"I heard the bells on Christmas Day" has always been one of my favorite Christmas hymns .A most beautiful song of hope in a world of uncertain times! Written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow a fourth cousin of my great great grandfather Converse L. McCurdy. They seemed to have a lot in common besides their blood relation. Both were born in Maine, Henry in 1807 Converse in 1809. Both were descendant's of Mayflower passengers John Alden, Prescilla Mullins and Henry Samson. Both moved to Cambridge in the year 1854, no kidding. Both with son's named Charles who are both wounded in battles in the civil war. Both Charles' came home around the same time to heal from their wounds. Converse loses his wife in 1848, Henry Loses his in 1861. Both aware of the bells at Christmas time. Converse having them rung at his church and Henry writing his famous hymn. Did they know each other? I don't know but I'd like to think so. Henry stayed in Cambridge but Converse moved around the Boston area every two years or so as his preaching assignments changed. Another thing they had in common, both of them knew that "Peace on Earth" comes from a hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.