The Bell

People said “The Evening Bell is sounding, the sun is setting.” For a strange wondrous tone was heard in the narrow streets of a large town. It was like the sound of a church-bell: but it was only heard for a moment, for the rolling of the carriages and the voices of the multitude made too great a noise.

People said, “The Evening Bell is ringing, the sun is setting.” A strange, wonderful sound could be heard in the narrow streets of a large town. It sounded like a church bell, but it was heard only for a moment. The noise of the carriages and the voices of the crowd drowned it out.

Those persons who were walking outside the town, where the houses were farther apart, with gardens or little fields between them, could see the evening sky still better, and heard the sound of the bell much more distinctly. It was as if the tones came from a church in the still forest; people looked thitherward, and felt their minds attuned most solemnly.

People walking outside the town could see the evening sky even better and hear the bell much more clearly. There, the houses were farther apart, with gardens or small fields between them. The bell sounded as if it came from a church in the quiet forest. People looked toward the forest and felt deeply solemn.

A long time passed, and people said to each other—“I wonder if there is a church out in the wood? The bell has a tone that is wondrous sweet; let us stroll thither, and examine the matter nearer.” And the rich people drove out, and the poor walked, but the way seemed strangely long to them; and when they came to a clump of willows which grew on the skirts of the forest, they sat down, and looked up at the long branches, and fancied they were now in the depth of the green wood. The confectioner of the town came out, and set up his booth there; and soon after came another confectioner, who hung a bell over his stand, as a sign or ornament, but it had no clapper, and it was tarred over to preserve it from the rain. When all the people returned home, they said it had been very romantic, and that it was quite a different sort of thing to a pic-nic or tea-party. There were three persons who asserted they had penetrated to the end of the forest, and that they had always heard the wonderful sounds of the bell, but it had seemed to them as if it had come from the town. One wrote a whole poem about it, and said the bell sounded like the voice of a mother to a good dear child, and that no melody was sweeter than the tones of the bell. The king of the country was also observant of it, and vowed that he who could discover whence the sounds proceeded, should have the title of “Universal Bell-ringer,” even if it were not really a bell.

A long time passed, and people said to each other, “I wonder if there is a church in the woods? The bell has such a wonderfully sweet sound. Let’s go for a walk and find out.” The rich people drove out, and the poor walked, but the way seemed strangely long to them. When they came to a clump of willows at the edge of the forest, they sat down. They looked up at the long branches and imagined they were deep in the green woods. The town’s confectioner came out and set up his stall there. Soon another confectioner came and hung a bell over his stall as a sign or decoration. But the bell had no clapper, and it was coated with tar to protect it from the rain. When all the people returned home, they said the outing had been very romantic. It was quite different, they said, from a picnic or tea party. Three people claimed they had reached the end of the forest. They said they had heard the wonderful bell the whole time, but it had seemed to come from the town. One wrote a whole poem about the bell. He said it sounded like a mother’s voice speaking to a good, dear child. He also said that no melody was sweeter than the sound of the bell. The king of the country noticed it too. He vowed to give the title of “Universal Bell-ringer” to whoever could discover where the sound came from, even if it was not really a bell.

Many persons now went to the wood, for the sake of getting the place, but one only returned with a sort of explanation; for nobody went far enough, that one not further than the others. However, he said that the sound proceeded from a very large owl, in a hollow tree; a sort of learned owl, that continually knocked its head against the branches. But whether the sound came from his head or from the hollow tree, that no one could say with certainty. So now he got the place of “Universal Bell-ringer,” and wrote yearly a short treatise “On the Owl”; but everybody was just as wise as before.

Many people now went into the woods, hoping to get the position. But only one returned with anything like an explanation. None of them went far enough, and he went no farther than the others. Still, he said the sound came from a very large owl in a hollow tree. It was a sort of learned owl that kept knocking its head against the branches. But no one could say for certain whether the sound came from the owl’s head or the hollow tree. So he got the position of “Universal Bell-ringer” and wrote a short treatise each year “On the Owl.” But everyone was just as wise as before.

