Now , then , hand me a bit of paper , and I 'll give you the address , so you wo n't have any excuse for forgetting what I tell you . ' ` Mercy on us ; what will he do next ? ' thought I , as he tweaked a feather out of his breast , gave the nib a peck , and then coolly wrote these words on the card I handed him : ' Church of the Disciples . Knock and it shall be opened ! ' There it was , in letters of gold ; and , while I looked at it , feeling reproached that I had n't known it sooner , my friend , -- he did n't seem a stranger any more , -- said in a business-like tone , as he put back his pen , ` Now I must be off . Old Ben reads an article on the `` Abuses of the Press at the present day , '' and I must be there to report . ' ` It must be very interesting . I suppose you do n't allow mortals at your meetings ? ' said I , burning to go , in spite of the storm . ` No , ma'am . We meet on the Common ; and , in the present state of the weather , I do n't think flesh and blood would stand it . Bronze , marble , and wood are sterner stuff , and can defy the elements . ' ` Good evening ; pray , call again , ' I said , hospitably . ' I will ; your eyrie suits me : but do n't expect me to call in the daytime . I 'm on duty then , and ca n't take my eye off my charge . The city needs a deal of watching , my dear . Bless me ! it 's striking eight . Your watch is seven minutes slow by the Old South . Good-night , good-night ! '
And as I opened the window , the great bird soared away like a flash of light through the XXXXX , leaving me so astonished at the whole performance that I have n't got over it yet .
; Ben South daytime eye eyrie flesh minutes nib storm