{{{{{AW}}}}}}

This song has always been one of my favorite Christmas carols, and I've always been touched by the story behind it. It seems appropriate right now, AW, especially for you. I hope it helps at least a little to know that you aren't alone with your burdens, and that people all over the world care about what happens to Aussie, and to you. We uphold you both in prayer, and your family as well.

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 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.

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 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 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.


The Story Behind "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day"


by Tom Stewart
December 20, 2001

One of America's best known poets, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), contributed to the wealth of carols sung each Christmas season, when he composed the words to "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" on December 25th 1864. The carol was originally a poem, "Christmas Bells," containing seven stanzas. Two stanzas were omitted, which contained references to the American Civil War, thus giving us the carol in its present form. The poem gave birth to the carol, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," and the remaining five stanzas were slightly rearranged in 1872 by John Baptiste Calkin (1827-1905), who also gave us the memorable tune. When Longfellow penned the words to his poem, America was still months away from Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9th 1865; and, his poem reflected the prior years of the war's despair, while ending with a confident hope of triumphant peace.

As with any composition that touches the heart of the hearer, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" flowed from the experience of Longfellow-- involving the tragic death of his wife Fanny and the crippling injury of his son Charles from war wounds. Henry married Frances Appleton on July 13th 1843, and they settled down in the historic Craigie House overlooking the Charles River in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They were blessed with the birth of their first child, Charles, on June 9th 1844, and eventually, the Longfellow household numbered five children-- Charles, Ernest, Alice, Edith, and Allegra. Alice, the Longfellows' third child and first daughter, was delivered, while her mother was under the anesthetic influence of ether-- the first in North America.

Tragedy struck both the nation and the Longfellow family in 1861. Confederate Gen. Pierre G. T. Beauregard fired the opening salvos of the American Civil War on April 12th, and Fanny Longfellow was fatally burned in an accident in the library of Craigie House on July 10th. The day before the accident, Fanny Longfellow recorded in her journal: "We are all sighing for the good sea breeze instead of this stifling land one filled with dust. Poor Allegra is very droopy with heat, and Edie has to get her hair in a net to free her neck from the weight." After trimming some of seven year old Edith's beautiful curls, Fanny decided to preserve the clippings in sealing wax. Melting a bar of sealing wax with a candle, a few drops fell unnoticed upon her dress. The longed for sea breeze gusted through the window, igniting the light material of Fanny's dress-- immediately wrapping her in flames. In her attempt to protect Edith and Allegra, she ran to Henry's study in the next room, where Henry frantically attempted to extinguish the flames with a nearby, but undersized throw rug. Failing to stop the fire with the rug, he tried to smother the flames by throwing his arms around Frances-- severely burning his face, arms, and hands. Fanny Longfellow died the next morning. Too ill from his burns and grief, Henry did not attend her funeral. (Incidentally, the trademark full beard of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow arose from his inability to shave after this tragedy.)

The first Christmas after Fanny's death, Longfellow wrote, "How inexpressibly sad are all holidays." A year after the incident, he wrote, "I can make no record of these days. Better leave them wrapped in silence. Perhaps someday God will give me peace." Longfellow's journal entry for December 25th 1862 reads: "'A merry Christmas' say the children, but that is no more for me." Almost a year later, Longfellow received word that his oldest son Charles, a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac, had been severely wounded with a bullet passing under his shoulder blades and taking off one of the spinal processes. The Christmas of 1863 was silent in Longfellow's journal. Finally, on Christmas Day of 1864, he wrote the words of the poem, "Christmas Bells." The reelection of Abraham Lincoln or the possible end of the terrible war may have been the occasion for the poem. Lt. Charles Longfellow did not die that Christmas, but lived. So, contrary to popular belief, the occasion of writing that much loved Christmas carol was not due to Charles' death.

Longfellow's Christmas bells loudly proclaimed, "God is not dead." God's Truth, Power, and Justice are affirmed, when Longfellow wrote: "The wrong shall fail, the right prevail." The message that the Living God is a God of Peace is proclaimed in the close of the carol: "Of peace on Earth, good will to men." Merry Christmas! And, may the Prince of Peace grant you His peace!

