Nine o'clock
`` The week was nearly passed , Harris would close his business and leave in the morning . How my heart thrilled as at night I dressed myself carefully , and put the little suit his father liked best on Willie ! Then , seating myself and taking my baby on my lap , I rocked him and told him stories to while the time away till I heard the tramp of the iron horse . `` Nine o'clock rung out from the little French clock on the mantel . A moment and the rumbling of the cars was heard , while the whistle screeched out its warning , and Willie bounded from my arms , ` Pa come , pa come ! ' '' ` Not yet , darling , ' and I whiled him back to wait patiently . It was far past his usual bedtime , but his eyes were never brighter .