Village Squire, 1975-12, Page 22The Elf
and the Bells.
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A Christmas
story for children
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Santa told Baldy the elf to do what he could for the off -note bell.
BY "JINGLE BELL"
High up in the steeple of the grey stone church lived a family of bells.
Very musical bells they were, and they delighted in chiming together,
playing all the well-known hymns each Sunday; and at Christmas -time, the
beautiful Christmas carols. The people of the village loved to hear the bells,
and were very proud of them., The village bell-ringers, who pulled the ropes
to make the bells ring, had learned when they were only young Tads how to
make the Bell family ring out the musical notes which every one in the
village enjoyed so much.
But one evening, just two days before Christmas, when the bell-ringers
were practising the Christmas carols, one of the small bells sounded a sad,
dull note. In fact, Benny Bell, as he was called in the Bell family, --sounded
just as if he were cracked! Now, in the chime of "Silent Night" his note was
most important, for he had to sound it many times as the bell ringers
played the beloved carol.
Poor Benny Bell! He knew only too well how flat and muffled his voice
sounded, and he was SO ashamed. He was sure that everyone in the village
had noticed his flat tones; and he did want so much to play his part well
when the chimes were rung on Christmas Eve.
After the bell ringers had_ gone home that night, Father Bass Bell and
20, VILLAGE SQUIRE/DECEMBER 1975
Mother Treble Bell, and even Baby Tinkle Bell talked to Benny about how
he had spoiled the wonderful Bell family's music.
"Benny", exclaimed Mother Treble, "whatever has happened to your
voice? Surely you haven't taken a cold! Our belfry hasn't been any more
draughty than you have been used to all your life. Do try to ring more
sweetly, Benny."
And Father Bell rumbled in his deep low bass voice, "Benny, my boy, I
have never been ashamed of our performance. Perhaps it isn't your fault,
but I really believe you have developed a crack in your voice, or perhaps
your tongue is out of order. I do hope one of the Ringers can fix you up, my
son."
But the next evening, Benny's note was just as bad, and one of the
younger bell ringers, who could climb more easily up the ladder into the
church steeple, came to look for the trouble. All the bells hung quietly as he
tapped each one with his hammer, and listened as each one gave out a clear
bell tone. When he came to Benny, the little bell almost shook with fright,
but at the top of the hammer, his note was clear and true.
The young bell ringer climbed down the ladder and said, "Not a bell
seems to be out of tune, chaps. And I tried every one of them. -Did you hear
that F note? Didn't it sound as true as all the others?" The other ringers all