Four Bells
When it comes to bells, a few things come readily to mind. Growing up in the city, we always had door bells, and a couple were rather musical. Our Stevens Avenue and Coyle Stret bells were both melodious in their sounds. Certainly the large rooms at 27 Coyle sent echoes ringing throughout the house. I could even hear the ringing way up on the third floor. Out here in the country, there ain't no such thing as a doorbell. Heck, we don't even have a knocker. Well, to be perfectly honest, we have one that's never been hung. I see no need, really. Visitors out here are few and far between, as they say. Now, if I was Navy man I'd know all about bells. They marked a seaman's watch time. Each bell represented a 30 minute watch time. So four bells would mark 2 hours. I think I have that right. Here's something I know I have right. Hemingway's novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls was a memorable book for me and certainly a prominent placard of my high school's Junior year.
By the way, it 'tolls for thee".
You certainly covered a lot of topics today! The power of literature. . .after all these years. Hoorah for readers, teachers, and writers!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't lived in a house with a door bell in ages but, I do remember them growing up.
ReplyDeleteMy doorbell hasn't worked in years and I have to admit I don't miss it.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Some of your history, some US history, & some literature, a nice way to start the day. And Poe's The Bells poem is one I always liked...
ReplyDeleteTo the tintinnabulation that so musically wells
From the bells, bells, bells, bells,
Bells, bells, bells -
From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells.
The doorbell at my house is unreliable. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I've never been sure why. So I ignore it. :-)
ReplyDeleteI do have a doorbell, I need a doorbell it's like Grand Central Station around here sometimes :)
ReplyDeletep.s. Loved For Whom the Bell Tolls also.
I see 8 bells there....
ReplyDeleteno door bell. no knocker. and if someone knocks, that means they've gotten past the locked gate. dogs - 'sic 'em!'
ReplyDeleteI hung a cowbell by the front door. My friends loved it; they loved it too much. They wouldn't signal their arrival with one bell, they'd just keep ringing the damn thing for the 15 seconds or whatever it took for me to answer the door. The bell had to go.
ReplyDeleteWell, I just answered my doorbell, as it just so happens. Hmmm. I think I'll reread For Whom the Bell Tolls.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, didn't know any of that!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have doorbells at my place; if you've got a visitor, they knock at the flat door.
ReplyDeleteWell, you've made up for your lack of a doorbell here!
ReplyDeleteWe've got a doorbell out here in the country and what we've found is that people rarely use it; everyone knocks.
Wow, that is a lot of bell business.
ReplyDeleteWonderful shot.
ReplyDeleteBells, and Chimes. Love'em
ReplyDeleteI hope the bell isn't tolling for me yet! Love this shot and your story. It's always a pleasure to visit your blog.
ReplyDeletei really don't need a doorbell, ozzy lets me know when someone is over!
ReplyDelete