midnight
`` I 'll make a fresh start , '' came from Powell , and he warbled : `` Old Putnam Hall I do adore , And love the place as ne'er before , The campus , boathouse , fishing pier -- The roads that run from far and near -- Each classroom is a hallowed spot , Though many lessons are forgot ! The dormitories , bright and clean -- No better rooms were ever seen ! The mess-room , where we gathered oft -- '' `` To eat our eggs both hard and soft ! '' finished up Tom , and then went on : `` The prison wherein I was cast , And thought that day would be my last , The teachers sweet and the teachers sour , And the feasts we held at the midnight hour , The games of ball we lost and won , And the jubilees ! What lots of fun ! And then the skating on the ice -- '' `` When we broke in , 't was not so nice : '' interrupted George Granbury , referring to a calamity the particulars of which have already been related in `` The Rover Boys in the Mountains . '' And then Songbird Powell took up the strain once more : `` I love each corner and each nook , I love the lake and love the brook , I love the cedars waving high -- '' `` And love the dinners with mince pie , '' interrupted Tom once more , and continued : `` In fact , I love it one and all , There is no spot like Putnam Hall ! ''