It was the day of confirmation. The clergyman had spoken so touchingly, the children who were confirmed had been greatly moved; it was an eventful day for them; from children they become all at once grown-up-persons; it was as if their infant souls were now to fly all at once into persons with more understanding. The sun was shining gloriously; the children that had been confirmed went out of the town; and from the wood was borne towards them the sounds of the unknown bell with wonderful distinctness. They all immediately felt a wish to go thither; all except three. One of them had to go home to try on a ball-dress; for it was just the dress and the ball which had caused her to be confirmed this time, for otherwise she would not have come; the other was a poor boy, who had borrowed his coat and boots to be confirmed in from the innkeeper's son, and he was to give them back by a certain hour; the third said that he never went to a strange place if his parents were not with him—that he had always been a good boy hitherto, and would still be so now that he was confirmed, and that one ought not to laugh at him for it: the others, however, did make fun of him, after all.

It was confirmation day. The clergyman had spoken so movingly that the children being confirmed were deeply touched. It was an important day for them. They were becoming grown-ups all at once. It was as if their young souls were suddenly to fly into people with greater understanding. The sun shone gloriously as the newly confirmed children went out of town. From the woods, the sound of the mysterious bell reached them with wonderful clarity. They all wanted to go there at once, except for three. One girl had to go home to try on a ball gown. In fact, the gown and the ball were the very reasons she had chosen to be confirmed this time. Otherwise, she would not have come. Another was a poor boy who had borrowed a coat and boots from the innkeeper's son for his confirmation. He had to return them by a certain time. The third said he never went to an unfamiliar place without his parents. He had always been a good boy, and he would continue to be one now that he was confirmed. He said the others ought not to laugh at him for it. But they made fun of him anyway.

There were three, therefore, that did not go; the others hastened on. The sun shone, the birds sang, and the children sang too, and each held the other by the hand; for as yet they had none of them any high office, and were all of equal rank in the eye of God.

So three did not go, while the others hurried on. The sun shone, the birds sang, and the children sang too. They held hands because none of them yet held a high office, and all were equal in the eyes of God.

But two of the youngest soon grew tired, and both returned to town; two little girls sat down, and twined garlands, so they did not go either; and when the others reached the willow-tree, where the confectioner was, they said, “Now we are there! In reality the bell does not exist; it is only a fancy that people have taken into their heads!”

But two of the youngest soon grew tired and returned to town. Two little girls sat down to weave garlands, so they did not go either. When the others reached the willow tree where the confectioner was, they said, “Now we’re here! The bell doesn’t really exist. It’s just an idea people have gotten into their heads!”

At the same moment the bell sounded deep in the wood, so clear and solemnly that five or six determined to penetrate somewhat further. It was so thick, and the foliage so dense, that it was quite fatiguing to proceed. Woodroof and anemonies grew almost too high; blooming convolvuluses and blackberry-bushes hung in long garlands from tree to tree, where the nightingale sang and the sunbeams were playing: it was very beautiful, but it was no place for girls to go; their clothes would get so torn. Large blocks of stone lay there, overgrown with moss of every color; the fresh spring bubbled forth, and made a strange gurgling sound.

At that moment, the bell sounded deep in the woods. It rang so clearly and solemnly that five or six decided to go a little farther in. The woods and foliage were so dense that moving forward was exhausting. Woodruff and anemones grew almost too high. Flowering bindweed and blackberry bushes hung in long garlands from tree to tree, where the nightingale sang and sunbeams played. It was very beautiful, but it was no place for girls to go. Their clothes would get badly torn. Large stones lay there, covered in moss of every color. A fresh spring bubbled up, making a strange gurgling sound.

“That surely cannot be the bell,” said one of the children, lying down and listening. “This must be looked to.” So he remained, and let the others go on without him.

“That surely can’t be the bell,” said one of the children, lying down and listening. “I must look into this.” So he stayed behind and let the others go on without him.

They afterwards came to a little house, made of branches and the bark of trees; a large wild apple-tree bent over it, as if it would shower down all its blessings on the roof, where roses were blooming. The long stems twined round the gable, on which there hung a small bell.

