Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-06-28
BELL

+, N"heh II was certain that She dec
of Independence woul he an
nounced by congress-. il WAS resolved
To announce the event 10y ringing the
old s~tatehousr bell. which bore the in
"froclaim liberty To the
land, TO all the inhabitants thereof
The old bellman. accordingly. placed
his little son at the door of the hall,
to await the instruction of the door
when To ring: and. When the
word Was given. the little patriot-scion
rushed out and. %flinging up his hands,
shouted aloud, Ring. Ring. Ring.")
There WAS ,umult i'm the city.
In the quaint old QUaker's town.
And the streets We're rife with people,
Pacing restless up II down.
People gathering at corners.
Where they whispered each to each.
And the sweat stood on their temples.
With h earneStneSS of speech.
AS the bleak Atlantic currents
Lash the wild Newfoundland shore.
So they beat against the statehouse.
SO they Surged against the door.
the minsling of their voices
Made a harmony profound.
Till the quiet street of Chestnut
Was all turbulent with sound.
Will they do it, Dare they do it"
who is speaking"' whats the
news"
what of .Ada,ns?." What of Sher-
man"
oh. God grant they wont %rcfuse""
Make some Way there. Let me
nearer"
II ann stifiing," "Slitle. then.
When a nations life'S "A hazard.
We've no time to think of mem"
So they beat against the portal.
Man and woman. maid and child:
And 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,
Now beheld the soul of freedom
All u%nconQuer'd rise again.
See! See. The dense crowd quivers
Through all it lengthy line,
AS the boy beside the portal
Looks forth to give the sian!
With his small hands upward lifted.
Breezes dallyins with his hair,
Hank! with deep, clear ~intOnation.
Breaks his young voice on the air.
Hush'd the peoples swelling murnaur,
List the boys strong. joyous cry!
''Ring!' he shouts, Ring! GRANDPA.
Ring! oh, ring for liberty!'
And straightway, at the signal,
The old bellman lifts his hand.
And sends the good news. making
Iron music through the land.
How they shouted! What rejoicing,
How the old bell shook the air,
Till the clang of freedom ruffled
The calm. gliding Delaware!
How the bontires and the torches
Illumed the nights epose.
And from the flames, like Phoenix.
Fair Liberty arose!
That old bell low is silent.
And hush'd it's iron tongue,
But the snirit it awakened
Still iVeS,-foreVer young.
And while we greet the sunlight,
On the fourth of each July.
Well ne'er forget the bellman.
Who, twiNt the earth and Sky,
Rung out u independence:
Which, please God, shah never die,
STAND By THE FLAG.
Stand by the flag! on land and ocean
BY it your fathers stood, unmoved
and true:
Living, defended: lying, from their
pillow,
With their last blessing, passed it on
to you.
Inc 1neS lnat divide us IRE written In
water.
The love that unites us is cut deep as
rock.
Thus by friendships ties united.
We will change the bloody east
Into golden links of union.
Blending all in love at last.
Thus beneath the one broad banner,
Flag of the frr1o tho h,.oya tho <rao
We will build anew the Union,
Fortress OF our Liberty.
FREEDOMS STANDARD
God bless our Star-gemmed banner:
Shake it's folds but to the breeze;