Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1908-07-02
Independence ReN i
A Poem That Has Been READ m,
Years-That Is Worth Reading
Acain--who Wrote 1T

When IL became certain that the Defamation
Of Ineeperdenee would be adopted and con-
Cont entail Congress II was determined TO an
noane. the sveut by rfnstne the oia state House
bell which bore the Inscription. "p.ooi<tm hhe,H
berman posted hi. grandson at the door Of the
hall TO await the Instruction OF the doorkeeper
when TO rng. Al the word that the doeu-
=, hed on, and fingins up his hsnds shouted.
"hns! Ringi RiNoT
There was a tumult In the city,
In the quaint old Quaker town,
And the streets were rife with people
Pacing restless up and down;
People gathering At corners,
Where they whispered each TO each,
And the sweat stood on their temples.
With the earncstness Of speech.
A the bleak Atlantic currents
Lash the Wild Newfoundland shore,
30 they beat against the State House.
So they surged sg ainst the door;
And the rningling Of their voices
Made harmony profound,
TN the quiet street Of chestnuts
Was all turbulent with sound.
@will they do itr "Dare they do it'-
what Of Adanns1"-"What Of Shermans'-
~Ohi God grant they won't rehlser'
MAKE some way there l"-~Let me nearerr"
Il am sitting r-"stfe, then,
When a Nations lifss al hazard
We've no time to think Of men,
So they beat against the portal,
Men and women, maid and child
Add the July sun In heaven
On the scene looked down and smiled;
The same sun that saw the Spartan
Shed his patriot blood in vain
Nov beheld the soul in freedom
All uneonquered, rise again.
So they surged against the State House,
While, all soiemniy inside,
Sat the Continental Congress"
Truth and reason for their guide,
Der a simple scroll debating
Which, though simple II might be--
Yea should shake the cliffs Of England
With the thunders Of the free.
Al the portal Of the State House,
Like some beacon in a storm,
Round which waves are wildly beating,
Stood a boyish, slender form;
With his eyes fixed on the steepie
Hho taA1 dh kICco
To catch the first announcement
OF the signing" Of the deed
Aloft, In that high steepie,
Sat the bellman, old and gray
He was weary Of the tyrant
And his iron-sceptered sway,
So he sat, with one hand ready
On the elapper of the bell,
When his eye should catch the signal,
The happy news to tell.
See seei The dense crowd quives
Through all It's lengthy line,
As the boy beside the portal
Looks forth to give the signl
With his small hands upward lifted,
Breezes dallying with his hair,
Hark with deep, clear intpnstion,
Breaks his young ycioe on the air.
Hushed the peoples swelling murmur,
List the boys strong. joyous cryi
Ring. he shouted, ring! GrAndrAI
Ring! Oh! Rnei for Libern!"
And strsightway. al the signal,
The old bellmsn lifts his hand,
And sends the good news making
Iron music through the land.
~-kh 49, - -
How they shouted what rejoicingi
How the old bell shook the air,
TIL the clang of freedom ruffied
The calm gliding Delswarei
How the bonfires and the torches
Illumined the nights repose,
And from the flames, like Phoenix,
Fair Liberty arose.
The old bell now is silent.
And hushed its iron tongue,
But the spirit 1t awakened
Still hves-forever young,
And while we greet the sunlight
On the Fourth of each July,
Wen ne'er forget the bellman,
Who, 'twixt the earth and sky,
| Rung out OUR INDEPENDENCE;
Which, please God, shall reVer DIE.