Peace will one day triumph. God has promised it, and I affirm this fact to be the truth...that God is faithful.

t&l

I'm cheerleading a round of applause for Neaksis here, and the 2 of her kids who came to my house yesterday, cleaned my kitchen for me, and washed all the dirty dishes!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> What a treat THAT was.

I'd say more, bu e keyboard as jus sopped leing me ype lower ase 's, 's, and 's so wa more an I say? 's, oo, apparenly, bu T, H, C, and V work jus fine if apialized. How ery, ery odd, isn' i? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

&l

Hi tl & neak and all

many many thanks for your kind words and support. The poem is very good and when I read it the first thing I thought of was the CIVIL WAR - having watched it a number of times with Aussie - I bought him the series.
It has the special mix of sadness, strength and hope of the times.
I sometimes wonder if the times are not similar as far as the immediacy of the war is not with the general public unless we have a battle of some size or a disaster, or a large number of deaths. Maybe its good that its that way as well as it allows most to live their normal lives - its what all our men/boys want for us I guess.

We are all hoping the estimates are not accurate, however the lack of any word is not good. But what will be will be. But of course we worry.

We are not alone of course, other families and partners are also awaiting word and I cannot but think that Aussie realised what was coming and that was why he reminded me of all the paperwork and things just in case.
Its not happy to think of such eventualities but it made him feel better I think. I have faith he will come home as most of our boys shall.

Its just that I feel so helpless to do anything. Its beyond our or my ability to control or change in any way. Of course most wives & parents feel the same way too.
To be totally frank, as I understand more of myself and what happened over the last few years I realise I have so much that I may loose and I'm simply frightened of that.
But I guess thats a good sign isn't it? If I didn't feel that way I would be really bonkers!
........................................................

While neaksis + 2 should get great applause - in fact a few jelly babies wouldn't go astray <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> - I am happy to let her come here and clean my kitchen anytime!!
In fact she can do the whole house if she feels a bit of a need for something to do. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I need cupbaord space <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

So many fetal demises lately. What on earth is going on? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> This latest one was 39 wks. along when it died. Happy New Year to them.

I know how I got to be the dead baby queen. I just don't like it. Back when I first started working at my hospital (in 1991), "memory" photos of the dead baby were taken with the infant lying naked on a stainless steel table, sprawled out willy-nilly like some kind of biology specimen, or someone headed for an unfortunate date with the coroner. I HATED those pictures, that the only mementos these folks would have of their lost child would be so ugly, and started taking them with a backdrop, and the babies posed in natural sleeping positions, etc. It just got to the point where people said, "Get Susan to take your pictures. She does such a nice job," which is really a good way to get someone else to do what you don't want to do yourself.

Since Dillon, it's much harder to do this, but that whole mental distance I talked about makes it possible...most of the time. Today it worked right up till the Grandma, who had stood watching me do the prints (and to whom I had earlier talked about Dillon and what they could expect over the next while), said, "I want to be strong like you <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />, but it just comes over me in waves." So then we all stood in the hallway and cried together.

I'd go home to my mother, but she's dead, too. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

t&l

(((((AW)))))

(((((T&L)))))

tl

come here & join me & cinders in the group hug and a healthy cry.
Nothing wrong in crying every now & then.

BIG hugs sweet lady [[[[[tl]]]]] & you with a big heart [[[[[cinders]]]]]

Easier to say 'distance' then keep it. I could not for long I think. But tl you ease the grief of the unbearable to many mothers ... God will remember the pain it causes you and give you the strength you need.

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

T&L - I know how hard it must be for you, but am so happy that you are doing it. I have NOTHING as a reminder of my first child. They wouldn't even tell me if it was a boy or girl.

My mom lost a full term baby when I was twelve. It died 3 weeks before delivery. I have never seen the complete report - and don't need to - but the baby had lots of physical problems. 16 years later, my dad died. My mom was about 59 at the time - she would have had a 15 or 16 year old handicapped child, two married daughters and no one at home to help her meet her son's needs. I was really mad at God during those years - until I heard about the problems the baby had. In reality, the baby had perfect healing though he didn't have it here.

