Show Inde independence bell A poem that lias ilas keen been read for years that Is worth reading BeadlE fl agala who wrote it 7 when it bec lectie certain that the th declaration of independence indi pendent would be b adopted and d coil 0 fumed fl ed by the th of the tb dali kaff to la till continental congress Conc reB it was de determined I 1 to ute no anio le the he event by the old state hm bouc bell bel 1 which bore the I 1 ton proclaim rii ht andl ia 11 1 iniba ts ih thereof 01 I 1 end the 14 bellm bellin in posted his hi grand grandsion tion at t the door ofte of the liall hall to wait the of fth the door d kerpe k fa when to riner at tile word that the 6 ment had b been n signed the little patriot hal r hed 0 it t and flair fl a ir up his bl h de houtte rina I 1 RING I 1 th there wat was a tumult in the city in the quaint old quaker town and the 6 were afe with people pacing restless up and down people gathering at corners cornera where they whispered each to bachs cacti c and the sweat stood blood on their temples temple with the earnestness of speech As the bleak atlantic currents lash the wild newfoundland shore so they beat against the state house so they surged against the door and the mingling of their vokes voie made a harmony profound till the quiet street of chestnuts was all turbulent with sound will they do it dare they do it tr alt who is speaking what a the nawa what of adams what of shermana Sherma nr ohl oh I 1 god grant they wont refuse 1 make some way there I 1 let roe me I 1 am buffing I 1 stifle then when a nations life 9 at hazard we ve no time to think of men I 1 so they beat against the portal men and women maid and child and the july sun bun in heaven on the scene acene looked down and smile mile the same sun aun that saw the spartan shed hed his patriot blood in vain vow now beheld the soul in fre freedom edorn all unconquered rise agam again so they surged against the state while all solemnly inside sat the continental congress truth and reason for their gume 0 er a simple scroll debating thih though simple tt it might be yet should shake the cliffs of englard with the thunder of the tree free at the portal portail of the state house like some beacon in a storma storm round which waves are wildly beating stood a boyish slender form with his eyes fixed on an the steeple and his ears agape with greed to catch the first announcement of the signing of the deed aloft in that high steeple sat the bellman old and gray ile he was weary of the tyrant aad his iron sway so he sat with one hand ready on the clapper of the bell when his eye should catch the signal the happy news to tell see Seel I 1 seel see I 1 the derise dense crowd quivers through all its lengthy line As the boy beside the portal looks forth to give the sign I 1 with his small handi hand upward lifted breezes dallying with his hair lair hark I 1 with deep clear intonation breaks hia young voie e on oil the air hushed the people a swelling murmur list the boy a strona joyous cry I 1 brig he shouted ring king ohl ring top for etbert and sira gotway at the signal the old bellman lifts his hind bita and sends bends the good news making iron iran must through the land how they shouted I 1 what rejoicing I 1 how the old bell shook the air till the clang of freedom ruffled the calm calin gliding delaware I 1 how the bonfires bon firca and the torches Illum illumined med the nights night a repose and from the flames like Phoc phoenix fair liberty stow the old bell now is silent and hushed its iron tongue but the spirit it awakened still lives forever young and while we greet toe the sunlight on the fourth ot of each july well ne et cr forget the be bellman baliman liman who twixt the earth and sky rung out OUR which please god shall never fie dw |