a quarter to five
All these things happened every day in the summertime , but in the winter the widow and Dorcas cleared the snow from their little front path instead of attending to the flowers , and in the evening they lighted a fire as well as a lamp in the parlor . Sometimes , however , something different happened , but this was not often , only a few times in the year . One of the different things occurred when Mrs. Ducket and Dorcas were sitting on their little front porch one summer afternoon , one on the little bench on one side of the door , and the other on the little bench on the other side of the door , each waiting until she should hear the clock strike five , to prepare tea . But it was not yet a quarter to five when a one-horse wagon containing four men came slowly down the street . Dorcas first saw the wagon , and she instantly stopped knitting . `` Mercy on me ! '' she exclaimed .