midnight
And the answer came , through a holy resolution : ` I will stay here till morning . ''' `` Now , Jenny Dobbs , '' said the teacher . Jenny 's eyes were glistening , but she took a long breath and commenced . `` The midnight moon looked down upon that small , solitary form , sitting upon a stone , halfway up the dike . His head was bent but he was not asleep , for every now and then one restless hand rubbed feebly the outstretched arm that seemed fastened to the dike -- and often the pale , tearful face turned quickly at some real or fancied sounds . `` How can we know the sufferings of that long and fearful watch -- what falterings of purpose , what childish terrors came over the boy as he thought of the warm little bed at home , of his parents , his brothers and sisters , then looked into the cold , dreary night ! If he drew away that tiny finger , the angry waters , grown angrier still , would rush forth , and never stop until they had swept over the town .