eleven o'clock
Says I , -- `` I have heerd you say , time and agin , that you liked 'em , and wanted 'em to do well : now , what do good wishes ammount to , unless you are willin ' to back 'em up with good acts ? '' Says I , `` I might say that I wished 'em well and happy , and that would be only a small expendature of wind , that would n't be no loss to me , and no petickuler help to them . But if I show my good will towards 'em by stirrin ' up fruit-cakes and bride-cake , and pickin ' chickens , and pressin ' 'em , and makin ' ice-cream and coffee and sandwitches , and workin ' myself completely tired out , a wishin ' 'em well , why , then they can depend on it that I am sincere in my good wishes . '' `` Wall , '' says Josiah , `` if you wish me well , I wish you would get me a little sunthin ' to eat before I starve : it is past eleven o'clock . '' `` The hand is on the pinter , '' says I calmly . `` But start a good fire , and I will get dinner . '' So he did , and I did , and he never made no further objections to my enterprise ; and it was all understood that I should get their weddin ' supper , and they should start from here on their tower .