As with so many of the great carols, there is a fascinating story behind the well-known "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."

It was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an American poet and educator (1807 - 1882). Tragedy struck both the nation and the Longfellow family in 1861, a year that would change Henry's life. Confederate Gen. Pierre G. T. Beauregard fired the opening salvos of the American Civil War on April 12th and life would never be the same again.

On July 10th of that same year there was a fire at the Longfellow's house which took the life of Henry's beloved wife, Fanny. He himself was badly burnt in his unsuccessful attempt to save her and therefore was unable to even a)end her funeral.

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 eldest son Charles, a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac, had been severely wounded. The Christmas of 1863 was silent in Longfellow's journal. Finally, on Christmas Day of 1864, in the midst of his turmoil and pain Henry Longfellow wrote the words of the poem, which became the well-known carol "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day." In it he expressed total confidence in the ultimate justice, love and hope that is found in Jesus Christ alone.

May you, this Christmas, know this living Saviour who Himself is our Peace and our unlimited Hope.

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.

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.

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 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."

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!

Adapted from Tom Stewart's article "I heard the bells on Christmas Day".