Bells at Christmastide.
Ring, blesséd bells, re-syllable the story1
Dear to all children—we are such to-day ;2
Tell how the Christ-child changed for gloom His glory,3
Came and, most homeless, in a rude crib lay.4
Clash out the anguish of Earth’s troubled peoples,5
Doubt and despair in all the jar be rife ;6
Meet such a prelude from the sounding steeples—7
Long night prevail’d before the Lord of Life.8
Then, out of wrong, let right rise clearer, clearer ;9
Dear silver mouths, your rapture on us rain !10
Till to Earth’s homes the Heaven of Heavens draw nearer ;11
All feel the Peace and gracious pause to pain.12
Ring on ! Ring on ! The story by your telling13
Wins on the heart, as doth that far first year ;14
Doubt dies away, again the Child is dwelling,15
Dwelling with men to bring the Father near.16