The old bell-founder had two faults which had grown upon him; a love of ale and a fiery temper.
While the metals were heating in the kettle, he said to his fire-watch, a little boy,—
“Tend the kettle for a moment; I am overwrought: I must go over to the inn, and take my ale, and nerve me for the casting.
“But, boy,” he added, “touch not the stopple; if you do, you shall rue it. That bell is my life, I have put all I have learned in life into it. If any man were to touch that stopple, I would strike him dead.”
FINISHING THE BELL.
