On the 10th Day of Christmas Past,
Question: In this classic Christmas tale, how did two young boys get church bells to ring once again?
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“Why the Chimes Rang”
“The sun, though screened by winter clouds, was only partway across the sky when Pedro and his little brother Marcos began their evening chores. They sprinkled corn into the coup and raked straw so the chickens would have a warm place to sleep
The cow left their shelter to follow the boys into the chill. The boys moved faster than usual. Their eyes were bright; their steps determined. Every footprint in the fresh layer of snow was evidence of their Christmas Eve pledge. They would be at the church before nightfall. They would see the luminaries, hear the choir, feel the organ vibrate their feet, and warm themselves on crowded benches.
The boys had never been to the church on Christmas Eve before. Pedro and Marcos could see it far across the valley on a hill nestled in clouds. Sometimes when the fog cleared, they caught glimpses of the bell tower rising high into the heavens. Their mother had told them about the festivities, but she had not been able to go for a very long time. She told them that it was the custom on Christmas Eve for people to bring their offerings to the Christ child, and when the greatest and best offering was laid on the altar, the Christmas bells would ring out for all to hear. Their mother had told them that the bells were the most beautiful in the world. Some said that angels played them, others that a divine wind blew them to life. The boys had never actually heard the bells – they thought it was because they lived too far away.
Pedro and Marcos didn’t know that the bells had been silent for years – years upon years. No one heard them ring anymore. It was said that the bells had stopped ringing a long time ago when townspeople became less careful of their gifts to the Christ Child, when they stopped giving keeping what they wanted for themselves. Then they started giving gifts for the wrong reasons. For years now, people brought glorious gifts to the church on Christmas Eve in an effort to get the bells to ring again.
Like a procession of peacocks, the rich lined up inside the church, glancing over their shoulders to see if others noticed their new clothes, hoping to have something bigger and better they were giving than their neighbors. Magnificent gifts were given, even the king offered his crown which was no great loss to him to give away as he thought it outdated and uncomfortable. But year after year, the bells remained silent.
Pedro and Marcos knew nothing of these magnificent gifts. They did know it was Christmas Eve, and for as long as they could remember, they wanted to be part of the service, even if only from outside a window. They sang what few songs they knew to pass the time on the long walk and ate what few crumbs they had to ease their hunger. Their buoyant voices came to an abrupt hush when they approached one of the city gates. An old woman had fallen and lay in the drifted snow.
Pedro knelt beside her and put his ear to her chest. He listened until he heard faint signs of life. He took the blanket from his satchel and wrapped her in it. He blew on her hands and held them in his. Pedro knew just what to do. He had seen his mother care for his elderly grandmother for as long as he could remember. He knew he couldn’t leave this woman alone.
“Marcos, go to the church and take this silver piece of mine. When no one is looking, lay it on the altar. Stay for the program. Then meet me back here.” Marcos would not go without Pedro. He knew how much his brother wanted to go. But Pedro insisted. “You’re smaller. You could make your way to the front of the Church with my silver piece better than I could anyway.” Reluctantly, he started walking and then called back to Pedro, “I promise to tell you all about it – all about everything.”
Slowly, the old woman began to respond to Pedro’s care. She smiled with her eyes, still too weak to talk. Inch by inch, Pedro helped the woman back to her home. Once inside, Pedro gave his last piece of bread to her. He put some wood in her stove and warmed some milk. She sipped the milk, and at last spoke thanking him for his kindness. Pedro stood to leave but could tell that more than anything she wanted to talk. He resisted looking at his pocket watch and sat back down.
The old woman told him about everything. Then she told him about the church bells and how she could not remember how long it had been since she last heard them. “They just don’t ring any more,” Pedro and the old woman turned to look at the door. They thought they heard something.
Pedro swung the door open and listened. Pedro couldn’t see the church way up the hill but yes, he could hear the bells. It was the most heavenly sound he’d ever heard! He ran back to the woman and confirmed their hopes. Yes! The Christmas bells were ringing! – ringing and ringing!
Marcos had been in the church when the bells started ringing. Just seconds after he placed Pedro’s silver piece on the altar, the organ stopped playing in the middle of a song. Marcos heard whispering and wondered if maybe Pedro’s small offering had not been acceptable. But then the crowd was quieted by the peal of bells, so soft yet so piercing that he had to sit down. The sound was so beautiful that a tear welled in his eye. He blinked back the tear and looked out the window. Marcos strained to see Pedro outside, but all he could see was the black of night. He closed his eyes tight and prayed that Pedro could hear the bells too! And he prayed that someday they could be there together, that all together they would hear the Christmas bells ring.”
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