Simplify the following text for a Grade 5 native English-speaking person.
Original: The short story depicted an aged bellman on July 4 , 1776 , sitting morosely by the bell , fearing that Congress would not have the courage to declare independence .
Simplified: The short story was about an old man on July 4 , 1776 . It described how he was sitting sadly by the bell , afraid that Congress would not be able to declare independence .