nine o'clock
A frolic at Christmas must needs know not change Of fortune , or richer or poorer ; If any one comes who is lonesome and strange , Why , just make his welcome the surer . We invited our friends and we dressed up the room Till it looked like a wonderful bower , With starry bright tapers , and flowers in bloom , And a tree with white popcorn a-shower . And presents and presents , for every one there , In stockings , and bags full of candy , And old Santa Claus -LRB- Uncle William -RRB- was fair , And -- I tell you , our tree was a dandy . Then , when nine o'clock struck , and the frolic and fun Had risen almost to their highest , And pleasure was beaming , and every one Was happy , from bravest to shyest . Our dear Mother went to the organ and played A carol so sweet and so tender ; We prayed while we sang , and we sang as we prayed , To Jesus , our Prince and Defender . Oh ! Jesus , who came as a Babe to the earth , Who slept ` mid the kine , in a manger ; Oh !