This is a true story of pain and hope behind the Christmas carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”
It was March, 1863, in Cambridge, MA., when, unbeknownst to his family, 18-year old Charles Appleton Longfellow, oldest of six children born to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Fannie Appleton, walked out of his house on Brattle Street to join President Lincoln’s Union Army to fight in the Civil War.
Less than two years earlier, Charles’ mother died tragically when her dress caught fire. Her husband tried desperately to extinguish the flames, but to no avail. She died the following day. At times, Henry Longfellow feared he would be sent to an asylum on account of his grief.
Charles made his way to Washington, DC, to enlist as a private with the first Massachusetts Artillery. Captain W. H. McCartney wrote to his father for written permission for Charley to become a soldier. His surprised father granted the permission.
In April, 1863, Charley contacted typhoid fever and was sent home to recover. He returned to his unit in August of that year. During his time home, the Battle of Gettysburg was fought, but Charley missed it.
However, in December, Henry W. Longfellow, celebrated literary critic and poet, received word his son had been severely wounded four days prior. He had been shot through the left shoulder with the bullet existing under his right shoulder blade. He missed being paralyzed by less than an inch. Recovery would be at least six months. Henry never lost hope for his son.
And in despair I bowed my head – “There is no peace on earth,” I said.
On Christmas day, 1863, the 57-year old widowed father of six, wrote a poem seeking to capture the turmoil in his own heart and the 
utter sadness of the world around him. He heard the bells that Christmas Day and the singing of “peace on earth,” but he observed a world of injustice and violence that seemed to mock the optimistic outlook of hope of the song.
The more Longfellow listened, the more a confident hope began to emerge in his soul – even in the midst of bleak despair. He saw the bells as being prophetic. There may be despair, violence, injustice, and grief all around, but open up your heart and listen. The Savoir was born, and one day, He will rule in peace for all mankind. There will be peace on earth, good will to men.
In reading “Behind the Scene of Pain and Hope,” may it fill us with hope amidst our pain and despair so that we may be able to look beyond to see the true Joy and Peace of Christmas. Christ, the Savior, was born!
May the peace and joy of Christmas remain in your hearts and home throughout the new year.
Link to the lyrics of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=lyrics+to+I+heard+the+bells+on+christmas+day+by+henry+W.+longfellow