The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-12-22
CHRIsTM BELLS.
nv q. NORMAN eUssrsoN.

nv a. NORMAN eUSSIsoN.
The christmAs-bells ring loud and clear
Above the hills and valleys,
And bring their tidings Of good cheer
To narrow streets and alleys.
Ring. happy bells Your joyous chimes
With merry voices mingle,
And bring the happy times again
With laughter OF Kris Kringle.
To happy hearts your strokes beat time,
And happy roof and rafter
Shan echo back your joyous chime,
With music, mirth and laughter.
The CHRIST is born-is born again
Angels take up the chorus;
And back from Bethlehem's starry plain
The anthem rises DER us.
with "Peace on earth, good will to men,"
The dome OF heaven Is ringing:
The weary centuries again
Take up the voice of singing.
n echoes down the coming time,
IL rings through earth's vast arches,
"Peace, peace on earth !" the ceaseless chime
Adown the future marches.
The worlds millennial is near,
And with the New Year dawning
A nation's heart shall welcome here
It's grand Centennial morning.
The Christ has come OChristmas-bells
Ring louder still and clearerl
For. a. your echoing music swells,
The voice Of Peace grows dearer.
We hear along the bygone years,
Above Times moaning surges,
The voice OF war, a voice Of tears
Our Christmas-chimes were dirges.
And now, thank God no echo comes
Above our peaceful banners
The sound of marching men and drums
Is smothered In hozannas.
"Hozanna In the highest 2" still
Above the land IL sweeping,
Where late, ON wooded plain and hill,
Was heard the voice of weeping;
We hear no tramp Of marching feet
Instead, peaceful grooming;
Our cannon into plowshares beat,
Our swords TO hooks for pruning.
And therefore, at this Christmas-time,
This time of our Thanksgiving,
Ring out ring out loving chime;
Goodwill toward all the living,
For Europe stretches forth her hand,
The broad Atlantic under,
To fix between our hearts band
Nor time nor space can sunder'
She cones on our Centennial day
To join in our rejoicing.
The hate of years will melt away
Beneath that happy yoicing.
The thrones of Europe, grown enete,
Will feel around, above us,
The pulse which beats with freedoms beat,
And learn to trust and love us.
The happy days Christ's coming told
With better men and truer-
Rounds in this century of gold,
Peace-crowned, and brighter, newer.
The Christmas-bells above our folds
Their kindly watch are keeping,
Each heart within it's cradle holds
The Babe of Bethlehem sleeping.
And therefore, bells, o Christmas bells!
In waves harmonious breaking,
Peel out "good will"-your music tells
Nor fear the Christ-childs waking;
For as the Magi by His bed
With gifts for His possessing,
Waited. the century waits instead
To feel the Christ-child's blessing.
The lamb and lion in this land
Lie'down-one God shall feed them:
And, reaching forth his nail-pierced hand,
IA Little Child shall lead them"
The worlds millennial day is here
1t comes this Christmas morning;
Ii heralds the Centennial year
Peace nestles in its dawning
Once more DER Bethlehems starry plain
Angels their way are winging;
Behold! The Christ is born again!
The world takes up the singing.
Beneath the branches of the tree
Earth's happy people miugle,
Aud manly voice and childish glee
welcome anew Kris Kringle.