Afterward they sang "O Come, All
Ye Faithful," and when the address
had been delivered by the presiding
clergyman, the children chanted that
other wonderful old carol, "The Snow
Lay on the Ground."
The snow lay on the ground,
The stars shone bright,
When Christ our Lord was born
On Christmas night!
When Christ our Lord was born
On Christmas night!
Then came the "Visit to the Manger." Long ranks of children were formed in the aisles, and, led by two trumpeters from the Metropolitan Opera House blowing "Waken, Christian Children," they marched in solemn procession to the vestibule under the spire, right in the main entrance, where the manger was situated.
On a platform, raised so that everybody could see it, was a representation of the Night at Bethlehem. All the characters in that first drama of Christianity were there; the sheep and cattle stood munching straw—or so it seemed. Lighted candles glowed on them, and overhead boomed the great organ, while the children's voices sang as they looked and marched on:
Waken, Christian children.
Up! and let us sing
With glad voice the praises
Of our new-born King.
Up! 'Tis meet to welcome,
With a joyful lay.
Christ, the King of Glory,
Born for us to-day!
When all of them—and there must have been three or four hundred—had made the "Visit to the Manger," and were back in their seats once more, so many orderly rows of Sunday school children, instead of little pilgrims wandering a road far older than that which leads to Canterbury, the service was resumed, and soon came the recessional "O Little Town of Bethlehem."
