midnight
It was too beautiful for speech ; the meaning was too laden with brotherly love and cheer for it to be mistaken . A sad-eyed girl smiled to herself and gazed with new hope in her face ; a pickpocket took his hand out of his neighbor 's bag that had opened like magic under his practised touch . Babies stretched out their arms to the glitter ; grown men stared silently with unaccustomed tears wetting their eyes . The school children sang on and on , `` Oh , come all ye faithful , joyful and triumphant ; '' then `` Hark , the herald angels sing , Glory to the new-born King ; '' and `` It came upon the midnight clear . '' The fresh young voices rang gloriously , strengthened by the more mature voices of the choirs . The stars were coming out before the first person turned away , and all through the night watchers of the tree 's resplendent glory were found by the patrolling policeman gazing , gazing , with thoughts of peace reflected on faces that had long been unknown to peace . It was after six when the Emerson car whirled the U. S. C. back to the Mortons ' for a dinner that had to be eaten hastily , for they were due at the Glen Point orphanage soon after seven so that all might be in order for the doors to be opened to the children at half past .