twelve o'clock
He did not earn very much , and had to be out in all weathers and all day long . But Toby was of a cheerful disposition , and looked on the bright side of everything , and was grateful for any small mercies that came in his way ; and so was happier than many people who never knew what it is to be hungry or in want of comforts . His greatest joy was his dear , bright , pretty daughter Meg , who loved him dearly . One cold day , near the end of the year , Toby had been waiting a long time for a job , trotting up and down in his usual place before the church , and trying hard to keep himself warm , when the bells chimed twelve o'clock , which made Toby think of dinner . `` There 's nothing , '' he remarked , carefully feeling his nose to make sure it was still there , `` more regular in coming round than dinner-time , and nothing less regular in coming round than dinner . That 's the great difference between 'em . '' He went on talking to himself , trotting up and down , and never noticing who was coming near to him .