midnight
And when it was all done , everybody pausing to take breath , then Amy Loughead sent out the finest march ever heard , from the grand piano , and Polly and Jasper and all the rest marshaled the children into a procession , and Phronsie clinging to old Mr. King 's hand on the one side , and holding fast to the small black palm on the other , away they all went , the visitors falling into line , around and around the big hall , till at last -- oh ! at last , they turned into the Enchanted Land that held the wonderful Christmas Tree . And when they were all before it , and Phronsie in the center , she lifted her hand , and the room became so still one could hear a pin drop . And then the little children who had sung the carols in the morning stepped forward and began , `` It came upon the midnight clear , that glorious song of old '' -- And Phronsie drew a long breath , and folded her hands , not stirring till the very last word died on the air . And then Jasper and the others slowly drew aside the white curtain ; and oh ! the dazzling , beautiful apparition that greeted every one 's eyes ! No one could stop the children 's noisy delight , and the best of it was , that no one wanted to .