eight o'clock in the
evening
His daughter , who , like all Germans , held a festival every Christmas , wrote to urge him to pass his Christmas with her at her Massachusetts home ; he was then in New York . He replied that he was too ill to bear the journey at that season . The pleasure of the thought of her Christmas evening was gone ; but she determined to make it as pleasant as she could to her husband and children , though her thoughts and her heart were with her sick father . In the morning , however , a telegraphic message arrived from her father , saying he would be with them at eight o'clock in the evening . With the Germans , the whole family make presents to each other , no matter how trifling ; but some little present every one receives . Henry 's little granddaughter was dressed in a style as fairy-like as possible , and presented her grandfather with a basket of such fruits as the season would allow of , as the most appropriate present for a lover of Nature . A very happy evening the good man had with his children .