Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-05-17
A BELLS BIOGRAPHY.

"The New Englanders
hid their prize in shadowy nook, betwixt
large gray stone and the earthly roots Of
an overgrown tree (; and when the cam
paign was ended, they conveyed our friend
to Boston and put him up at auction on the
sidewalk of King street. He was suspen-
ded, for the once, by block and tackle,
and being swung backward and forward,
gave such loud and clear testimony to his
own merits, that the auctioneer had no
need 10 say word. The highest bidder
was rich old representative from our town
who piously bestowed the bell on the meet.
ing house, where Nhad been worshipper
for half century. The good man had his
reward. BY strange coincidence, the
very first duty Of the Sexton, after the bell
had been hoisted into the belfrey, was 20
toll the funeral knell of the donor. Soon,
however, those dolefu echoes were drowned
by triumphant peal for the surrender of
Quebec.
"Ever since that period, our hero has
occupied the same elevated station and has
put in his word on all matters Of public i'm
portance, civil, military, or religious. On
the day when independence was first pro-
claimed in the streets beneath, he uttered a
peal which many deemed ominous and
fearful, rather than triumphant. But he
told the same story these sixty years, and
none mistake his meaning now. When
Washington, in the fullness of his glory,
rode through our flower strewn streets,
al 20, r., IL.
his country welcome! Again the same
voice was heard when La Fayette came to
gather his half century's harvest of graft
tude. Mentime, vast changes have been
going on below. His voice, which once
floated over little provincial sea. port, is
now reverberated between brick edifces,
and strikes the ear amid the buzz and tu-
multi of city. On the Sabbaths of oden
time the summons of the bell was obeyed
by picturesque and varied throng state
ly gentlemen in purple velvet coats, en-
broidercd waist coats, white wigs, and gold
laced hats, stepping in grave courtesy be-
side ladies in lowered satin gowns and
hoop-petticoats of majestic circumference
while behind, followed a liveried slave or
bondsman bearing the psalm-book and a
stove for his mistress feet. The common
ality, clad in homely garb, gave prece-
| dence to their betters at the door of the
meeting house, as if admitting that there
were distinctions between them, even in the
sight of God. Yet, as their collins were
borne, one after another, through the street.
the bell has .ollcd requiem for all alike
| What mattered it, whether or no there was
silver scutcheon on the coffin lid?-
Open thy bosom, Mother Earth = Thus
spake the bell. Another of thy children
is coming to his long rest. Take him tc
thy bosom and let him slumber in peace.
Thus spake the bell, and Mother Earth re-
ceived her child. With the selE-samt
tones will the present generation be ushereC
TO the embraces of their mother; and Moth
or Earth will still receive her children. Il
not thy tongue weary, mournful talke
of two centuries Oh, funeral bell will
thou never be shattered with thine owl
melancholy stroke yea, and trumpet
call shall arouse the sleepers whom tn,
heavy clank could awake no more!
"Again--again, thy voice, reminding m
that | am wasting the 8 midnight OIL" Ii
my lonely fantasy. can scarcely believ,
that other mortals have caught the sound
or that il vi5raies elsewhere than in m,
secert soul. But to many hast thou spo
ken. Anxious men have heard thee Of
their sleepless pillows, and bethought them
selves of to-morrow's care. In brief in
terval of wakefulness, the sons of toll hav
heard thee, and say, Is so much of GU
quiet slumber spent lis the morning s.
near at handp Crime has heard thee
and mutters, Now is the very hourp-
Despair answers thee, thus much of thi
weary life is gone' The young mother
on her bead Of pain and extacy, has count
ed thy echoing strokes, and dates fror
them her firstborn's share of life and i'm
mortality. The bridegroom and the brid
have listened, and feel that their night {
rapture fits like dream away. Thine nc
cents have fallen family on the ear of tn
dying man, warned him that, ere tho
speakest again, his spirit shall have pas
sed whittier no voice Of time can eve
reach. Alas, for the departing travele
if thy voice-the voice of fleeing time
have taught him no lessons for eternity
* u,ckerbOrker