midnight
`` After this they bid everybody good night , and went to bed , and Johnny said he felt ` pretty _ compertuffle _ . ' His mother had told him that ` good little Henry , ' of whom you have read , always said ` compertuffle ' for ` comfortable , ' and Johnny thought it was just the right word to express his feelings . '' _ For Clara . _ DEAR , TENDER-HEARTED LITTLE CLARA : -- In the olden time , there was a beautiful superstition in Germany , that on Christmas eve our Saviour , just as he was when a little child here below , comes at midnight in at the door , and fills all those children 's shoes with gifts , who have followed His example of goodness and obedience . You know that _ you _ hang up your _ stockings _ , and Santa Claus comes down the chimney ; but the little German children believe that they are far more blessed . It is a beautiful idea , for it brings Him , who for our sakes became a little child on earth , more closely and lovingly to the children 's hearts . They grow up sure of His love and sympathy , from infancy to old age .