ten o'clock
Still she missed Traverse very sadly . It was dreary to rise up in the empty house every morning ; dreary to sit down to her solitary meals , and drearier still to go to bed in her lonely room without having received her boy 's kiss and heard his cheerful good-night . And it was her custom every night to read over Traverse 's last letter before retiring to bed . It was getting on toward ten o'clock when she folded up her work and put it away and drew her boy 's latest epistle from her bosom to read . It ran as follows : St. Louis , Dec. 1st , 184 -- . My dearest Mother -- I am very glad to hear that you continue in good health , and that you do not work too hard , or miss me too sadly . It is the greatest comfort of my life to hear good news of you , sweet mother .