Note 6 — MERRY ENGLAND
Reading edition
Bells are peculiar to England. They jingle them in Italy during the carnival as boys do with us at Shrovetide; but they have no notion of ringing them. The sound of village bells never cheers you in travelling, nor have you the lute or cittern in their stead. The expression of ‘Merry Bells’ is a favourite and not one of the least appropriate in our language.