The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-07-07
TWO LITTLE PATRIOTS,
How They Rang the Meeting House Bell
in July, 1870.

How They Rang tho Meeting House Bell
in July, 1879.
1t was a bright July morning. Bob
and Martha Haywood, two children of
eight and ten, were having a nice
game of hide-and-go-seek, just outside
their fathers house. 1t was only two
stories in height, with little windows
filled with tiny panes, so small that
one could scarcely see much through
them. For these two little folks lived
away back in the year 1776.
"Stop! Bob," cried Martha, sudden
~. "Just look down the road! There's
some one comingr' The dust formed
such cloud that nothing could be
seen at flrst. However, in few min
utes the children discovered a man on
horseback, riding as if for dear life.
ais this Mr.. Haywood's9 Tell him
to have the mecting-housc bell rung to-
day at two o'clock. Don't forget,
children. It's to show we are free for
ever" And he rode away to give the
message ut some distant town.
bob, you didn't tell him that father
and mother are away, and that Jenk-
ins, the sexton, is sick. You and will
have to ring that bell"
1t was indeed true, all the men were
out fighting, defending Fort Moultrie,
just outside Charleston, leaving
only women and children at home,
and they had gone to the next town to
attend fair. Even the old bell ringer
was ill, and these two children were
quite alone with their servant Dinah.
''lt is just half-past one, Martha"
said Bob. "Get your sun-bonnct and
we will run to the Westinghouse; we
haven't time to tell Dinah."
1t was q long race to the building.
Most of the road wound through a
deep wood, which the children were
glad to escape into out of the midday
heat. On they ran. Could they get
there at twop
The little dusty feet at last cleared
the wood. There rose before them the
white Westinghouse, with its high
steeple. On, on they 60.
"Martha, where is the key?" Bob
shouted.
"Here. Bob. I tied it around my
neck so would not lose it..
Martha produced great piece of
brass, almost as large as herself, which
she had found hanging beside her
fathers chest of drawers. Four little
hands succeeded at last in pushing the
ponderous thing into its place. The
door creaked heavily upon its hinges,
and the children began to ascend the
rickety old staircase which led to the
belfry. When they reached the top,
painting and out of breath, they list
ened brcathlessly for the village clock
to strike two, holding on to the bell
rope.
''Bob, there it goes! Listen! One
two. Ring-ready"
How the bell did sound, as the
brother and sister tugged at the rope
1t rang its message of good tidings all
over the country WIDE. The children,
too, Joined their voices and shouted:
''Freedom! Freedom! We are free!
We are free!'
They rang and they rang until their
arms ached. At last they sat down,
exhausted, on the top step.
'Say, Mat, am precious tired and
sleepy" Bob said. ''Let's take nap;
it's too hot to go home now, any way
So the children, putting their curly
heads together. fell fast asleep. They
did not hear the distant bells answ er
theirs, or tho sounds of the cannon far
away, which were adding their notes
of deep rejoicing. The afternoon be-
gan to grow shorter. Still the children
slept ON. A storm was sweeping up
the valley, and the distant rumbles oi
the thunder seemed but echoes of the
cannon's roars, which had long since
died away.
Martha awoke with start, to fine
the belfry quite dusky, and Bob still
asleep. "Wake up, Bob." she said
"a thunder storm is coming up. w,
had better get home"
Bob sat up, rubbing his eyes ant
saying: II say, Mat, why didn't yo'
cali me before? 1t must be very late
and father and mother will be comm,