midnight before
This Teague happened to walk into Helston on a Furry-day , when the Mayor and townspeople dance through the streets to the Furry-tune . In the evening there was a grand ball given at the Angel Hotel , and the landlord very kindly allowed Teague -- who had stopped too late as it was -- to look in through the door and watch the gentry dance the Lancers . Teague thought he had never seen anything so heavenly . What with one hindrance and another 't was past midnight before he reached home , and then nothing would do for him but he must have his wife and six children out upon the floor in their night-clothes , practising the Grand Chain while he sang -- Out of my stony griefs Bethel I 'll raise ! The seventh child , the babby , they set down in the middle of the floor , like a nine-pin . And the worst of it was , the poor mite twisted his eyes so , trying to follow his mammy round and round , that he grew up with a cast from that hour . 'T is of this child -- Joby he was called -- that I am going to tell you .