three o'clock
Halstead and I dropped the seed , three beans to a hill , going a few steps in advance of Addison and the old Squire , who followed us with hoes and covered the beans . The process of dropping was very simple ; we had only to make an imprint in the soft earth with the right heel , and then drop three beans in the hole . Yet with the sun hot above my head , I found it a sweaty task , and was but too glad to hear Ellen blow the horn for dinner . Bean-planting was the business again after dinner , but dark clouds rose in the west , shortly before three o'clock , and soon the first thunder-shower of the season rose , rumbling upward over the White Mountains . We were compelled to run for the barn . Gramp improved the opportunity to sharpen the sheep-shears , and as soon as the shower abated , sent Halstead off to notify a man at the Corners , named Peter Glinds , a professional shearer , that his services would be required on the following day . `` Old Peter , '' as he was called , had made shearing sheep his spring vocation for many years ; he was a very tall , lean , yellow old man , who was reported to use a plug of tobacco a day , the year round .