midnight
It was coming on with bad weather and a northerly storm , he reported . The snow was falling thick already and drifting badly . He saw to the kitchen fire and put the children to bed . Long before the clock in the neighboring church tower struck twelve , and its doors were opened for the throngs come to worship at the midnight mass , the lights in the cottage were out , and all within it fast asleep . The murmur of the homeward-hurrying crowds had died out , and the last echoing shout of `` Merry Christmas ! '' had been whirled away on the storm , now grown fierce with bitter cold , when a lonely wanderer came down the street . It was a lad , big and strong-limbed , and , judging from the manner in which he pushed his way through the gathering drifts , not unused to battle with the world , but evidently in hard luck .