I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

The story behind the Christmas Carol by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

In the summer of 1861, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s beloved wife, Fanny died tragically when her dress caught fire and she was fatally burned. That same year, the Civil War began. His son, Charles joined the army of the Potomac and Longfellow watched as his beloved country began to be destroyed. His son was sent to fight somewhere in the south and the fear for his son’s life was felt deeply.

Then, on December first of 1863 Longfellow received the dreaded telegram from the War Department. His son, Charles had been severely wounded in battle and was being transported to hospital facilities in Washington. Henry and his youngest son, Ernest traveled immediately to Washington wondering if he could survive the loss of this son so soon after the loss of his wife.

When they arrived in Washington they could not find anyone that knew which train Charles was on. He spent three days waiting and meeting trains in different towns around Washington, hoping to find him. Finally, he found a train with only a baggage car which had 16 wounded soldiers in it, sitting or lying on straw. Charles was one of those soldiers. He had been wounded in both shoulders with severe damage to his back. He had traveled three days on the train without having his wounds cared for and in terrible pain. Charles survived, but would feel the effects of the wound for the rest of his live.

So, on Christmas Day, 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow sat in his home in Massachusetts. He felt a sadness for his family and his country that had nearly driven him to despair. He began his poem:

I HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY,
THEIR OLD FAMILIAR CAROLS PLAY
AND WILD AND SWEET THE WORLDS REPEAT
OF PEACE ON EARTH GOOD WILL TO MEN.

I 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.

The Christmas Bells began to ring. All the joy they had could not lift the darkness that he felt on that day. He continued writing his poem, verses that do not appear in the carol:

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!

Then the well known carol continues::

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, for Longfellow, memories of past joys in his life came to his mind and heart. His son would live; and he remembered the love he had had for his wife and the love of family and friends. The bells continued ringing and he remembered that there was one man who suffered all and saved us from despair. He continued writing:

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!”

(Story researched by Omar Hansen, - BYU-Idaho)