the
hour of twelve
The joiner in the next village , however , said , that `` Wi ' a ' George 's genius , he didna believe he could mak an elshin-heft , and stick him ! -- and , in his opinion , there was mair to be made by making elshin-hefts than by writing ballants ! '' As I have said , eight years had passed ; it was again the last night of the old year , and a very dark and stormy night it was . Mr Rogers , his wife , their son George , and the rest of their family , had again seen the old year out , and the New Year in , and exchanged with each other the compliments of the season , when the cuckoo-clock again announced the hour of twelve . Nelly had '' _ happed _ up the fire '' with her own hands -- a thing that she always did on the last night of the old year , that it might not be out on a New-year 's morning . She was again wondering who would be their first-foot , and expressing a hope that it would be a lucky one , when a chaise drew up before the house , and the driver , dismounting and knocking at the window , begged that they would favour him with a light , as the roads were exceedingly dark , and the lamps of the chaise had been blown out by the wind . `` A licht ! ''