B IS FOR BELLS

Bells have long been used for celebrating. This is especially true at Christmas. Church bells ring to herald the birth of Jesus and in the secular celebration, Santa's reindeer wear collars with bells. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on Christmas Day in 1863 had news that his son had been injured in the Battle of New Hope Church (in Virginia). This was during the American Civil War. He wrote the poem "Christmas Bells". You will recognize the first verse as the carol "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" Here is a segment of the poem:
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 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.'

Many artists have sung this song. On a CD called 123 Favorite Christmas songs you can hear this one as well as Carol of The Bells.