The Old Bell of Independence | Page 2

Lafayette's grand entry into the city, he
received, in the Hall of Independence, the veteran soldiers of the
Revolution who had come to the city, and those who were residents.
One by one these feeble old men came up and took the General by the
hand, and to each he had some reminiscence to recall, or some
congratulation to offer. Heroes of Brandy wine, Germantown, Trenton,
Princeton, Monmouth, and other fields, were there; some with scars to
show, and all much suffering to relate. The old patriotic fire was
kindled in their breasts, and beamed from their furrowed countenances,
as memory flew back to the time that proved their truth and love of
liberty. One had been under the command of the fiery Wayne, and
shared his dangers with a spirit as dauntless; another had served with
the cool and skilful Greene, and loved to recall some exploit in which
the Quaker general had displayed his genius; another had followed the
lead of Lafayette himself, when a mere youth, at Brandywine:
everything conspired to render this interview of the General and the
veteran soldiers as touching and as interesting as any recorded by
history, or invented by fiction.
After the reception of the veterans, one of them proposed to go up into
the belfry, and see the old bell which proclaimed liberty "to all the land,
and to all the nations thereof." Lafayette and a few others accompanied
the proposal by expressing a wish to see that interesting relic. With
great difficulty, some of the old men were conducted up to the belfry,
and there they beheld the bell still swinging. Lafayette was much

gratified at the sight, as it awakened his old enthusiasm to think of the
period when John Adams and his bold brother patriots dared to assert
the principles of civil liberty, and to proclaim the independence of their
country. Old John Harmar, one of the veteran soldiers who had been in
Philadelphia when the Declaration was proclaimed, and who again
shook hands with his old brothers in arms, gave vent to his thoughts
and feelings as he stood looking at the bell.
"Ah! that's the trumpet that told the Britishers a tale of vengeance! My
memory's not so bad but I can recollect the day that old bell was rung
for independence! This city presented a very different appearance in
those days. It was a small town. Every body was expectin' that the
king's troops would be comin' here soon, and would sack and burn the
place: but the largest number of us were patriots, and knew the king
was a tyrant; and so we didn't care much whether they came or not.
How the people did crowd around this State-House on the day the
Declaration was proclaimed! Bells were ringing all over town, and guns
were fired; but above 'em all could be heard the heavy, deep sound of
this old bell, that rang as if it meant something! Ah! them was great
times."
As old Harmar concluded these remarks, the old men standing near the
bell nodded approvingly, and some echoed, "Them was great times!" in
a tone which indicated that memory was endeavoring to conjure back
the time of which they spoke. They then slowly turned to descend.
Lafayette had preceded them with his few friends. "Stop!" said old
Harmar; "Wilson, Morton, Smith, and you, Higgins, my son wants you
to come home with me, and take dinner at his house. Come; I want to
have some chat with you over old doings. I may never see you again
after you leave Philadelphia."
The invitation, cordially given, was cordially accepted, and the party of
old friends descended the stairs, and, arriving at the door, were assisted
by the cheering crowd to get into their carriage, which then drove
towards the residence of old Harmar's son. At that place we shall
consider them as having arrived, and, after much welcoming,
introducing, and other preparatory ceremonies, as seated at a long,
well-supplied table, set in a large and pleasant dining-hall. Young
Harmar, his wife, and the four children, were also accommodated at the
same table, and a scene of conviviality and pleasure was presented such

as is not often witnessed. The old men were very communicative and
good-humored; and young Harmar and his family were free of
questions concerning the great scenes through which they had passed.
But we will let the company speak for themselves.

STORY OF GENERAL WASHINGTON.
"GRANDFATHER," said Thomas Jefferson Harmar, "won't you tell us
something about General Washington?"
"I could tell you many a thing about that man, my child," replied old
Harmar, "but I suppose people know everything concerning him by this
time. You see, these history writers go about hunting up every incident
relating to the war, now, and