ten
o'clock
The snow fell fitfully , and the wind howled in gusts , but every farmer hitched up and took his wife and children with him , and no family went empty-handed . For every road to every church lay straight by the widow 's door . Short cuts there were to be used on general occasions , but that morning there was but the one road . And so it fell out that by ten o'clock there was a goodly procession of farm wagons , with here and there a buggy , and presently the widow 's fence was lined with teams , and the men , women , and children were alighting and thronging up the narrow path to Mrs. O'Callaghan 's door . There was no merriment , but there was a kindly look on every face that was beautiful to see . And there were those between whom bitterness had been growing that smiled upon each other to-day , as they jostled burdens on the path ; for every one carried something , even the children , who stumbled by reason of their very importance . The widow looked out and saw the full hands , and her heart sank .