one o'clock
These wretched women and forlorn little children had already begun to look forward to the coming of the `` bread boy , '' as the little ones called him , as a bright spot in their days . In almost every room he managed to leave a hint of cheer behind him , or at least to lighten a little the cloudy atmosphere . His pail and basket empty , he ran back to Nan 's room for his own supplies , and having opened his stand he served his customers , taking his own breakfast between whiles , as he had opportunity . He sold the morning papers , too , at his stand , and between twelve and one o'clock he was as busy as a boy could well be . After that hour few customers appeared , and then , having made his midday meal from whatever he had left , he closed his stand and went home . Then was his time for a little more of what Nan called his `` shadow work , '' when he refilled with fresh water the cup of the rheumatic old woman , or carried her a cup of tea that Nan had made for her , adding to it , perhaps , a cooky or a sandwich that remained from his stock . Or he glanced into a room where two or three children were locked in all day while the mothers were away at work -- and attended to the fire for them .