one o'clock
Sometimes all his arguments were unavailing , and after he had spent half an hour of valuable time in setting forth the merits of `` The Wayfarer , '' he was compelled to retire without having effected a sale . Sometimes , too , he was rudely repulsed ; hard epithets were applied to him ; old men and old women , worried out by the continued calls of pedlers , sneered at him , or shut the door in his face ; but Bobby was not disheartened . He persevered , and did not allow these little trials to discompose or discourage him . By one o'clock on the first day of his service he had sold eighteen books , which far exceeded even his most sanguine expectations . By this time he began to feel the want of his dinner ; but there was no tavern or eating house at hand , and he could not think of leaving the harvest to return to the railroad station ; so he bought a sheet of gingerbread and a piece of cheese at a store , and seating himself near a brook by the side of the road , he bolted his simple meal , as boys are very apt to do when they are excited . When he had finished , he took out his account book , and entered , `` Dinner , 10 cents . '' Resuming his business , he disposed of the remaining six books in his valise by the middle of the afternoon , and was obliged to return for another supply .