midnight
As Miss Martell sang , in a sweet but unfamiliar air , the following words , her surprise and interest deepened : At midnight , in Judean skies , There dawned a light whose holy rays Not only cheered the shepherds ' eyes , But filled with hope all coming days . At midnight , o'er Judea 's plain Was heard a song unknown before ; The echoes of that sweet refrain Are reaching earth 's remotest shore . 'T was not the sun o'er Eastern hills , That shed a transient radiance round ; Nor a feeble heir of earthly ills The shepherds in the manger found . Upon the darker midnight sky Of human sorrow , care , and sin -- A night that broods at noontide high ; A dreary gloom all hearts within -- There rose a gentle , human face , Whose light was love and sympathy -- The God of heaven , yet of our race -- The humblest of humanity . The night of sorrow , sin , and care Still shadows many hapless hearts ; But all who will this light may share , -- This hope which Christmas morn imparts . Lottie 's eyes were suffused with tears when the simple hymn was finished , but they did not prevent her from following Miss Kartell 's finger as she turned to the title-page and pointed to the inscription : `` Music by Alice Martell . `` Words by Frank Hemstead .