7 to 11
a.m.
His cheeks were somewhat hollow and his garments threadbare , for in truth the fourpence he received , though not a sum to be despised , was not sufficient to maintain him in much luxury . John Tobin had also a widowed mother , already advancing in life , whom he did his utmost to support , and he looked forward to the time when he should , by the result of his labours , enable her to live in more comfort than she then could . Ernst , in course of time , made friends with several of his schoolfellows , who will be mentioned hereafter . He had to be up early every morning to take his breakfast and be away to school , as the hours of study were from 7 to 11 a.m. , and from 1 to 5 p.m. On one side of the hall was a chapel , where the pupils assembled for prayers on first collecting in the morning , as also at noon , and again in the evening . Ernst , having been brought up a strict Calvinist , was not altogether pleased at seeing , over the chair of the head master , an image of the boy Jesus , albeit it was a beautiful work of art . It was in the gesture of teaching . All the scholars on going into the hall , as also on departing , were taught to salute it with a hymn .