C. Russell Christian (c.1861-1889) was a well known regional poet born in Logan County, WV. A son of B. and E. (White) Christian, he married Marian Trent, fathered at least one son (Carl), and died of typhoid fever at Kirbyville in Wyoming County, WV. He is buried in Oceana, WV.

LIBERTY BELL.

The aged bell-man sat aloft,

Revolving in his soul full oft

The varied fortunes of the band

Warring for his native land.

While in the rugged hall of State

The new-born Congress proudly sate

Advising in the face of Death

Freedom or the open heath.

Ev’n as the Sun with kindling light

Dispels the horrid dark of Night,

So Freedom when her time had come

Claimed her own Columbian home.

The great assembly gave the word

That broke the reign of George the Third;

And thousand Ages paled before

Sights they had not seen of yore.

And friendly gods beheld the sight

Of Freedom’s Eagle bathed in light;

“Ring! ring!” the small boy shouted forth;

The grand evangel shook the earth!

And shouts of Freedom broke upon

Yankee snows and Dixie’s sun.

And voices cried from out the Past,

“Ye shall have reward at last!”

Source: The Logan Banner, 13 May 1927.