about four o'clock
Farquharson 's `` Academy '' was his little living-room -- not over-spacious for such an assembly ; but in those days no parental government legislated for so many cubic feet of space for each child , and they seemed to keep in health and strength in spite of that fact . The school assembled in what we may term the winter months only , which in Scotland may be reckoned as nearly two-thirds of the year . The remaining months were occupied in farming work both by master and scholars . During the term -LRB- as we may call it -RRB- the procedure was as follows : Farquharson was accustomed to rise about four o'clock and to work for two or three hours at threshing corn . After an early breakfast he made preparations for his scholastic duties by clearing out of the way all unnecessary furniture -- though there was little that was superfluous -- and placing the long planks supported by big stones which served for forms . As some children were sure to be occupied with class work during the whole time , fewer seats were needed than would have been necessary otherwise . The schoolmaster 's old mother , Margot , kept her own chair by the fire , where she kept an eye on the pot of soup and occupied herself with knitting .