The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1867-08-24

10 the siseple Of ihe State HOUSE, Al Philadel.
Phia, hung the old hell, whose tones were 10 an
nounce the passage of the Declaration Of Ameri-
can Independence 10 the masses Of people who
| crowded the streets.
The history Of that bell is an interesting one !;
We will relate Il here. In 1853 = bell Tor the
State HOUSE was brought over from England at
its Rst trial, being cracked, u was recast under
the direction Of Isaac Norris, then Speaker Of
the Colonial Assembly. Around ils crown, moul-
ded twenly.three years before the Continental
Congress passed the Declaration, was this inscrip-
alon from Holy Writ "Froeisim Liberty thvongh-
ont al ne iaa5, snio az Ghs iaAatiianis nwsef."
How almost likea prophetic .oie., fors.hadow.-
ing future events Strange. indeed, that beneath
is Iron tongue the Representatives of the Thirteen
Colonies pscciaimea Llherty, and ID mighty voice
sent forth The glad t1inp % al mankind Here
up 10 the tme.wofn beIfry ever since morn had
the old bell-man remained, anxionsly awaiting
the result Of the deliberations 10 the Congress be-
low, lie had plaesd . li,,le boy a. the door be-
meath 10 give him notice " the Declaration pas
ed. bot the houn dragged on and siill nanght
vac heard. The sun had ascended ihr above the
Eastern skies, already had passed the meridian,
aud wss turning bis chariot wheels towards the
waters Of the ocean on his downward track Sus-
pensc decpens-the old, grey-headed man stands
auxiously waiting-he shakes bis head-"They
will never do IL they viii never do IT," Around
people awaiting the issue 10 painful anxiety the
MINUTES MI ou-tbe grey-beard bends forward,
siraining bis sight aud bearing TO catch the well
come signal u u may, perchance, come. His
stout frame quivers with the intensity OF bis feel
ings i--he peers down, more and more earnestly.
Iiafk . what is that q tones uP ringing
clear aud full through the air piercing the ancient
bell-ripger's scar with an aimosi electric shock
There stands the little, biae-eyed boy below, clap
ping bis hands and shouting ring Ring o.
oh what emotions rush through that old mans
brain he feels young again, the strength Of fifty
men seems concentrated In bis single arm, as
seixing the iron tongue Of the bell he hurls Il
its mighty voice the tocsin OF Liberty. Away
goes the sound ofihat ancient bell over the length
and breadth of the land, rousing up the fame Of
patriotism aud inspiring new spirit into the bo-
SONS OF all--every where echoes forth the loud
arclanaiions Of excited multitudes, the thunder
Of cannon everywhere the joyful news |, heralds
e greeted with bonfres, illuminations, and other
demonstrations Of joy.
Onward, still onward sweeps the magic sound
Of that old bell, borne on spirit wings over every
bill aud valley, every lake and sea In the old
Thirteen States II sweeps over lofty mountain
ranges aud over the rice-plains OF the South on
ward Il goss, over the farsweeping pillows Of
the blue-sea, and rings iis piercing tones in the
hearing Of all Europe u reaches the ears Of the
British Lion, and drives him 70 The deepest recesses
Of his den with howls Of pain and rage still on
goes the sound. Il roars beyond the Alps and
Appenines, rousing up chain-loaded aud PROSTATE
slaves, inspiring them 10 stand forth and rush
from the clouds and mists Of despotism into the
clear aud radiant light Of Liberty, and clad in
the panoply Of right and justice TO do battle with
their ensavers.
Those thrilling notes Of the State House Bell
peal through every nook and corner Of France, Il
wakes her from her slumbers revolutions con
vulse the land, thrones and feudal systems crum-
bIc In the dust, and the first impulse 10 given TO
that feeling Of liberty and Independence which IL
now spreading throughout the Old World, puri-
Tying and cleansing her political atmosphere.