text: The bell became widely famous after an 1847 short story claimed that an aged bell-ringer rang it on July 4 , 1776 , upon hearing of the Second Continental Congress 's vote for independence .
simplified: The bell became widely famous after a short story in 1847 claimed that an old bell-ringer rang it on July 4 , 1776 , after hearing the Second Continental Congress 's vote for independence .