half past
six
He was going to teach the school next winter , and he wanted to have a seed-corn frolic the first day , instead of waiting until the last -- and you had to get seed corn while it was on the stalk , if you got the best . No Simms could refuse a favor to the fellow who was so much like themselves , and who was so greatly interested in trapping , hunting and the Tennessee mountains -- so Raymond went with Jim , and with Newt Bronson and five more they selected Colonel Woodruff 's seed corn for the next year , under the colonel 's personal superintendence . In the evening they looked the grain over on the Woodruff lawn , and the colonel talked about corn and corn selection . They had supper at half past six , and Jennie waited on them -- having assisted her mother in the cooking . It was quite a festival . Jim Irwin was the least conspicuous person in the gathering , but the colonel , who was a seasoned politician , observed that the farm-hand had become a fisher of men , and was angling for the souls of these boys , and their interest in the school . Jim was careful not to flush the covey , but every boy received from the next winter 's teacher some confidential hint as to plans , and some suggestion that Jim was relying on the aid and comfort of that particular boy .