About six o'clock
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 . About six o'clock he entered the house of a mechanic , just as the family were sitting down to tea . He recommended his book with so much energy , that the wife of the mechanic took a fancy to him , and not only purchased one , but invited him to tea . Bobby accepted the invitation , and in the course of the meal the good lady drew from him the details of his history , which he very modestly related , for though he sometimes fancied himself a man , he was not the boy to boast of his exploits . His host was so much pleased with him , that he begged him to spend the night with them .