I love the sound of bells At evening, when the sun To the tired labourer tells His hard day’s work is done. I love to hear, So soft and clear, Their notes go sailing o’er mount and mere. Bells, softly chime Your sweet, low rhyme, Ring on, still ring. While softly the shadows creep, Over the folded sheep. The day is done; Down goes the sun, And Silence opens the gates of Sleep. I love the sound of bells On a glorious summer morn, When ev’ry note that swells Tells of a joy new born. The wedding note Doth lightly float, Gaily o’er hill and dale, Merrily, cherrily, Madly, gladly, Telling of joys that will never fail. Bells, bells, bells! Hark how their music swells! How it floats along, Like a glorious song! Bells, bells, bells, bells! Oh, teach me the joy that your glad music tells. I love to hear the bell That is rung for a passing soul, As, solemnly over the dell, Its mournful boomings roll. Toll, toll, toll, For a passing soul; While the mourners tramp Through the graveyard damp. Toll, toll, toll! Boom, boom, boom! Over an open tomb. With a voice of terrible gloom, (Toll, toll, toll,) As long as the ages roll, Thou wilt tell men of their doom. But yet I love thee well, Thou mournful, chiming bell; For who shall say, While thou dost toll, What glorious chimes And echoing rhymes Will welcome to heaven the new born soul? * * * * * ――――:o:―――― THE BILLS. RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE GENTLE READER.