twelve
o’clock
`` Sam , ai n't you coming over to tell us some stories to-night ? '' `` Bless your soul and body , boys ! life ai n't made to be spent tellin ' stories . Why , I shall hev to be up here workin ' till arter twelve o'clock , '' said Sam , who was suddenly possessed with a spirit of the most austere diligence . `` Here I be up to my neck in work , -- things kind o ' comin ' in a heap together . There 's Mis ' Cap’n Broad 's andirons , she sent word she must have 'em to-night ; and there 's Lady Lothrop , she wants her warmin ' - pan right off ; they ca n't non ' on 'em wait a minit longer . I 've ben a drivin ' and workin ' all day like a nigger-slave .