noon
He often felt inclined to question this or that old man how the little incantation ran , but a certain shyness always prevented him from betraying the drift of his thoughts . He came also to the conclusion that not many could be acquainted with the story of the Glassmanikin , and but few could know the incantation , as there were hardly any rich people in the forest , and -- but why had not his father and other poor folk tried their luck ? At last , he coaxed his mother to talk of the Glassmanikin ; but she could only tell him what he already knew , being able to quote only the first line of the rhymed incantation , although she informed him , at length , that the goblin showed himself only to those born on a Sunday between the hours of eleven and two . He himself , having been born at noon on a Sunday , was , therefore , one of the elect , if he but knew the incantation . When Charcoal-Peter Munk heard this he could scarcely contain himself with joy and eagerness to make the adventure . Because he knew a part of the incantation and was born on Sunday , he conjectured that the Glassmanikin would surely show himself . One day , therefore , having sold all his charcoal he kindled no fresh fires in his kilns , but dressed himself in his father 's state-jerkin and new red stockings , donned his Sunday hat , took his five-foot blackthorn stick in hand , and bade farewell to his mother .