fifteen minutes
past five
But in a month 's time the little face had turned cold and waxen , and the hopes that the white flannel bundle had carried had died with the baby boy ; -- and that baby would have been a lad grown by this time , if he had lived -- a lad not far from the age of this Billy who was coming to-day , reflected the man . And the warmth in his heart deepened and glowed the more as he stood waiting at the gate for Billy to arrive . The train from Hampden Falls was late . Not until quite fifteen minutes past five did it roll into the train-shed . Then at once its long line of passengers began to sweep toward the iron gate . William was just inside the gate now , anxiously scanning every face and form that passed . There were many half-grown lads , but there was not one with a pink in his buttonhole until very near the end .