Mr. Longfellow was no stranger to tragedy. His first wife died after a miscarriage. In 1861, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s second wife was burned in a tragic fire and she later passed away. Mr. Longfellow’s face became so scarred from becoming burned when he tried to save her that he could not shave thereafter. Hence, he became known for his trademark beard.
...
He stopped writing poetry for a time after her death.
To add further to his grief, he lived through the Civil War....He once wrote in his journal that his one wish was harmony for the North and South. His son joined the army despite his father’s wishes and was injured. Longfellow’s journal entry for December 25th 1862 reads: “‘A merry Christmas’ say the children, but that is no more for me.”
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But, then one Christmas morning he heard the bells and what they symbolize. He wrote:
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!….
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”
ht tps://www.familyninjas.com/articles/tragic-hopeful-story-behind-christmas-carol-heard-bells-christmas-day
.. but i can;t rmember where i first heard his 
