Nathaniel Hawthorne 
A Bell’s Biography 

This essay by Nathaniel Hawthorne tells the intriguing story of a church bell with a fascinating history. The bell was originally crafted in France and intended for use in a Romish place of worship, but it eventually ended up in the possession of Jesuits in America who were converting Native Americans to Catholicism. A group of rangers attacked the chapel and took the bell, hoping to use it in a church in New England. However, they were intercepted by an Indian war party, and the bell eventually fell into the hands of British soldiers toward the end of the French and Indian War. The bell was sold and hung in Salem, where it remained for years, signaling important events. While the essay is short and not widely read, it provides a unique and engaging glimpse into the complex religious and political history of colonial America.