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<h3><SPAN name="chap242"></SPAN>CHRISTMAS BELLS</h3>
<p>
I heard the bells on Christmas Day<br/>
Their old, familiar carols play,<br/>
And wild and sweet<br/>
The words repeat<br/>
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!<br/></p>
<p>
And thought how, as the day had come,<br/>
The belfries of all Christendom<br/>
Had rolled along<br/>
The unbroken song<br/>
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!<br/></p>
<p>
Till, ringing, singing on its way,<br/>
The world revolved from night to day,<br/>
A voice, a chime,<br/>
A chant sublime<br/>
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!<br/></p>
<p>
Then from each black, accursed mouth<br/>
The cannon thundered in the South,<br/>
And with the sound<br/>
The carols drowned<br/>
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!<br/></p>
<p>
It was as if an earthquake rent<br/>
The hearth-stones of a continent,<br/>
And made forlorn<br/>
The households born<br/>
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!<br/></p>
<p>
And in despair I bowed my head;<br/>
"There is no peace on earth," I said:<br/>
"For hate is strong,<br/>
And mocks the song<br/>
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"<br/></p>
<p>
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:<br/>
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!<br/>
The Wrong shall fail,<br/>
The Right prevail,<br/>
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"<br/></p>
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