Yeah, I think we could use a good cry. And a girls night - complete w/ pedicures and chocolate.

Sounds great.

I just found out night before last that my (common-law) SIL is pregnant again. Bad enough, yes, but her first two are the sort of sad little children that go around with snotty noses and dirty diapers. Maybe not as bad as some, but not what they should be, either.

Maybe she would let us adopt the new one, but probably no such luck.

Not too much else can be said about it that should be said.

Double chocolate for me.

On the rocks.

So, mocha frapaccino w/ extra shot of chocolate for Neak.

When I was talking to the paternal grandparents before the baby was born, and telling them what we would do about footprints, pictures, etc., the grandpa was very surprised. "You mean you're going to let her hold him? You're going to take pictures?" I was just explaining why we did the pictures, even for people who think they'll never plan to see them (because by the time they change their minds 6 months later it's too late to provide them with what they want and need), when the mama decided to deliver in the middle of her epidural <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />; but when the footprints and pictures were over and the baby was dressed and wrapped in the little blue blanket his mama had brought to the hospital for him, it was Grandpa who wanted to hold him in his arms for awhile.

I'm so sorry that you lost your baby, especially in a time when so little consideration was given to the bereaved mother. What a nice surprise you'll get on the day Jesus comes, when an angel comes to you with a wiggly, lively bundle, and says, "Congratulations! It's a girl." Or boy. I suppose we have to consider THAT possibility, too! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

t&l

T&L -
At the time - 25 years ago, that is just the way things were. I know that you realize how important your contribution is. Like they say, I'm sure if they had known better then, they would have done better.
Anyway, I have grieved and "gotten over" it. I do feel very blessed to have two wonderful sons and 6 remarkable step children.

B

do you ever really 'get over it' ??

It seems as if I shall never do so.

I do agree I am so blessed for my having my 4 kids and that 3 are still with us. And yes they fill my life with joy as well.

But

When does it get better I wonder? I wish I knew.

I belonged to a group once - a smocking group. we made shirts for neonatal intensive care unit and some fancier garments for the hospital's bereavement group. And bonnets too. Some in premie sizes and some in larger sizes.

Grandpa & AJ got haircuts together.

AJ finds himself wondering if Grandpa told the lady, "I'll have whatever he's having.

Please tell me your grandpa didn't get a buzz cut, too! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

t&l

P.S. I know why I'm awake. What's your excuse? You're gonna be sorry when the Dervish rises to greet the dawn. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

I'm going to copy this and drag it over to the feminine hygiene products aisle, too, since Carnation's question and thread provided a very funny moment for us this morning.

After I posted to you the first time, I needed to get to bed because it was long past my bedtime, so I called Neak on the phone so she could post also. She's got two phone lines. One of them has a lot of static, so when I called on that one she said she'd call me right back on the other line.

When the phone rang, I picked it up, but I couldn't clearly hear what the other person said. However, I jumped right in to my part of the conversation--like I said, I was in a hurry to get to sleep--and told her, "I want you to go on MB and post to 'I have a very serious question about sex', and I want you to answer it." Oddly enough, after I said that, it was very quiet on the other end of the line for 10 seconds or so. Then I heard Neak say, "Hello?"

I was confused. "Did you hear anything I said?"

"No," she replied, "you were talking to Mr. Computer." (her son, who is 8 years old.)

"Hm-m-m-m," I told her. "Ask him what I said."

"Mr. Computer, what did Noah say to you?" Neak asked.

In the background, I heard this little voice say, "She said, 'I have a very serious question I want you to answer.'"

Woopsie-daisy. "Ah, ask him what the question was about?"

"Mr. Computer, what was Noah's question about?"

Smaller voice..." <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> sex <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />."

Neak..."Well, that would explain why he came galloping in here so quickly and gave the phone to me so fast." <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I guess so. For some reason, it's apparently shocking to the average 8-year old boy to have your grandma consult you for advice on a serious question about sex!!! Let's hope he's not scarred for life! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

t&l