The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-07-02
Stories for Boys and Girls

must have our liberty and today will settle
the discussion.
"See, grandfather the men are coming in! y
eyes, that they are lad, and we must stand
aside"
As the delegates filed into the hall, and
one after another took their places the grand
father led the boy outside. But as they went
he pointed out the various members Of con
gress. "rhat man who has Just seated him
self in that high backed chair behind the
table is John Hancock, the president Of con
gress, and the young man standing near him
is Thomas jefferson. Thomas Jefferson was
the one chosen to draft the paper, and then
he read il TO his committee Of five-John
Adams, who is sitting there; Roger Sherman,
Robert Livingston, and our own Benjamin
Franklin The committee approved OF the
paper ms presented by jefferson, and with n
few changes they submitted 1t to congress,
and hour after hour they have spent discuss
ing it. But, mark my word, lad, this day,
July 4, 1776, will be the end of our weary
waiting
"Now, ] will tell thee our plan. When the
paper is signed they wish the news spread
to all the waiting people outside, so | will
climb TO the bell tower ready to ring the great
bell Thou must wait below here in the hal ],
and when they bring thee word that IT is
signed thee must run with all good speed and
give me the signal to ring the bell. "
The boy followed his grandfather TO the
bell tower, and there he gazed at the great
bell hanging high overhead 81 can see words
on the side of it, grandfather said the boy,
"Dost thou know what il saysi'
"Yea, child, verify The words are these
Proclaim liberty throughout all the land
unto all the inhabitants thereof. "
80, o." said the boy, his eyes shining with
enthusiasm, "and that is what the great bell
will do when give thee the signal. II is truly
a liberty bell, is il not, grandfather"
Eyes, lad, it is truly liberty bell But run
now to Thy post. The signal may come at any
moment"
The boy ran lightly down the stairs, but
the signal did not come All day long they
waited, while all day long an eager and i'm.
patient crowd surged through the street, and
all day long the earnest men discussed the
important question and answered the roll
call of their separate colonies, At last they
made it unanimous vote, and one after an
other came TO the great desk and Selling
one of the sharp pointed quilts they wrote
their names
John Hancock, president of congress, was
Tue llIHl W rlGHs Ilt ulpP'h MS lel ihl uuN u
into the ink and wrote his name, in such large
black letters that he was obliged to shake on
the sand to prevent its blotting. As he did
80 he said, "There, John Bull can read my
name without spectaces. Now let him double
the price on my head, for this is my defiance. -
Then he turned about and looking at the
other members of congress he said: we must
be- unanimous; there must be no pulling diff
fcrent ways; we must all hang together"
eyes" said Franklin, his eyes twinkling
with humor, I'VE must all hang together or
most assuredy we shall all hang separately"
At last the declaration of independence was
signed, and one Of the members went to the
door and whispered to the little lad who had
waited so patiently out in the hall
The boy fairly bounded up the staircase
and as he ran he called loudly, Ring Ring
Grandfather! Ring! Ring out for liberty"
The old man grasped the bell rope, and
soon the iron tongue was striking the great
bell, and its deep tones were heard peaing
out upon the air. Surely IT did proclaim
liberty throughout all the land, unto all the
inhabitants thereof And, as the little lad
had said, "truly now il was a liberty bell.