Show fr f- f r j F r C Independence Bell BellA A Poem That Has lias Been Read for Years Years That That Is Worth orth Reading Again ln Ag Who Again Who Wrote It 7 t When It became certain th that t the Declaration cf of Ind Independence would be adopt adopted d and eon con firmed by the signatures denature of or the delegates In tb the tb Continental Congress It WM was determined to an am nouns the event by ri ringing nil the old State Hou House o obell bell which bore the Inscription lm lJ to to tM the th Until landt to M II thereof fJ and the bellman potted posted hit his erand grandson on at et the door of or th the th hall hell to await the instruction Infraction of or the when to ring At the word that the doc docu ment had b been n the little patriot tolon clo rushed out and Singing up hit his hand hands shouted J Ring I RING I There was a tumult In fn the city chy In the quaint old Quaker town And the streets were rife with people Pacing restless up and down People gathering at nt corners Where they whispered each to each And the sweat stood on their With the earnestness of speech As the bleak Atlantic currents Lash the wild Newfoundland shore So they beat against the State House V So they surged against the door And the mingling of their voices f Made a harmony profound Tnt Till the quiet street of chestnuts Was all turbulent with sound do It it 1 Will Wilt they do it r Dare they t Who is speaking the news new J of Sherman What of What Adams Oh lOh I God grant they theT wont won't refuse I I l f rI r- r Make some way there Let I me nearer I am ant stifling Stifle stifling 1 Stifle I Stifle then When a Nations Nation's lifes life's at hazard Weve We've no time to think of men I ISo So they beat against the the- portal Men and women maid and child And the July sun in heaven On the scene looked down and smile amile t v The The- same sun that saw the Spartan Shed his patriot blood in vain J Now beheld the soul in freedom All AIL unconquered rise again J So they surged against the State State- Houst Hous While all solemnly inside Sat the Continental Congress Truth and reason for their gui gui- guise guie e Oer O'er a a. simple scroll debating debating- Which though simple it might be be t l Yet should shake the cliffs cUffs of England r With the thunders of the free At the the- portal of the State State- House Like some beacon in is a storm Round which waves are wildly beating Stood a. a boyish slender form With his eyes fixed on the steeple steeple- And his ears agape with greed To catch h the first announcement Of Ot the signing of the deed Aloft in that high steeple steeple- Sat the bellman old old- and graHe gray gra- gray r He was weary weary of the tyrant A And Aad his li iron n sway away So he be sat sat with one hand band ready On n the clapper of the bell When his eye should catch the signal The happy news to tell teU J a aSeel See Seel I see seal sed The dense dense- crowd quivers J Through all Its lengthy line As the boy beside the portal V Looks forth to give the sign I 1 With his hit small hands upward lifted Breezes dallying with his hair Hark I with deep clear intonation Breaks his young voice voice- on the air Hushed the peoples people's swelling swelling- murmur List the boys boy's strong joyous cry I l IRing Ring he shouted U Ring Ring I Grandpa pal IRing IRing I t tRing Ring Ring- Ohl Ring L for Liberty Liberal And straightway at the signal The old bellman lifts his hand hand And sends the good news making Iron music through the the- land How the they shouted what rejoicing Y How the the- theold old bell shook the air Till the clang of freedom ruffled The calm gliding Delaware I How the bonfires and the torches Illumined the nights night's repose And from the flames like Phoenix Fair Liberty arose s The Tbt old bell now is silent s sAnd And hushed bushed its iron tongue Bat the spirit it awakened Still lives-forever lives lives forever young And while we greet the sunlight On the Fourth of each July v Well Wel neer ne'er forget the bellman Who twixt the earth and sky Rung out OUR INDEPENDENCE Which please God shall ne never die ie |