eight o'clock
Come into my sleigh and I 'll take you to the hospital , '' said Bruce . A cold wind was driving powdery flakes out of the darkness overhead when the Woodbridge town folk began to gather in the square to celebrate their first community Christmas . The scouts were there early , for , besides the fact that several of them had the task of taking care of the electric switches that controlled the lights on the big tree , the rest of the troop had been delegated to police the square . The ceremonies were supposed to begin at eight o'clock , but by half-past seven the big platform was filled with visitors , officials and prominent townsmen . The orchestra had arrived , too , and taken its place , and the chorus of four hundred school children stood waiting , song books in hand . The big square was literally jammed by joyous men and women and shivering , though none the less enthusiastic , youngsters . And over these thousand or more silence reigned and every eye was fastened on the tall somber looking tree .