midnight
`` Miss Marwood says it is what we put into a year , not what we get out of it , that counts at last . '' `` I 'm always glad to see a New Year , '' said the Story Girl . `` I wish we could do as they do in Norway . The whole family sits up until midnight , and then , just as the clock is striking twelve , the father opens the door and welcomes the New Year in . Is n't it a pretty custom ? '' `` If ma would let us stay up till twelve we might do that too , '' said Dan , `` but she never will . I call it mean . ''