FIRST YEARS OF SUCCESS. 143 



blaze it abroad with trumpet and shouting; 

 it was not carried to the topmost pinnacle of 

 the mountain, in sight of all the kingdoms of 

 the earth. They were contented with the 

 result of their labour, and cared little where 

 it was placed, or who saw it; and so it is that 

 some of the finest-toned bells in the world are 

 at this moment to be found in village churches, 

 and for so local a fame the maker worked as 

 truly, and in as careful a manner, as if he had 

 known his bell was to be hung in St. Peter's 

 at Rome. This was the true spirit of art. Yet 

 it is not altogether pleasant to contemplate 

 this bell; the mind cannot but reflect upon 

 the length of time it has survived those to 

 whose joys or sorrows it has lent a passing 

 utterance, and who are now dust in the yard 

 beneath. 



" ' For full five hundred years I've swung 



In my old gray turret high, 

 And many a changing theme I've sung 

 As the time went stealing by.' 



Even the ' old gray turret ' shows more 

 signs of age and of decay than the bell, for it 

 is strengthened with iron clamps and rods to 



