold. There were traces
of the stream of bronze still run.
ming in it. Then the possible meaning of
the iron found in the injured boys hand
flashed upon him


Bring me shovel, quick !" he shout.
ed.


A spade was put into his hands, and
he began nervously to heave away the
hot mass that lay piled over the bell mold
1t was herculean task. but he worked
like giant, and three or four OF his men
took hold and helped him.


Brick bats, orc, Stag and ashes flew in
spade penetrated tho sand and touched
something hard. He stopped down.
Then he leaped up like one half frantic,
and plying his spade with redoubled
energy, tore away the remaining sand
disclosing what looked like great metal.
lie ring.


Men," he cried out, lifting his flushed
face, "the bell is cast"


"Who did this 2" asked every excited
voice, as soon as the cheering died away


Como with me- two or three of you !"
cried the master. II think I know who
did it. It's a miraclo!"


They hurried away to the home of the
half witted boy. The attendant met them
with her finger on her lips.


The poor boz is in brain fever" she
said.


"Does he say anything in his deiri-
um ?" whispered the master.


"Oh yes, he raves all the time about
the big bell mold. L hope it will fill
hope it will fill,' he says"


Tho men exchanged glancea. 1t was
indeed true. The idiot had cast the great
bell of st. Johns. Just then the physi.
clan came out Perhaps he will recover
MS iCasuh ~ 'hlS suuNh ahi niOhuCSo,
he said Such things have happened +"


"Do you think so? Pray Heaven he
may !" solemnly calculated the master
and his men; and they turned away
deeply moved.


Two months later the great bell hung
from a huge derrick in the lathe room Of
the factory, and beneath it stood heavy
truck upon which it was about to be
lowered. A silence fell upon the group
Of workmen as the pale face and feeble
form Of Inventor" appeared, borne in a
small reclining chair. lie had recovered
his reason, aud was fast getting back his
strength. His large gray eyes instantly
/ fastened themselves on the bell, that
} splendid master piece, whose making
meant so much to him. They had told
! him the whole story of the casting, and
the disaster Ia the foundry, but il al