Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1847-10-08
ces. From lip to lip the murmur runs

rankin standing with uncovered brow
the foremost of the group at his back
with the sunlight playing on his animate,
face. That form, tall and angular, leanin.
with one hand behind the back, the othe
raised to the heart, against the pillar OF
the right side of the door, with the eve:
sunken beneath the downward brows, the
neither lip compressed, the nerves culver
ing with an emotion, not the less deep be-
cause it is scarce perceptible.
| 1t IS Thomas Jefferson. Never king
upon his throne, never conqueror on the
battlefield felt deeper JOY than thrilled
his bosom then! Glorious Prophet of the
Rights of man, how my heart beats, as
through the mists of seventy-one years, l
survey you, standing there, against the
right pillar of the State House door, with
the sunshine streaming over Your glow
ing face
Stout hearted John Adams stands be-
tween him and Franklin, his face beam.
ing as he rests his hand on Jefferson's
arm and conyerses with him, repeating
the word which swells every heart In
dependence
Between the heads of Jefferson and AID.
ans, you see the face of Livingston, while
leaning against the left pillar, Roger
Sherman gazes on the scene.
Hancock stretches forth his hand
An old soldier, battered with cuts and
scars, hobbies up to the foot of the steps.
and with the marks Of the indian wars
and Bunker Hill upon his face, gasps the
words. "Well, President, is it all right ~
There is solemn silence in that breath
less crowd
Every ear in the throng hears his re,
ply, spoken In calm, conv ersational tones.
1t is This day we have signed the
Declaration of independence! To. morrow
it will be published in the Gazette, and on
the eighth day of July, proclaimed from
the State House steps. From this day
there are no Colonies, bot States. From
this day there is no British dominion, but
the Republic of the United States of A.
merica ~
Did you ever see bolt of lightning
stream IN one red mass from the zenith,
and then scatter in thousand rays Of fire
over the tree tops of an undulating wood
So these words rush into every heart,
and burst upon the crowd, scattering their
rays into every heart.
The crowd is terribly still for a moment.
and then the murmur swells into a shout.
At this moment, little boy, whose
golden hair losses about his rosy cheeks,
steals up the steps and clutches the Pres
ldent by the knee, and whispers - 50 the
old man in the steeplc sent me down to
ask you whether he should ring the bell
Shall say ring?"
Hancock pressed his hands upon the
head Of the child, and said -"you will
live to see the day, my child, when the
voice of that bell will have been heard by
all the world Tell the old man to ring 2"
Through the crowd, brave boy !! Out
into the street and clap your tiny hands
until the old man in yonder steeple hears
you. Look ! with his oronzed face and
snow white hair, he bends from the steeple,
he sees that child, with flushed cheeks
and golden hair, clap his hands, and be
hears that boyish shout -" RING |"
The old man barred his arm, and the
bell on which was written -. Proclaim
Liberty to the land and all the Inhabitants
thereof,' spoke to the city, to the people,
and to world in chains
As the tones of that beA so swinging
over the city, let US look upon the strange
tumultuous panorama in front of the State
House, now known forever as Independ
ence Hall.
1t is picture, or rather a combination
of pictures, worthy of the artists pencil,
but which requires the pen of Jefferson or
the voice of Patrick Henry to describe.
Passing this group, we come to the
third form of interest. A confused crowd,
stretching away under the shade of the
trees, moving to and fro, gesticulanng ear
nestly, as they conversed on the great
topic of the hour. Here, patriot raises
his arm, as if to strike a calm faced Tory,
who doubts the expediency of the means.
1t is not yet time, thee sees, my friend. .
/ Time POUNDS, sir, it never will be
time, so long as we permit traitors like