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！”
