eleven
o'clock
If there was anything at that fair that no one else wanted , and that was not calculated to supply any known want of the human race , it was palmed off on me . I became the unhappy possessor of five dressed dolls , a lady 's `` nubia , '' a baby-jumper , fourteen `` tidies , '' a set of parlor croquet with wickets that would n't stand on their legs , a patent churn warranted to make a pound of fresh butter in three minutes out of a quart of chalk-and-water , a set of ladies ' nightcaps , two child 's aprons , a castle-in-the-air , a fairy-palace , a doll 's play-house , a toy-balloon , a box of marbles , a pair of spectacles , a pair of pillow-shams , a young lady 's work-basket , seven needle-books , a cradle-quilt , a good many bookmarks , a sofa-cushion , and an infant 's rattle , warranted to cut one 's eye teeth ; besides which I had tickets in a fruit cake , a locket , a dressing-bureau , a baby-carriage , a lady 's watch-chain , and an infant 's wardrobe complete . When I feebly remonstrated that I 'd spent all the money I brought , I was smilingly assured by innumerable female Tootses that `` it was of no consequence '' ; but I found there _ were _ consequences when I came to settle afterward for half the things at the fair , because I was too bashful to say No , boldly . Fred Hencoop auctioned off the remaining articles after eleven o'clock . Every time he put up something utterly unsalable , he would look over at me , nod , and say : `` Thank you , John ; did you say fifty cents ? '' or `` Did I hear you say a dollar ? A dollar -- dollar -- going , gone to our friend and patron , John Flutter , Jr. , '' and some of the lady managers would `` make a note of it , '' and I was too everlastingly embarrassed to deny it .