noon
-LRB- SCENE , _ the corner of two principal streets _ , -LSB- 1 -RSB- _ the _ TOWN-PUMP _ talking through its nose _ . -RRB- Noon by the north clock ! Noon by the east ! High noon , too , by these hot sunbeams , which full , scarcely aslope , upon my head and almost make the water bubble and smoke in the trough under my nose . Truly , we public characters have a tough time of it ! And among all the town-officers chosen at March meeting , where is he that sustains for a single year the burden of such manifold duties as are imposed in perpetuity upon the town-pump ? The title of `` town-treasurer '' is rightfully mine , as guardian of the best treasure that the town has .