noon
`` Put Ivy to bed as soon as you wash her face , John Jay , an ' go yo ` self when the propah time comes . Be a good boy now , and do n't forget to close the doah tight when you go in . '' When Ivy was safely tucked away among the pillows , the two boys sat down on the door-step to wait once more for the birthday Santa Claus . John Jay repeated what the thoughtless fellow had said : `` If I do n't get there by noon , it 'll be because something has happened ; anyway , somebody 'll be prancing along about sundown . '' In the week just passed , Bud had come to believe in the birthday Santa Claus as firmly as John Jay . `` Wondah wot he 's doin ' now ? '' he said , after a long pause and an anxious glance down the darkening road .