The Sleigh-Bells

’Tis merry to hear, at evening time,

By the blazing hearth the sleigh-bells chime;

To know the bounding steeds bring near

The loved one to our bosoms dear.

Ah, lightly we spring the fire to raise,

Till the rafters glow with the ruddy blaze;

Those merry sleigh-bells, our hearts keep time

Responsive to their fairy chime.

Ding-dong, ding-dong, o’er vale and hill,

Their welcome notes are trembling still.

’Tis he, and blithely the gay bells sound,

As his sleigh glides over the frozen ground;

Hark! He has pass’d the dark pine wood,

He crosses now the ice-bound flood,

And hails the light at the open door

That tells his toilsome journey’s o’er.

The merry sleigh-bells! My fond heart swells

And trobs to hear the welcome bells;

Ding-dong, ding-dong, o’er ice and snow,

A voice of gladness, on they go.

Our hut is small, and rude our cheer,

But love has spread the banquet here;

And childhood springs to be caress’d

By our beloved and welcome guest.

With a smiling brow his tale he tells,

The urchins ring the merry sleigh-bells;

The merry sleigh-bells, with shout and song

They drag the noisy string along;

Ding-dong, ding-dong, the father’s come

The gay bells ring his welcome home.

From the cedar swamp the gaunt wolves howl,

From the oak loud whoops the felon owl;

The snow-storm sweeps in thunder past,

The forest creaks beneath the blast;

No more I list, with boding fear,

The sleigh-bells distant chime to hear.

The merry sleigh-bells with soothing power

Shed gladness on the evening hour.

Ding-dong, ding-dong, what rapture swells

The music of those joyous bells!