Christmas Chimes

Sweetly through the night, comes the distant chime of bells,
Hark, and hear the story that their joyous pealing tells;
Like the song of angels, to us mortals given,
Comes the silver music, sounding through the star-crowned Heav'n.


List! The happy music makes all nature sound,
Hear the answering hill-tops in echo sweet resound;
'Tis of One they sing, One of lowly birth,
Who left a crown of glory, and came to sinful earth.


Now they tell the tale of shepherds from afar,
Watching through the dark night to see the glittering star;
Now they tell the story, of the wondrous love
Of Him, who lived and suffered, the Great King above.


Chime, ye bells of Heav'n, o'er the sleeping earth,
Let your tongues sing out the story of the heavenly birth;
Chime throughout the long night, nor cease your joyful lay,
Chime until the awaking of the glorious day.

Christmas Chimes
A Fictional Short Story by
Agnes Taylor Ketchum & Ida M. Jorgensen