Chapters 12 and 13 Summary

Buxton's Liberty Bell was a gift from Philadelphia. The bell is part of a special ritual that takes place when newly free runaways reach the town. The bell is rung twenty times for each person, and each one climbs the steeple and places their left hand on the bell. When the bell rings, everyone in the settlement stops what they are doing and comes to the schoolhouse to welcome the newcomers, and to decide who will help them with what. Elijah's father delivers his standard speech to the new family, assuring them that this is the m most beautiful day ever, now that they have reached freedom.

Before stuffing their ears with cotton, Cooter and Elijah calculate that the bell needs to be rung one hundred times, twenty for each runaway. The new family is named Taylor, Liza being the wife...