July 04, 2002
From the desk of Jane Galt:HE DAY THE BELLS RANG
HE DAY THE BELLS RANG
July 4th 1776
During the day, the streets of Philadelphia were crowded with people anxious to learn the decision.
In the steeple of the old State House was a bell on which, by a happy coincidence, was inscribed, "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."
In the morning, when Congress assembled, the bell-ringer went to his post, having placed his boy below to announce when the Declaration was adopted, that his bell might be the first to peal forth the glad tidings.
Long he waited, while the deliberations went on. Impatiently the old man shook his head and repeated, "They will never do it! They will never do it!"
Suddenly he heard his boy clapping his hands and shouting, "Ring! Ring!"
Grasping the iron tongue, he swung it to and fro, proclaiming the glad news of liberty to all the land.
The crowded streets caught up the sound. Every steeple re-echoed it.
All that night, by shouts, and illuminations, and booming of cannon, the people declared their joy.
Posted by Jane Galt at July 4, 2002 03:07 PM | TrackBack | Technorati inbound links