midnight
I took to drink ; I sunk lower and lower , dissipated my little fortune , friends forsook me ; and by quick stages in the descending scale I found myself , as I said before -- an outcast ! Yet , through all my troubles I have never entertained the thought of self-destruction . I have no desire whatever to seek -- '' ` The undiscover 'd country , from whose bourn No traveler returns , -- puzzles the will , And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than to fly to others we know not of . ' '' It was long after midnight when Tippett concluded his story and the gathering broke up ; not , however , before sleeping-quarters had been found for the unfortunate man , and a promise given by Senator Bull to put him on his feet again in the far West -- an offer gladly accepted in all sincerity , and a venture which proved highly successful , as most of the long-headed Senator 's usually did . Morning brought relief , the track was cleared , and our train proceeded on its way , arriving at Washington many hours behind schedule ; its occupants but little the worse for their experience -- Colonel Manysnifters , I believe , with a slight headache .