Midnight
Yet it was not in Alan Fairford 's nature to give way to despondence , even when seconded by pain . He had recourse , in the first place , to his pocket ; but instead of the little Sallust he had brought with him , that the perusal of a classical author might help to pass away a heavy hour , he pulled out the supposed hymn-book with which he had been presented a few hours before , by that temperate and scrupulous person , Mr. Thomas Trumbull , ALIAS Turnpenny . The volume was bound in sable , and its exterior might have become a psalter . But what was Alan 's astonishment to read on the title page the following words : -- ` Merry Thoughts for Merry Men ; or Mother Midnight 's Miscellany for the Small Hours ; ' and turning over the leaves , he was disgusted with profligate tales , and more profligate songs , ornamented with figures corresponding in infamy with the letterpress . ` Good God ! ' he thought , ` and did this hoary reprobate summon his family together , and , with such a disgraceful pledge of infamy in his bosom , venture to approach the throne of his Creator ? It must be so ; the book is bound after the manner of those dedicated to devotional subjects , and doubtless the wretch , in his intoxication , confounded the books he carried with him , as he did the days of the week . '