50 FLORIDA DAYS.

 which meant another king's death; it has rung
 for birth and burial, for famine and plenty.
 And then, the rope dropping into a careless
 coil from the ringer's hand, it has thrilled and
 sung with wonderful unseen vibration, telling
 over to itself, perhaps, its own thoughts. There
 is something about this sibilant whisper of a
 bell, after it has done man's bidding and he
 has left it, which is as though it spoke its
 own mind in silent laughter at his little joys
 or griefs.
 The Plaza and the market-place nd have
 often answered its call for this thing or for that.
 No doubt it summoned the loyal subjects of
 King George to burn Hancock and Jefferson in
 effigy just as loudly as it has called for flags
 and music each fourth morning in July ever
since. It has watched the people coming out
from early Mass to their day's work in the
Market, to chatter and cheat, the more com-
fortably, perhaps, because prayers have been
duly said; and from its perch beneath the
golden cross, it has seen the soldiers manceu-
vring in the Plaza, sometimes with all the re-