The Day the Bells Rang
July 4th 1776
During the day, the streets of Philadelphia
were crowded with people anxious to learn
the decision.
In the steeple of the old State House was a
bell on which, by a happy coincidence, was
inscribed, "Proclaim liberty throughout all
the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."
In the morning, when Congress assembled,
the bell-ringer went to his post, having placed
his boy below to announce when the Declaration was adopted, that his bell might be the
first to peal forth the glad tidings.
Long he waited, while the deliberations
went on. Impatiently the old man shook his
head and repeated, "They will never do it!
They will never do it!"
Suddenly he heard his boy clapping his
hands and shouting, "Ring! Ring!"
Grasping the iron tongue, he swung it to
and fro, proclaiming the glad news of liberty
to all the land.
The crowded streets caught up the sound.
Every steeple re-echoed it.
All that night, by shouts, and illuminations,
and booming of cannon, the people declared
their joy.
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