midnight
The Peter-bird was too young to greatly dare ; still it ought perhaps to be set down that he sold three dozen marbles and a new kite to Billy Harmon that summer , and bought his mother a birthday present with the money . All Peter 's `` doors of daring '' had hitherto opened into places from which he issued weeping , with sprained ankles , bruised hands , skinned knees or burned eyelashes . It was the Fourth of July ; a hot , still day when one could fairly see the green peas swelling in their pods and the string beans climbing their poles like acrobats ! Young Beulah had rung the church bell at midnight , cast its torpedoes to earth in the early morning , flung its fire-crackers under the horses ' feet , and felt somewhat relieved of its superfluous patriotism by breakfast time . Then there was a parade of Antiques and Horribles , accompanied by the Beulah Band , which , though not as antique , was fully as horrible as anything in the procession . From that time on , the day had been somnolent , enlivened in the Carey household only by the solemn rite of paying the annual rent of the Yellow House . The votive nosegay had been carefully made up , and laid lovingly by Nancy under Mother Hamilton 's portrait , in the presence not only of the entire family , but also of Osh Popham , who had called to present early radishes and peppergrass .