4,16 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[November, 
Waiting", 1>nt not Watching*. 
It will take that jar a long time to fill, my little man, at 
the present rate. As long as it -will for Mr. Spend-easy 
to get rich, or Mr. Fun-lover to grow learned. Things 
are not apt to prosper in this world unless they are prop- 
erly watched on all sides, and the out-go as well as the 
income looked after. Evidently the boy is in no hurry ; 
lie appears very com' 
fortable— by his looks 
Ave should say he had 
oaten a very good din- 
ner. Perhaps, though, 
he is thinking of 
something more im- 
portant than his wa- 
ter jar. Perhaps he is 
in a day dream, im- 
agining himself rid- 
ing in some fine coach 
he has watched pass- 
ing his cottage home, 
or a tall soldier with 
gay clothes. "We can- 
not read his thoughts, 
but whatever they are, 
our advice to him is : 
" Attend to the busi- 
ness in hand ; let that 
be well done first. 11 
A hoy who does this 
will gain a character 
that will almost in- 
jure success in what- 
ever he undertakes. 
Think of this when 
there are chores to do, 
or lessons to learn, or 
an errand to attend 
to. If tempted to turn 
aside from the busi- 
ness in hand, think of 
t he water-jar that was 
to long being filled. 
About Bells. 
Who invented bells ? 
Perhaps Jubal and 
Tubal Cain. These 
brothers are mention- 
ed in the Bible as 
being the first musi- 
cians, and the first 
metal workers. "We 
only know, however, 
that bells were used 
very early in the his- 
tory of man. They 
are mentioned by old 
Hebrew writers as 
being used by the 
priests in religions 
services. They have 
been associated with 
worship in almost all 
countries, being used 
mostly to call the peo- 
ple together. Among 
some sects bells re- 
ceive a baptism with 
much ceremony be- 
fore being used for 
the church service. 
Names have long been 
given to large bells 
in some parts of En- 
rope. The tones of bells -are associated with so many 
events, marriages, deaths, alarms, rejoicings, etc.. it is 
not strange that they should awaken superstitious feel- 
ings and beliefs among the ignorant. In former times 
they were rung when thunder storm? were approach- 
ing, to frighten away the evil spirits that were supposed 
to control the winds and the lightning. 
Bells are made principally of copper and tin. Silver 
nnd gold hnve been employed, and iron ha? al^o been cast 
into bell form. They are also manufactured from steel, 
but thus far those of "bell metal."' or copper and tin. are 
most numerous. In this country there are no bpils of 
very large size, compared with the monsters that have 
been cast in Europe. The largest one here is said to be 
that once used for a fire bell at the City Hall Park, !Ne\v 
York. It weighs about 20,000 lbs. It is said that when 
the bell previously used, weighing about 10,000 lbs. was 
broken, a proposition to replace it was opposed in the 
Common Council, because of the grest cost of so large a 
one. Finally a member, by way of joke, moved that a 
bell of 20,000 lbs. be cast. One and another voted for it 
in sport, until the motion was earned ; the Mayor ap- 
ptoved it, and the bell was made. It had a deep, mellow, 
far reaching tone, being heard miles away, and in the 
night its voice telling of danger was solemn and impres- 
sive It was cracked sometime since, and has recently 
been broken to pieces to be recast into four bells to weigh 
5000 each. A bell weighing 29,400 lbs. hangs in the Xotre 
WAITING, BUT 
[COPYRIGHT SKCTJKKD.] 
NOT AVATCHIN Gr. — Drawn ami Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
Dame Cathedral in Montreal. Several bells in Europe 
weigh from 25,000 to 40,000 lbs. The Great Bell of Mos- 
cow, the largest ever cast, is estimated to weigh 443,772 
lbs. The metal alone is worth over $300,000. It was cast 
in 1653, by order of Empress Anna, but was never hung. 
While yet in the pit where it was cast, the foundry above 
it was burned in the great conflagration of Moscow, 
while hot, water was poured upon it and a large piece was 
cracked ont. It remained there for many years, until, in 
1837, the Emperor Nicholas caused it to be raised and 
placed upon a granite pedestal. It has been consecrated 
as a chapel ; the door is in the opening made by the piece 
foiling out. Since the above was written, we have re- 
ceived some further particulars about this bell from 
Mr. Judd, who visited it. 
A gentleman relates the following, which he witnessed 
recently while traveling in a siage in New Jersey. A 
man entered, followed by his wife and three children. It 
was easy to see by the flushed face and nervous manner 
of the lady that she had feeen greatly hurried to get her- 
self-and children ready. Presently the fare* was asked 
for, and the lady began looking for her purse. It seems 
that the family were going in different directions at the 
end of the stage ride, and they had divided their funds 
accordingly. The purse could not he found. "I have 
left it on the table in my room," said the lady meekly. 
"Just like you," 
snarled ont the man, 
"I do wish you'd be 
more careful." 1 The 
poor woman said 
nothing, but her quiv- 
ering lip spoke her 
feelings, and awaken- 
ed the sympathies of 
all present. Meantime 
the man was fumbling 
for his pocket-book, 
first in one pocket, 
then another— three 
times he " went 
through " his clothes, 
but no money could 
be found. "I de- 
clare," exclaimed he, 
"if I haven't left my 
money at home too ! 
So much for being in 
a hurry." A quiet 
twinkle took the 
place of the tear that 
had been struggling 
in the eye of his wife, 
and a hearty laugh 
burst from the pas- 
sengers, who greatly 
enjoyed his discom- 
fiture. The matter 
was at last arranged 
by a loan from a friend 
who knew the par- 
ties, and they went on 
their way with some- 
thing to remember. 
A Lesson in 
Politeness. 
An elderly gentle- 
man recently entered 
a street car in which 
the writer was riding. 
The seats were all oc- 
cupied, and the new 
comer after glancing 
up and down the 
sides and finding no 
vacant place, took a 
position to stand as 
comfortably as pos- 
sible. Jnstthenalad 
about twelve years 
old arose and insisted 
on the gentleman tak- 
ing his seat, which 
the latter did, thank- 
ing the boy for his 
politeness. After rid- 
ing a short distance, 
the gentleman took 
from his pocket a pas- 
sage ticket and pre- 
sented it to the boy, 
who at first declined 
it, but afterward took 
it, more to please the gentleman than to save his fare. '"I 
want to encourage the boy in his politeness," remarked 
he, " by showing him that it is appreciated." -Sot long 
after an elderly woman with a little girl, probably her 
grand-daughter, entered the car. The old gentleman who 
was sitting near the door, immediately arose and gav^ 
her his place, which she took as a matter of course., with- 
out even saying "thank you." Presently a man sitting 
next to this woman left the car, and she immediately 
tried to pull her little girl into the vacant seat, although 
the old gentleman who had so gallantly yielded his place 
was now about to sit down again. " Madam." said he, 
sternly, "that is so piggish, I will not allow it !" and 
took the seat. The rebuke was severe, but well deserved. 
The contrast of politeness and selfishness, and the asser- 
tion of the claims of courtesy by the old gentleman, caused 
a smile to 20 around the car, and furnished a good lesson. 
It is in little things like this that real character is shown ; 
he who is of kind disposition and refined feelings, will 
manifest it in his conduct even in trifles. 
