Church Bells

Chiming Bells, with changeful sound,
Scatter music all around,
Tolling, clanging, sinking, swelling,
Griefs and joys of home out-telling.
When the soul is gladsome, they
Make all round seem holiday;

When the spirit droops, they fill,
With their music soft and still,
All the air around, supplying
Utterance for voiceless sighing.
'Tis their bright and blessed part
To be voices of the heart,

Never seeming to intrude,
Ever blending with the mood
Of the soul, whate'er its leaning,
And interpreting its meaning,
Telling out, whate'er it be,
Each man's grief and each man's glee.

From the church tower, where they dwell,
Tolls to prayer the passing bell.
When, with dull and solemn tread,
Mourners bear to church their dead,
Muffled voices sad and low
From those bells sob out their woe.

Merry marriage chimes are ringing,
Mirth on all sides round them flinging;
From the church door softly glide
Happy Bridegroom, blooming Bride;
Young and old around them press,
Kindly gaze and fondly bless.

By those chimings gently shaken,
Hope and Memory awaken;
Youth hath bright and blissful gleamings
Of such joy in future dreamings;
While the oldest in the train
Think that they are young again.

Happy Bells! the heart rejoices
In their dear familiar voices,
Loved for all their tender sadness
And their full, out-spoken gladness;
Nor the less beloved, when they
Call us on the holy day;

Or at other week-day times
Bid to prayer with cheerful chimes.
They without, their common praise
To the great All-giver raise,
As within, His people share
The repose of common prayer.

Then each bell's expressive note
Seems some scripture-text to quote,
Touches here and there our lives,
Buried griefs and joys revives, —
Holy influences! given
Hearts to harmonize with heaven!

Kindly Christians! come and bring
Jewel bright, or golden ring,
Ornament of silver fair,
Something luxury can spare;
When the furnace boils and bubbles
Drop them in, and let some troubles '

About selfish hearts, and slow
To acknowledge all they owe,
(Troubles which we all have felt,)
With them in the cauldron melt
Sweet the Bells, which thus are blended
Out of selfish ways amended,

Which their silvery cadence take,
From some loss for Jesus' sake,
Something with life's habits twined,
But for His dear love resign'd,
And upon His Church bestow'd,
Blessed Bells to give to God.