noon
Uncle Ith came on foot ; and wore his old blue coat with brass buttons , his flowered vest , and shining trousers so awkwardly , that people who did not know him stared at him as at a strange spectacle . People -- and they were many -- who did know him , stared at him with a still greater surprise , wondering what extraordinary event in his history was about to occur . Uncle Ith felt the additional embarrassment of fame , or notoriety ; for an affidavit , prepared by Overtop , giving the full particulars of his observations from the bell tower , had been published in all the city papers that morning . Before noon , Uncle Ith had been waited on by six newspaper reporters , to whom he had furnished particulars of his early life ; and had promised to sit for his photograph , for the use of an illustrated weekly , on the following day . For all these reasons , added to his natural modesty , he pulled the door bell with a feeling of profound regret , which was followed by a strange desire to run around the corner . Before this desire could have been gratified , the door was opened by a servant , and Uncle Ith was ushered in . The anticipated awkwardness of an introduction to old Van Quintem , was prevented by the approach of that gentleman before his name was announced .