For Whom the Bells Rang? (A Christmas Story)

It is told that in a certain great city, remote in its situation from the dwellings of men, there was a church of great renown, counted among the wonders of the world. It stood upon a high hill, and thousands of visitors, worshippers and others, came to it on Christmas Day and on the other glorious feasts.

As one draws near its outer courtyard he beholds immense stone pillars, dark passageways, and a magnificent entrance. One standing near its door cannot see to the far end of its interior, for close by its marble altar he sees the choir of singers.

In a distant corner of it stands an organ of great size, the echo of whose voice is heard by all the inhabitants of that city. In one corner of the church rose a very great tower, covered with green ivy, its head all but butting the clouds. No one had ever been able to see its summit, neither in winter nor in summer, so that people had forgotten how high it was. But they had heard from their forefathers that at its top were Christmas bells, hung there when that church was built, and counted among the most beautiful bells in the world — some even claimed that a masterly musician had arranged them and set them there. Others said that, since they were so very high, the waves of the ether produced such musical sounds.

Yet the ringing of these bells had not been heard for a long time. One man far advanced in years said that he had heard his mother say that she heard them when she was a little girl.

It was the custom on Christmas Eve for every person to bring a gift to the Child Jesus and lay it on the altar, and when the finest of those gifts was laid down, the church's musical bells would ring at once. It was even said that the angels of heaven touch them with their hands, because of their great height, and set them pealing. And it occurred to some that neglect in offering gifts to the little Child was the reason the bells had ceased to ring.

So the rich would race to the church on the eve of the feast, carrying gifts in their hands, each one trying to make his gift more important than his neighbor's, in the hope that the bells might ring; but nothing of the kind happened, though the divine service was complete in all its observances and the gifts abundant in number.

Now it came to pass in those days that in a village far from the site of the lofty church and its tower there lived a young boy named Pedro, with a brother younger than himself. He knew nothing of the matter of those musical bells; the two had only heard of the celebrations held in that church on Christmas Eve. So they secretly agreed to go

there to attend one of the celebrations.

Pedro would say to his brother: No one can imagine all the beautiful things that take place there, for they say that the Child Jesus sometimes comes to the church. How happy our fortune would be if He came at this time and we saw Him with our own eyes!

The weather was very cold one day before Christmas; the snow was falling and the stormy winds lashed hands and faces. Even so, Pedro and his brother set out walking, each holding the other's hand, in the afternoon of that day, and covered a great distance until they were able to see the tower.

As they were about to enter one of its gates they saw a figure lying stretched upon the snow. They drew near it, and behold, it was a poor woman who had lost consciousness. Pedro tried to rouse her, but in vain. Then he began rubbing her forehead with snow, that warmth might creep back into her body. At last he stood upright and said to his brother: It is useless for us both to go and leave this poor woman. You can go alone, my brother, and pray for me and for yourself, and then come back to me with someone to help me carry her from this place. And surely the Child Jesus knows that I longed eagerly to go and worship Him. Saying this, he placed a silver piece in his brother's hand and said to him: Lay it on the altar after everyone has finished laying down their gifts, and let no one see you. The younger brother answered him: I cannot bear to go alone and leave you here. Pedro said to him: "If we both go and leave the woman, she will surely die. There is no harm in your waiting for me in this place; perhaps you will come back to me with someone to help us carry her and look after her."

At once the younger brother set out toward the gate of the city, and when he reached it the armies of darkness had begun to cover those places.

The church was thronged with thousands of worshippers, and never before had it been so lit up as on that night. No sooner did the voices of the music peal forth than the place shook, with all the worshippers in it. And Pedro's brother felt the ground trembling beneath his feet.

When the divine service was over, the throng came forward bearing its gifts, and the rich walked in pride and vainglory toward the altar. Some offered jewels of great price; others came with boxes full of gold, which they could bring to the altar only with the greatest difficulty; one of the great writers presented a precious book he had composed many years before; and at last the king himself walked to the altar, his heart full of a great hope that his gift would be accepted and the bells would then ring.

And when the king took his crown from his head and laid it upon the altar, a whispering was heard among the people, to the effect that the bells would ring beyond a doubt, for nothing like this had ever happened before.

When no sound came from the bells at that moment, the people began to doubt the truth of this tale. At the close of that delightful celebration the music pealed for the last time. Then suddenly the playing of the organ ceased, and all looked toward the preacher, who was standing near the altar, signing to them to keep complete silence. All those present listened with their whole being, and then they heard the sound of the ringing of the bells with perfect clearness, and their ears were charmed by the sweetness of their tones. Then they rose to their feet to behold the final offering, which had been preferred above all the others and had waked the bells from their slumber.

It was the offering of the little brother, who had crept quietly to the altar when no one was looking at him, and had laid Pedro's silver piece upon it.