THE LAY OF THE BELL

ANONYMOUS

Harvard Advocate, 1867

For may years in this high place,
'Mid wind and rain I've hung,
And gained renown for eloquence
By holding fast my tongue.
But now my yoke of servitude
Is growing hard to wear;
Although my yoke, I doubt not, has
A greater weight to bear.

I serve a very cruel man,
Who rings me from below;

From him I cannot wring a tear

Of pity for my woe.

He comes to me when first he wakes
And turns me upside down.
Then swings me round so very hard
I fear he'll crack my crown.

Although 'tis hard to suffer so
I like to see my power;
For all the world comes trooping forth
When I proclaim the hour.

When first I ring at early morn.

"Tis true that no one cares;

But when I call the second time,
They all rush out to prayers.

O ye who, when the weather's cold,
Can hardly see the fun

Of getting up while still 'tis dark,
To take a little run.

Pray pity my hard lot, and think
How very cold you'd feel
If 'stead of dressing when you rose,
You had to rise and peal.

My duty is to tell the hour;

And, though I'm brassy bold,
I never dare to speak aloud
Unless I first am tolled.

Each hour I call the trembling souls
To what they so much dread,
And mournfully bewail the fate

Of those already dead.

I've heard that wicked men sometimes
Were broken on the wheel;
And though I am not broken yet,
I know just how they feel.
I cannot see what I have done
That they have tied me fast;
So. patiently, I'll wait the time
When I shall ring my last.

Chapter XVI

THE MOSCOW BELL

Russia is famous for having the greatest bells in the world. The largest of all is at Moscow, and is called the Czar Kolohol, or the King of Bells. It is 21 feet high, 63 feet in circumference, 23 feet in diameter, 2 feet in thickness, and it is estimated to weigh nearly 200 tons, or approximately 500,000 pounds. It was cast in 1733, by order of the Empress Anne, but it has never been rung, for, to the great disappointment of the Russian people, it was broken in casting in the pit near St. Ivan's Church, in the tower of which it was expected to be hung. In moulding, casting, and precautions for shrinkage, the bellfounders lacked the necessary experience, and it is evident the bell broke by shrinkage. Such a bell would require at least a month to cool but this one was not allowed a week. It is also said that water fell on it, so that a piece of about eleven tons was broken off. The bell lay in the pit a hundred years, reverenced by the natives, who were jealous of its being touched or measured by foreigners. In 1836 the Czar Nicholas had it raised with much difficulty and expense. The first engineers were unsuccessful in their efforts,

and were sent to work in the mines of Siberia as a punishment for their failure. The board of admiralty finally succeeded in the Herculean task of placing it on the ground where it now stands, and where it is used as a chapel.

Much silver and gold entered into its composition, with the idea of improving its tone, which, with the other metals, probably amount to $332,000, all uncirculating and dead money. If the bell could ever have been rung, its excellent proportions indicate a fine quality of sound, and if it could be recast it would doubtless be a great

success.

Chapter XVII

ROLLICKING BELLS

UPON CHRIST CHURCH BELLS, OXFORD

DEAN HENRY ALDRICH

Oh the bonny Christ Church bells!

One! two! three! four! five! six!

They sound so woundy great, so wondrous sweet And they toll so merrily! merrily!

O the First and Second Bell,

That every day at four and ten cry
Come, come, come, come to prayers!
And the verger troops before the dean,
Tinkle, tinkle! ting! goes the small bell
At nine, to call the Beerers home;
But the devil a man will leave his can,
Till he hears the mighty Tom.

I AM A FRIAR OF ORDERS GRAY

I am a friar of orders gray,

And down in the valleys I take my way;

I pull not blackberry, haw, or hip
Good store of venison fills my scrip;
My long bead roll I merrily chant;
Where'er I walk no money I want;