Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-04-01
independence Bell
A POEM THAT HAS BEEN READ
FOR YEARs-WoRTH READING
AGAlN--WHo WROTE IT7

entail Congress it was determined te
announce the event by ringing the old
state house bell. which bore the in
scription, Proclaim liberty to the
land; to all inhabitants thereof" and
the old bellman posted his grandson at
the door of the hall to await the in
structton of the doorkeeper when to
ring. At the word that the document
had been signed the little patriot scion
rushed out and flinging up his hands
shouted, ring! Ring! Ring!")
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 earnestness of speech
AS the bleak Atlantic currents
Lash the wild Newfoundland shore,
So they beat against the State House.
So they surged against the door;
And the mingling of their voices
Made harmony profound,
Till the quiet street of chestnuts
Was all turbulent with sound,
will they do it?" Dare they do 1t r'-
who is speaking ?"-"whats the
news?"
What of Adams ?"-"What of Sher-
man?"--
"Oh! God grant they won't refuse ?"
Make some way there!"-"Let me
nearer!"
IT am stifling!"-"Stifle. then.
When nations lifes at hazard
We've no time to- think of men!"
So they beat against the portal,
Men and women, 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 behind the soul in freedom
All unconquered, rise again.
So they surged against the State
House,
While. all solemnly inside,
Sat the Continental Congress-"
Truth and reason for their guide,
Ger simple scrool debating
Which, though simple it might be
Yet should shake the cliffs of Eng
land
With the thunders of the free.
At the portal of the State House,
Like some beacon In a storm,
Round which waves are wildly beating,
stood boyish, slender form;
with his eyes fixed on the steeple
And his ears agape with greed
To catch the first announcement
OF the signing of the deed.
Aloft, in that high steeple,
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 clapper of the bell,
When his eye should catch the signal,
The happy news to tell.
See! see! The dense crowd quivers
Through all its lengthy line,
AS the BOY beside the portal
Loolss forth to give the sign!
With his small hands upward lifted,
Breezes dallying with his hair,
Hark! with deep, clear information,
Breaks his young voice on the air.
flushed the peoples swelling murmur, |
List the boys strong, joyous cry:
ring" he shouted, 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 bonfires and the torches
1llumined 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 lives-forever young,
And while we greet the sunlight
On the Fourth of each July,
Well ne'er forget the bellman,
Who, 'twixt the earth and sky,
Rung out Our Independence;
Which, please God, shall never die.
9$%
WAR VIEWS /