The _sixth_ line is in these words: "Keeping time, time, time, in a sort of Runic rhyme." We observe that as "time" is here repeated three times, so "tinkle" was repeated three times in the third line. We must have observed, too, that it is "stars" of the fourth line that are said to "twinkle" in the fifth line. The two lines are as closely connected as grammatical construction and the expression of thought could make them. And the sixth line is an obvious continuation of the description. Analytically we say: 1. Keeping time in a rhyme. 2. Keeping time, _time_, in a rhyme. 3. Keeping time, time, _time_ in a rhyme. 4. Keeping time, time, time in a _sort_ of rhyme. 5. Keeping time, time, time in a sort of _Runic_ rhyme. Let us now recall the six lines together. 1. Hear the sledges with the bells--silver bells-- 2. What a world of merriment their melody foretells! 3. How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle in the icy air of night! 4. While the stars that oversprinkle 5. All the heavens, seem to twinkle with a crystalline delight; 6. Keeping time, time, time, in a sort of Runic rhyme. The seventh line is the continuation of the sixth. Keeping time to what? "To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells." 1. The tintinnabulation wells. 2. The tintinnabulation _that_ wells. 3. The tintinnabulation that _musically_ wells. 4. The tintinnabulation that _so_ musically wells. 5. _To_ the tintinnabulation that so musically wells. Wells from what? From the bells, bells--occurring altogether six times more. This makes the eighth line. But some pupils say at once, "I can never be sure in reciting the line to recall bells only seven times, no more or less." These pupils will admit that they can be sure to say bells _four_ times, as bells, bells, bells, bells. Then, of course, they can say bells _three_ times more, making seven times altogether. Here, then, we have the seventh and eighth lines, as follows: 7. To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells 8. From the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells-- The ninth line is--"From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells." In the eighth line we have "bells" seven times repeated in all--bells being taken in their utmost generality, viz., _musical_ action. But in the ninth or last line we have the very specific action of the bells, to wit: "From the _jingling_ and the _tinkling_ of the bells." We can make a short analysis, which is always better than unthinking repetition, as: 1. From the bells. 2. From the _jingling_ of the bells. 3. From the jingling _and the tinkling_ of the bells. The seventh, eighth, and ninth lines are as follows: 7. To the tintinnabulation that so musically wells 8. From the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells-- 9. From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells. Having already learned the first six lines, we have but to preface these last three by the previous six, and we have the first stanza as follows:--