midnight
He was very happy that day . The week after college closed Michael drove the college mule to the county seat , ten miles away , and bought a small trunk . It was not much of a trunk but it was the best the town afforded . In this he packed all his worldly possessions , bade good-bye to the president , and such of the professors as had not already gone North for their vacations , took a long tramp to all his old haunts , and boarded the midnight train for New York . The boy had a feeling of independence which kept him from letting his benefactor know of his intended arrival . He did not wish to make him any unnecessary trouble , and though he had now been away from New York for fourteen years , he felt a perfect assurance that he could find his way about . There are some things that one may learn even at seven , that will never be forgotten .