midnight
A Shawnee squaw was occupied in preparing the morning meal , while her liege lord still reclined in one corner , in the vain effort to secure a few minutes more of slumber . This latter personage was Hans Vanderbum -- our friend Hans -- a huge , plethoric , stolid , lazy Dutchman , who had `` married '' an Indian widow several years before . At the time of her marriage this squaw had a boy some three or four years of age , while a second one , the son of the Dutchman , was now just large enough to be as mischievous as a kitten . They were a couple of greasy , copper-hued little rascals , with eyes as black as midnight , and long , wiry hair , like that of a horse 's mane . Brimful of animal spirits , they were just the reverse of Hans Vanderbum , whose laziness and stupidity were only excelled by his indifference to the dignity and rights of human nature . Hans Vanderbum lay fiat upon his back , for the atmosphere of the wigwam was too warm for covering , his ponderous belly rising and falling like a wave of the sea , and his throat giving forth that peculiar rattling of the glottis , which might be mistaken for suffocation . The boys certainly would have been outside , basking in the genial sunshine , had not their mother , Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock , positively denied them that coveted privilege .