Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-06-29
J uly 4th, l776
BY GEORGE LIPPARD.

Let me paint you picture on the can
vas Of tbs Past.
1t was cloudless summer day. Yes,
clear blue sky arches and smiles above
quaint edifce,r rising among giant trees,
in the center of that wide city. That ed
ifice is built of red brick, with heavy
window frames and massive hall door.
The wide-spreading dome of st. Peters,
the snowy pillars of the Parthsnon, the
gloomy glory of Westminster Abbey
none of these, or anything like, are here,
10 elevate this edilce of plain red brick
into a gorgeous monument of archtec-
ture.
Plain red brick the walls; the roof
caves heavy with intricate carvings ;the
hall door ornamented with pillars OF
dark stone; such is the State House OF
Philadelphia in the year Our OF Lord,
1776.
Around this edifice stately trees arise.
Yonder, toward the dark walls of Wal
nut street goal, spreads pleasant lawn.
enclosed by plain board fence. Above
our heads, these trees lock their massive
limbs and spread their leafy canopy.
Thsre ara walks here, too; not fash
ioned as squares and circles, but spread
ing. in careless negligence, along the
lawn. Benches, too, rude benches, on
which repose the forms of old men with
gray hairs, and women with babes In
| their arms.
This is beautiful day, and this a
pleasant lawn; but why do these clus-
| ters of citizens, with anxious faces, gath
er round the State House wallsp There
is a merchant in his velvet garb and ruff
hed shirt there the mechanic, with apron
on his breast and tools in his hand there
the bearded sailor and dark-robed minis
ter, all grouped together.
Why this anxiety on every face?-this
gathering in little groups all over the
| lawn?
Yet hold moment! In yonder wood
en- stesple, which crowns the red brick
State House, stands an old man with
white hair and sunburnt face. He is clad
in plain attire, yet his eye CLEANS, as II
is fixed upon the ponderous outline OF
the bell, suspended in the steeple there.
The old man tries to read the inscrip-
tion, on that bell, but cannot. Out upon
the waves, far away in the forest, thus
has his life been passed. He is no schol-
ar; he scarcely can spell one Of those
strange words carved on the surface OF
that bell.
BY his side gazing in his face-that
sunburnt face-in wonder, stands flax
en- haired boy, with laughing eyes Of
summer blue.
Come here, my boy; you are q rich
mans child. You can read. Spell me
these words, and I'll bless ye, my good
childp
And the child raised himself on tip
toe, and passed his tiny hands against
the bell, and read, in lisping tones, these
memorable words:
"PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO ALL THE
LAND, AND ALL THE INHABITANTS
THEREOF"
"Look here, my child Wilt thou dc
| the old man a kindness? Then haste
you down stairs and wait in the hall, by
the big door, until a man shall give you
a message for me- When he gives you
that word, then run out yonder, in the
street, and shout up to me. Do you
mind?
1t needed no second command. The
boy with blue eyes and fiaxen hair sprang
from the bell-keeper's arms, and thread
ed his way down the dark stairs.
The old bell-keeper was alone. Many
minutes passed away. Leaning over
the railing Of the steeple, his face TO-
| ward Chestnut street.-the looked anxious
| ly for the fair haired boy. Moments
passed, vet still he came not. The crowds
gathered more darkly along the pave
ment, and over the lawn, yet still the
boy came not.
"Ahp groaned the old man, "he has
forgotten mel These old limbs will have
to totter down the State House stairs
and climb up again, aud all on account
of that child"
AS the word was on his lips, merry
ringing laugh broke on his ear. There
among the crowds on the pavement
stood the blue-eyed boy ,clapping his tiny
hands, while the breeze blew his tlaxen
hair all about his face.
And then, swelling his little chest he
raised himself on tip-tos, and shouted q
single word
"RING!"
Do you see that mans eyes fire? Dc
YOU see that arm 30 suddenly barred tc
the shoulderp DO you see that withered
4 hand grasping the iron tongue OF the
bell. The old man is young again; hi:
veins are filed with new life. Backward
and forward, with sturdy strokes, hi
swings the tongue. The bell speaks out
The crowd in the street hear it, ant
burst forth in one long shOutl Old Del
aware hears it, and gives 1t back in hur
rahs of her thousand sailors. The cit!
hears it, and starts up from desk anS