title: The Bells of Christmas
author:  Virginia Hamilton 
description: <DIV>VIRGINIA HAMILTON (1936&ndash;2002) was one of the most highly acclaimed writers of her time. Her many awards included the National Book Award, the John Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Award (twice), the <I>Boston Globe</I>-Horn Book Award (twice), the Edgar Allan Poe Award, the Ohioana Book Award, and two of her novels were cited as Newbery Honor Books. She was a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Queen College and the Ohio State University. Ms. Hamilton was married to poet/author Arnold Adoff and divided her time between New York City and Ohio.</DIV>
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ****
  
  
  
  
  
  ****
  
  
  
  
  
  ****
  
  
  
  
  
  ****
  
  
  
  
  
  ****
  
  
  
  
  
  **The Christmas Bell Tolls**
  
  
  
  
  
  **Robin Caroll**
  
  
  
  
  
  **
  
  
  **
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright
  
  
  © 2015 Robin Caroll
  
  
  
  
  
  All
  
  
  Rights Reserved
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  For
  
  
  Heather:
  
  
  
  
  
  Because
  
  
  you deserve the dedication
  
  
  
  
  
  <3
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Table of Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  [One](part0000_split_003.html#_Toc434957406)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Two](part0000_split_004.html#_Toc434957407)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Three](part0000_split_005.html#_Toc434957408)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Four](part0000_split_006.html#_Toc434957409)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Five](part0000_split_007.html#_Toc434957410)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Six](part0000_split_008.html#_Toc434957411)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Seven](part0000_split_009.html#_Toc434957412)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Eight](part0000_split_010.html#_Toc434957413)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Nine](part0000_split_011.html#_Toc434957414)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Ten](part0000_split_012.html#_Toc434957415)
  
  
  
  
  
  [Eleven](part0000_s