O Christmas, merry Christmas, Has it really come again, With its memories and greetings, With its joy and with its pain! Minor chords are in the carol And a shadow in the light, And a spray of cypress twining With the holly wreath tonight. And the hush is never broken By laughter light and low, As we listen in the starlight To the “bells across the snow.”

O Christmas, merry Christmas, It’s not so very long Since other voices blended With the carol and the song! If we could but hear them singing, As they are singing now, If we could but see the radiance Of the crown on each dear brow, There would be no cry to cover, No hidden tear to flow, As we listen in the starlight To the “bells across the snow.”

O Christmas, merry Christmas, This nevermore can be; We cannot bring again the days Of our unshadowed glee, But Christmas, happy Christmas, Sweet herald of goodwill, With holy songs of glory Brings holy gladness still. For peace and hope may brighten, And patient love may glow, As we listen in the starlight To the “bells across the snow.”

~ Frances Ridley Havergal