morning, noon
`` I am , sir , & c , `` Henry Hartley . '' Our readers are , no doubt , a good deal surprised , that Phil , knowing , from sad experience , the courage for which all the Hartley family were so remarkable , should have ventured to undertake the post of chairman , on an occasion where such charges were advanced against the gentleman in question . And , indeed , so they ought to be surprised , as upon the following morning no man living felt that sensation so deeply or painfully as did worthy Phil himself , who experienced the tortures of the damned . The whole secret of the matter , therefore , is , that Phil had lately taken to drink -- to drink at all hours too -- morning , noon , and night . In vain did his father remonstrate with him upon the subject ; in vain did he entreat on one occasion and command on another . Phil , who was full of valor under certain circumstances , told his father he did not care a curse for him , and d -- d his honor if he would allow him to curb him in that manner . The fact is , that Phil was at the present period of our tale , as corrupt and profligate a scoundrel as ever walked the earth .