midnight
Then I heard the eight ringers down below . One said : `` Never knowed a Christmas like this since Zeb Sanderaft died . Come , boys ! '' I knew it must be close on to midnight . Now they would play a Christmas carol . I used every Christmas to be roused up and carried here and set on dad 's shoulder . When they were done ringing , Number Two always gave me a box of sugar-plums and a large red apple .