Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-09-24

the signal-hcars the drop fall-the jerk
the sensation of choking-and swoons,
again to revive to the Consciousness that
all is desola.ion and misery around her.
THE OLD BELL
4 While in our venerable State House on
the goth Of April last, the day Of the fu-
neral solemniiies in honor Of the late Pres.
ident of the United States. and in the very
chamber where was signed the immortal
Declaration Of Independence, we were
struck by the peculiar solemnity of the
tones of the muaed bell above. A friend
Informed us that it was the very bell
which announced to the assembled crowds
on the 18th July, 1916, the passage Of the
memorable act which procured for our
country ga seperate and equal station a.
mong the nations of the earth y and that
it had remained unused since it was .olled
for the death Of General Washington. We
have Since seen in an exchange paper the
following notice of what is Familiarity cali
ed "THE OLD BILL"
"This Bell was manufactured in Eng
land, expressly for the State House. while
the United States were under the British
Government. On it are inscribed the
names of the manufacturers, date, &c.,
and the following prophetic words: PRO
claim Liberty throughout all the land: nn>
to all the Inhabitants thereof Lev. xxv.lO
"On the morning of the memorable 4th
of July, 1916, the doors ofthe State House
were closed during the deliberations of
Congress, and the many anxious citizens
who thronged the streets were denied adj
mission but no sooner was the last sigma
ture affixed to that charter which severed
the tie that bound these colonies to the
| mother country, than this sam, bell was
rung. Yes, il was the first to sound the
notes Of the syren song of Liberty to Co.
lumbia's sons. Little did its manufactur-
ers think that the solemn injunction to
"Proclaim Liberty throughout the land,"
would be so soon obeyed.
At that time our country was covered
with thick forest. our cities small, our adj
vantages for education limited; and on all
sides were heard the howl of England's
war dogs, and the war whoop of the en-
ragged red man.-Now the forests are sue
ceeded by the Vegetation produced by A
merican industry-our cities are large and
beautiful.- where the Indians wig
wan once stood, the gorgeous Seminary
or stately Church rear their majestic he ads.
and instead of war are heard the songs Of
Zion, or the glad shouts of Americas free
born sons.
All this is the resulta of the passage OF
that one act by our forefashers. The minds
Of the people were prepared for it, and
noblv did they sustain it, in times that
tried mems souls The welcome notes Of
that old bell were waited on the refresh>
ing breeze of that happy day to many
freside, and found response in every pa
triotic heart. The Minister, Lawyer,
Farmer, ahd Mechanic; old and young,
rich and poor, male and female, all put
their hands to the work; and fought for
Washington, their Country, and their
God.
Like the immortal signers of the Dec.
laration Of Independence, the old bell has
done its duty, and now rests from its la
bors.' 1t hangs in the second story of the
sleeple, its former place being now occu-
pied by another and much larger one.
have stood in the belfry Of the steeple,
and cast my eyes, not over dreary will
derness. but over vast extent of cultiva>
led soil; while here and there could be
seen what every American loves, viz:
3" The star-spangled banner in proud triumph wave
Ger the land Of the free and the home the brave"