They later came to a little house made of branches and tree bark. A large wild apple tree bent over it, as if it wanted to shower all its blessings on the roof, where roses bloomed. The long stems wound around the gable, where a small bell hung.

Was it that which people had heard? Yes, everybody was unanimous on the subject, except one, who said that the bell was too small and too fine to be heard at so great a distance, and besides it was very different tones to those that could move a human heart in such a manner. It was a king's son who spoke; whereon the others said, “Such people always want to be wiser than everybody else.”

Was that what people had heard? Yes, everyone agreed, except one person. He said the bell was too small and delicate to be heard from so far away. Besides, its tones were very different from those that could move a human heart so deeply. The speaker was a king's son. The others said, “People like that always want to be wiser than everyone else.”

They now let him go on alone; and as he went, his breast was filled more and more with the forest solitude; but he still heard the little bell with which the others were so satisfied, and now and then, when the wind blew, he could also hear the people singing who were sitting at tea where the confectioner had his tent; but the deep sound of the bell rose louder; it was almost as if an organ were accompanying it, and the tones came from the left hand, the side where the heart is placed. A rustling was heard in the bushes, and a little boy stood before the King's Son, a boy in wooden shoes, and with so short a jacket that one could see what long wrists he had. Both knew each other: the boy was that one among the children who could not come because he had to go home and return his jacket and boots to the innkeeper's son. This he had done, and was now going on in wooden shoes and in his humble dress, for the bell sounded with so deep a tone, and with such strange power, that proceed he must.

They now let him go on alone. As he went, the solitude of the forest filled his heart more and more. But he could still hear the little bell that had satisfied the others. Now and then, when the wind blew, he could also hear people singing. They were sitting at tea by the confectioner’s tent. But the deep sound of the bell grew louder. It was almost as if an organ were accompanying it. The tones came from the left, the side where the heart is. The bushes rustled, and a little boy appeared before the King's Son. He wore wooden shoes and a jacket so short that his long wrists showed. The two knew each other. The boy was one of the children who had been unable to come. He had to go home and return his jacket and boots to the innkeeper’s son. He had done so and was now continuing in wooden shoes and his humble clothes. The bell sounded so deep and had such strange power that he had to go on.

“Why, then, we can go together,” said the King's Son. But the poor child that had been confirmed was quite ashamed; he looked at his wooden shoes, pulled at the short sleeves of his jacket, and said that he was afraid he could not walk so fast; besides, he thought that the bell must be looked for to the right; for that was the place where all sorts of beautiful things were to be found.

“Then we can go together,” said the King's Son. But the poor child who had been confirmed was quite ashamed. He looked at his wooden shoes and tugged at the short sleeves of his jacket. He said he was afraid he could not walk so fast. Besides, he thought they should look for the bell to the right, where all sorts of beautiful things could be found.

“But there we shall not meet,” said the King's Son, nodding at the same time to the poor boy, who went into the darkest, thickest part of the wood, where thorns tore his humble dress, and scratched his face and hands and feet till they bled. The King's Son got some scratches too; but the sun shone on his path, and it is him that we will follow, for he was an excellent and resolute youth.

“But we will not meet there,” said the King's Son, nodding to the poor boy. The boy went into the darkest, thickest part of the woods. There, thorns tore his humble clothes and scratched his face, hands, and feet until they bled. The King's Son got some scratches too, but the sun shone on his path. We will follow him, for he was an excellent and determined young man.

“I must and will find the bell,” said he, “even if I am obliged to go to the end of the world.”

“I must find the bell, and I will,” he said, “even if I have to go to the end of the world.”

The ugly apes sat upon the trees, and grinned. “Shall we thrash him?” said they. “Shall we thrash him? He is the son of a king!”

The ugly apes sat in the trees and grinned. “Shall we beat him?” they said. “Shall we beat him? He is a king’s son!”

