It was sunset, and a number of girls, some of whom were
Sunday-school teachers, were singing at their work in a certain
factory Bishop Doane’s verses beginning,
“Softly now the light of day,”
to the tune of “Holley,” when a Christian woman who was visiting
the factory was shown the singing girls through an opened door.
On being told that the singing was now a regular custom with
the girls, she asked, “Has it made a difference?” Said the
superintendent who was escorting her around, “There is seldom
any quarreling or coarse joking among them now.”
(1608)