midnight
But it wuz all past now ; under the shade of this noble old tree Mary sot down , happiness in her tired eyes , ontold relief in the weary heart on which the Child leaned . I believe they laid down there under the starry heavens and went to sleep ; mebby the Star shone down on 'em as they slep ' , seein ' they wuz safe now and Herod could n't touch 'em even if he wuz clost to 'em . Egypt , blessed be thy turf and thy skies forever more , since thou hast sheltered the Lord ! And while back in Jerusalem the blood-thirsty soldiers wuz rushin ' to and fro seekin ' for the young Child that they might destroy him , and in his palace King Herod lay in troubled sleep under the close-drawn curtains of the royal couch , slaves watchin ' outside the room , slaves watchin ' his fearful thorn-strewn pillow , the little Child that he feared and sought to destroy , slept with the clear midnight sky bendin ' over his sweet slumber , its matchless blue curtain looped up with stars , hung with the great silver night lamp of the crescent moon . His bed-chamber the broad plains and mountains and valleys of the world Which should yet own his peaceful sway . His guard the shining angels that had flown down to herald His coming on the fields of Bethlehem . Sleep well , little Child , with thy kingdom outstretched about thee , the hull grief-smitten world , upon which thou wast to lay thy hands and heal its woes and wounds .