LEROYPENNYSAVER&NEWS -DECEMBER 6, 2015
TheWrongwill Fail,TheRight Prevail,
WithPeace onEarth,GoodWill toMen
byLynneBelluscio
While doing research
for the Christmas Can-
dlelight Tours at LeRoy
House I was looking for
some poems from the
1860s that the Ingham
students could read, and
I came across the words
to the Christmas carol,
“I Heard the Bells on
Christmas Day.” It was
written by Henry Wad-
sworth Longfellow who
was popular with the In-
gham students. While
at Ingham, Ida Taylor,
painted“TheCourtshipof
Miles Standish” another
popularpoembyLongfel-
low.Andalthough there is
no record of the students
reciting the Christmas
poem, it certainly is feasi-
ble.Thepoemwaswritten
on Christmas day in 1864 and
was published two years later. It
wasn’t until 1872 that it was put
tomusic, andat somepointverses
four and five were omitted and
that story is very interesting.
Longfellowwas an outspoken
abolitionist and when the Civil
War broke out, his oldest son
joined the Union army without
his father’s permission and sub-
sequentlywasseverelywounded.
Longfellow was a tragic figure.
His first wife had died during a
miscarriage. His second wife,
diedwhenherclothescaughtfire.
Henry,was burned trying to save
her andwore a beard for the rest
of his life to hide the scars.
Thedeathofhiswife, the fateof
his son and theuncertaintyof the
warweighedheavilyon thepoet,
and from thedepthsofdepression
he penned this poem. Thewords
perhaps are as relevant today as
they were one hundred and fifty
years ago.
I heard the bells onChristmasDay
Their old, familiar carols play,
Andwild and sweet
Thewords repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to
men!
And thought how, as the dayhad
come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to
men!
Till ringing, singingon itsway,
The world revolved from night
today,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to
men!
Then from each black, accursed
mouth
Thecannon thundered in theSouth,
Andwith the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to
men!
Itwas as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
Andmade forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to
men!
And indespair I bowedmyhead;
“There isnopeaceonearth,”Isaid;
“For hate is strong,
Andmocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to
men!”
Then pealed the bells more loud
anddeep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He
sleep;
TheWrong shall fail,
TheRight prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will
tomen.”
Visit the Jell-OGallery
for lastminute
Christmas Shopping!
Sale on Jell-O Box T-Shirts - Two for
$20
through the end of the yearwhile supplies last
(only in stock items –no special order)
•
Jell-O ChristmasOrnaments
•
Cookbooks
•
LeRoy Book
•
Woodward Airport Book
•
Cranberry Jell-O–with free recipes
•
Pot Holders - Aprons - Baseball Caps
Sweatshirts
•
Small toys and gifts
Gift Certificates •Memberships
Mon.-Sat. 10 to4
and Sun. 1 to4
23 EMain St.
Le Roy, NY 14482
Buy aBrick on the
Jell-OBrickRoad
for friends and family $50
