Year: 1875

in every direction Presently the
masters spade penetrated the sand
and touched something hard. He
stopped down. Then he leaped up
like one half frantic, and. plying hi,
spade with redoubled energy, tore
away the remaining sand, disclosing
what looked like great metallic ring.


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


"Who did this?" asked every exci>
ted voice, as the cheering died away


'Come with me, two or three of
youl' cried the master. Il think |
know who did it. Its a miracle!"


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


"The poor lad is in BRAIN fever" "
she said.


"Does he say anything in his delir>
ium ?" whispered the master.


20, yes he raves all the time about
the big bell.mold. Il hope it will ill
i hope it will fill he says


The men exchanged glances. 1t
was indeed true. The idiot had cast
the great bell of St. Johns" just
then the physician came out. Per
haps he will recover his reason by
this shock and Sickness" 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 huge derrick IN the
lathe-room of the factory, and be-
meath it stood a heavy truck upon
which it was about to be lowered a
silence fell upon the group OF work
men as the pale face and feeble form
of Inventor appeared, borne in on
a small soft reclining chair. He had
recovered his reason. and was fast
getting back his strength. His large
gray eyes instantly fastened them
selves on the bell, that splendid mas
teipiece, whose making meant so
much to him. They had told him
the whole story of the casting, and
the disaster in the foundry, but it all
sounded like a wild romance to him.


II remember nothing that happen
ed said he, shaking his head with a
smile. "Its all new to me, all new
and strange-so strangep


"Yes," said the master, devoutly,
it was Gods hand"


Every eve was turned upon the
invalid. Some of the men felt al
most afraid, it was so much like
resurrection to have him there among
them, the boy they had known SO
long under witted, now young man
keen and intelligent, as if changed
into another being.


Il should like to strike the bell
once" said he. Two men lifted him
up and put small hammer in his
hand.


He struck one gentle blow. a
deep sweet, mournful tone, solemn
as the sound of distant waterfalls,
rolled from the great bell and echoed
through the foundry. Tears filled
the eyes of the rough men as they
heard it,


"Ah,' said the master, "thero's
hallelujah in that, and it may well
begin here Long may this bell
praise God. He saved it in the
ruins of the furnace by one wise
thought in the ruins of human
brain. Our furnace is rebuilt and
behold, this dear boy has hls reason
again The bell and boy shall glo
ritv God together!'


Amen" murmured all the listen
rrS


Then the great bell was lowered
and as the truck rolled away with
its melodious burden, the boy was
lifted and rried after it, and bo'h
went out into the sunny day togeth
er, the rough men standing in the
door-ways, waving their hands.
Little "Inventor" afterward well
proved hi. claim to the title SO light

" given him IN his unfortunate boy
mood. His name is now read on
mapya bell whose matchless rich
ness Of tone his genius and skill in
metals alone crplted