morning, noon
The next fourteen days were desperate ones for Phil . From the moment he got back to the smithy , repair work piled in on him . Reapers and binders gave way in various parts and had to be put to rights at once , for it was nearing the end of the harvest season and the cold weather was already creeping along . Every horse in the Valley seemed suddenly to require reshoeing ; wagon springs broke ; buggy tires came off or wore out as they had never done before ; morning , noon and night Phil slaved trying to cope with the emergency . There was no help that he could call in , and he would not for worlds have sent word to Sol to end his holiday a moment sooner that might be . He snatched his meals when and where he could , while everyone clamoured for the immediate execution of his requirements . Finally Phil got up so early and he worked so late , that he made his bed for the time being on a bundle of straw covered with sacking , in a corner beside the forge .