41 CHRISTMAS BELLS

By H．W．Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old，familiar carols play，

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth，good-will to men！

And thought how，as the day had come，

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth，good-will to men！

Till，ringing，singing on its way，

The world revolved from night to day，

A voice，a chime，

A chant sublime

Of peace on earth，good-will to men！

Then from each black，accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South，

And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth，good-will to men！

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent，

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on earth，good-will to men！

And in despair I bowed my head；

“There is no peace on earth，”I said：

“For hate is strong，

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth，good-will to men！”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep：

“God is not dead；nor doth he sleep！

The Wrong shall fail，

The Right prevail，

With peace on earth，good-will to men！”