Australian Tales - Setis

Two Noisy Boys in a Belfry.
AN old gentleman, whose varied experience has furnished me with
many subjects for my pen, has supplied me with the following authentic
incident, which I narrate for the special advantage of my youthful
readers. Of course, adults can read my narrative, if they are inclined; but
I trust they will kindly bear in mind that it is written to please and
instruct young minds.
“When I was a boy, which is a good many years ago, Mr. Boomerang,”
said my venerable friend, who was reclining in an old arm-chair in my
study. “When I was a curly-headed little boy, nine or ten years of age, I
went one Sunday afternoon, as usual, to our village church, in company
with my brother, who was about two years younger than myself. The
church was a moderate-size building, and was graced with a small bell
tower, surmounted by a conical spire, like the extinguisher of a kitchen
candlestick.
“On that afternoon, my brother and I seated ourselves in one of the
galleries, instead of our accustomed place in the lower part of the church.
Soon our attention was attracted to an open doorway, into a narrow space
behind the organ, where a tall youth was pulling a bell-rope with great
vigour, and with an evident sense of the importance of his work.
Instantly I conceived a strong desire to have a pull at the bell — for I had
never tested my skill in that kind of music. Upon communicating my
longings to my brother, I found that he was anxious for a pull too; so we
left our pew, and introduced ourselves — in boys' unceremonious
style — to the youthful bellringer, who condescendingly allowed each of
us to have a pull at his bell for a few minutes; but finding that we did not
keep correct time with our ding-dong, and fearing that he might get into
disrepute through our imperfect tolling, he declined our eager offers of
further assistance at the rope, but consented to our going aloft to see the
bell at work. Accordingly we ascended a dusty ladder, which led to a
square wooden turret, just above the roof of the church, where a large
bell hung on an oaken frame, with a wheel at one end of the axle, and a
rope attached thereto, the end of which was in the hands of the lad below,
who was apparently using extra exertions just then to astonish us — for
the bell was in full swing, or ‘sallee,’ and shook the steeple so much that
we could scarcely stand without holding to the bell-frame or to the bars
of the windows.