But on he went, without being disheartened, deeper and deeper into the wood, where the most wonderful flowers were growing. There stood white lilies with blood-red stamina, skyblue tulips, which shone as they waved in the winds, and apple-trees, the apples of which looked exactly like large soapbubbles: so only think how the trees must have sparkled in the sunshine! Around the nicest green meads, where the deer were playing in the grass, grew magnificent oaks and beeches; and if the bark of one of the trees was cracked, there grass and long creeping plants grew in the crevices. And there were large calm lakes there too, in which white swans were swimming, and beat the air with their wings. The King's Son often stood still and listened. He thought the bell sounded from the depths of these still lakes; but then he remarked again that the tone proceeded not from there, but farther off, from out the depths of the forest.

But he kept going, undaunted, deeper and deeper into the forest, where the most wonderful flowers grew. There were white lilies with blood-red stamens and sky-blue tulips that shone as they swayed in the wind. There were apple trees whose apples looked exactly like large soap bubbles. Just imagine how the trees must have sparkled in the sunshine! Magnificent oaks and beeches grew around lovely green meadows, where deer played in the grass. Wherever a tree's bark was cracked, grass and long creeping plants grew in the crevices. There were large, calm lakes too, where white swans swam and beat the air with their wings. The King's Son often stopped and listened. He thought the bell was sounding from the depths of the still lakes. But then he noticed again that the sound came not from the lakes, but from farther away, deep in the forest.

The sun now set: the atmosphere glowed like fire. It was still in the woods, so very still; and he fell on his knees, sung his evening hymn, and said: “I cannot find what I seek; the sun is going down, and night is coming—the dark, dark night. Yet perhaps I may be able once more to see the round red sun before he entirely disappears. I will climb up yonder rock.”

The sun was setting, and the sky glowed like fire. The woods were still, so very still. He fell to his knees, sang his evening hymn, and said: “I cannot find what I seek. The sun is going down, and night is coming, the dark, dark night. Yet perhaps I can see the round red sun once more before it disappears completely. I will climb that rock over there.”

And he seized hold of the creeping-plants, and the roots of trees—climbed up the moist stones where the water-snakes were writhing and the toads were croaking—and he gained the summit before the sun had quite gone down. How magnificent was the sight from this height! The sea—the great, the glorious sea, that dashed its long waves against the coast—was stretched out before him. And yonder, where sea and sky meet, stood the sun, like a large shining altar, all melted together in the most glowing colors. And the wood and the sea sang a song of rejoicing, and his heart sang with the rest: all nature was a vast holy church, in which the trees and the buoyant clouds were the pillars, flowers and grass the velvet carpeting, and heaven itself the large cupola. The red colors above faded away as the sun vanished, but a million stars were lighted, a million lamps shone; and the King's Son spread out his arms towards heaven, and wood, and sea; when at the same moment, coming by a path to the right, appeared, in his wooden shoes and jacket, the poor boy who had been confirmed with him. He had followed his own path, and had reached the spot just as soon as the son of the king had done. They ran towards each other, and stood together hand in hand in the vast church of nature and of poetry, while over them sounded the invisible holy bell: blessed spirits floated around them, and lifted up their voices in a rejoicing hallelujah!

He grabbed the climbing plants and tree roots and climbed the wet stones, where water snakes writhed and toads croaked. He reached the top just before the sun had fully set. How magnificent the view was from that height! Before him stretched the great, glorious sea, its long waves crashing against the coast. In the distance, where sea and sky met, the sun stood like a large, shining altar, melting into glowing colors. The woods and the sea sang a song of joy, and his heart sang with them. All nature was a vast holy church. The trees and floating clouds were its pillars, the flowers and grass its velvet carpet, and heaven itself its great dome. The red colors overhead faded as the sun disappeared, but a million stars lit up like a million lamps. The King's Son spread his arms toward heaven, the woods, and the sea. At that same moment, the poor boy who had been confirmed with him appeared on a path to the right. He wore his wooden shoes and jacket. He had followed his own path and reached the spot just as soon as the King's Son. They ran toward each other and stood hand in hand in the vast church of nature and poetry. Above them sounded the invisible holy bell. Blessed spirits floated around them and raised their voices in a joyful hallelujah!