midnight
Book-farming ai n't all flapdoodle , that 's sure ! '' So the year ended -- quietly , peacefully , and with no little happiness in the Atterson farmhouse , despite the cloud that overshadowed the farm-title , and the doubts which faced them about the next season 's work . They sat up on New Year 's eve to see the old year out and the new in , and had a merry evening although there were only the family . When the distant whistles blew at midnight they went out upon the back porch to listen . It was a dark night , for thick clouds shrouded the stars . Only the unbroken coverlet of snow -LRB- it had fallen that morning -RRB- aided them to see about the empty fields . In the far distance was the twinkle of a single light -- that in an upper chamber of the Pollock house .