noon
-LSB- Illustration -RSB- -LSB- Illustration -RSB- Frankie was the hero of the school after his father 's coming . Boys and girls gathered about him at noon , and recess , and after school , to listen to his stories of his father 's life in California -- of the giant trees , the mines , the snow-covered mountains , and all the wonders of the Land of Gold . `` Let 's go some time , boys , '' said Joe West , one noon , as they stood listening , with wide-open eyes . `` I 'll go , '' said Willie Prime , `` just as soon as I 'm a man . '' `` I 'll go before that , '' said Ben . ``' Tai n't no use for me to stay here . ''