[2] GN vol. 19, no. 12, 1 December 1928

Christmas Bells.

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CHRISTMAS BELLS, ye ring and ring! I hear your music pealing.

To me there's mockery in the tones that on the air are stealing.

For peace is but an empty name; good will—ah, who can find it?

For selfish greed stalks through the earth and misery walks behind it.

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O Christmas Bells! what other sounds now fill the earth with sighing!

The earth brings forth enough for all, yet men for bread are crying.

Though they are given Christmas cheer, and told to banish sorrow,

Their mournful eyes behold with fear the spectre of to-morrow.

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And round the world is heard the sound of busy hammers ringing;

And hands are moulding guns for war while lips of peace are singing.

Gigantic vessels sail the seas with weapons forged for killing;

And hearts that should with love o'erflow, hate's vengeful tide is filling.

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O bells the curse is over all, and Adam's children languish;

For back at Eden's gate began six thousand years of anguish.

God's wrath has rested on the race; its marks are all about us.

Go search throughout the whole wide earth, and see what sin has brought us!

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On every side disease holds sway; hear now the captive's moaning.

The curse of sin is on the race, the whole creation's groaning.

Vice, crime, and evil prey on man; and death fills up the measure.

The bells toll o'er ten billion graves. How can they tell of pleasure?

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Peal out, peal out the heavenly joys that breathe a glad to-morrow;

Ring out the message God has given—how He will banish sorrow.

Tell earth the song the angels sang full soon will have fulfilling;

That God shall give eternal joy to every soul that's willing.

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Tell out, O bells, their long-lost dead shall rise from Death's dark prison!

Tell them the earth will be renewed because the Lord is risen!

He holds the keys of death and hell; His powers shall wake the sleeping,

And raise them up to perfect life, and end earth's night of weeping.