midnight
For yet an hour the priest lingered before the Tabernacle . Then , utterly worn out in mind and body , he passed through the sacristy , locked the door , and mounted the steps of his own house to seek a few hours of rest before commencing the arduous duties of Christmas day . The church and rectory were situated on a hill and the priest stood in his doorway and looked down upon the town below . It was now after midnight , but many lights were still burning and the faint sound of distant merry-making reached the priest 's ears . Was his boy down there among the revellers ? Beyond the town lay the river , frozen , dark and still ; and beyond that again shone the lights of the neighboring city . Was his boy over there beyond that dark , silent river ?