The herald., 1895-07-05


from sounds OF strife,
bedside OF his wife.
1t was prayer of gratitude; his eyes
suffused were dim -
A snppliant to Him gave thanks. who
saved her life to him.
In this acclaim OF happiness about that
little cot.
Three childish voices rendered thanks
beside the patriot.
v.
As Rodney rose and kissed his wife, and
breathed tender word
There came loud cries and up the road
the clanking hoofs were heard.
Exhausted and aweary from the rapid
pace he'd ridden.
The courier to Rodney gave the message
Then Rodney kissed his wife again and
kissed his children three
And leaped astride his horse and rode
that night for liberty.
Ger hill and dale fast flew the horse; it
-, came, IT passed. was gone
The faithful beast appeared to know the
errand it was on.
And though the pace was very swift to
II e piled the spur and urged it on, that Il
might faster go.
"At morrow's noon I must be there, no
matter what the cost:
II congress now procrastinates, then lib
erty lost"
The summers S moon. tsc:, in Its suli, made
night as clear as day
1t seemed as il kind Providence was
showing him the way.
But Rodney noted not these things. a.
he sped DER the lea;
His mind was fixed on that congress; his
wish was liberty,
In crossing an old rustic bridge, within
shaded dell,
horse and rider foil
For hours unconscious Rodney lay, when
he revived again
Twas inky dark. and downward poured
heavy summers rain;
And by the lightnne's lurid flash, right
in the torrents bed
Rodney beheld his faithful hoYse-the
noble stoed was dead.
AS Rodney knelt and prayed for aid the
-, summer clouds passe DER;
The moon on high in star-gemmed sky,
shone brightly as before.
VIII.
"1ell me, my friend. thy grievances; thy
sorrow now confide;'
And looking up Rodney deserted Quaker
at his side.
Seated on saunt gray mare. he looked
y sublime and grand
His face was full of kindness. Bible In
his hand.
Then Rodney told his new found friend
his mishap and his plan.
The Quaker stroked his .silvery hair, q
good Samaritan.
In Silence stood the Quaker tall; then
spake out loud and clear.
And what he said brought tears Of Joy
and dissipated fep-
''My son, l live not far away, now look
you unto me-
Take this old mare and with my prayer
ride forth to liberty"
And then he walked little ways and
strok ed the restless mare
"To Philadelphia thou must; Gods finger
it is there
AS Rodney lay upon the sward, the
Quaker Ger him bent.
And dressed his wounds and cooled them
with his lint and liniment.
And then to mount the faithful horse he
helped Rodney with Care;
"Ride ou! Ride on thou delegate; Gods
finger it is there"
Then Rodney turned, held out his hand;
too full to speak was he.
The Quaker pressed it; tnsn he cried,
Ride, ride for liberty
The Quaker's mare won't like the wind;
she needed not the spur;
Her heavy shoes struck hinty rocks and
made a midnight stir.
At that little town Meadoworoft, Just at
the peep of day,
Rodney changed the Qualzer's mare for
handsome, rapid bay.
The populaoe was up astir; to Rodnsy's
wants gave need.
nd y,or, ho on toA hov all
bid him God speed
XII.
AS Rodney passed the larger towns on
Jul" Fourth at morn
He tarried only long eRonugh to tell why
he rode on.
And promised he unto them all that he'd
return that way
And tell them what congress had done on
this immortal day;
And as he rode through villages to little
knots he cried:
I'm Rodney. ou. from Delaware, for
In these Pennsylvania towns many tradi-
tions be,
How Rodney rode July the Fourth
4 straight on fol- Liberty.
At Just high noon, in blazing heat upon
Gu IdlTIuOuub
moment Rodney rested there, near cool
crystal Schuylkill
And from this height beheld at hand
and almost within call
The wooden church-like steeple OF old
Independence hall.
Meanwhile the crowd on Walnut street
continued in suspense,
And searched in every rumor the which,
the why and whence
And some lost faith IN congress-, and
round the state house staid,
70 listen to the delegates if they excuses
made.
XIII.
And mingling with the doubrers was 8
white haired man and bent
Who for three days had waited calm fo1
this greatest event.
He was the grizZled bell ringer and
known unto them all
The Ganeymede OF Liberty at Independ.
ence hall
He told the anxious ones outside and they
retold the same
That they had sent for Rodney to answer
to his name.
The old man wrung his hands and criedI
" 'Tis not. 'tis not to be!