midnight
or I curse thee here ! I 'll call it YEA if but a withered twig , Tossed by the wind , falls rattling on the roof ; I 'll call it YEA , if e ` en a shutter creak , Breathe but on me , and it shall stand for proof ! `` Too late ! The midnight bell -- The crawling shadow at its witching flood , With the deep gloom of the Beyond is wed , And I , unanswered , sit within and brood , And thou , Old Year , art silent -- Thou art DEAD ! '' When the chaplain finished his reading , my boy , I told him that he must excuse the party for going to sleep , as they were really very tired . On New Year 's day , my boy , the General of the Mackerel Brigade desired me to make a few calls with him ; and appeared at my lodgings in a confirmed state of kid gloves , which he bought for the express purpose of making a joke . `` A happy New Year to you , my Duke of Wellington , '' says I. `` You look as frisky as a spring lamb . ''