there 's hoots and i get called `` tacky hotbottom '' and there 's pillows thrown and shrieks all around until , finally , down below , the father of the house takes up a poker or some such thing and gives the floor beneath us a few sharp raps and issues a muffled threat to beat us all to sleep if we do n't quiet down and let a poor workingman get his rest and why was he cursed with daughters , and we do it , we blow out the candle and quiet down .