about
nine in the evening
The stage carried him to the nearest railway station , and the express train bore him rapidly toward the great city where he expected to find all that a man 's heart most craves on earth . Sanguine as his father , constant as his mother , with a nature that would go right or wrong with tremendous energy , as direction might be given it , he was destined to live no tame , colorless life , but would either enjoy much , or else suffer much . To his young heart , swelling with hopes , burning with zeal to distinguish himself and provide for those he was leaving , even the bleak , snow-clad prairie seemed an arena in which he might accomplish a vague something . The train , somewhat impeded by snow , landed Dennis in Chicago at about nine in the evening . In his pocket he had ten dollars -- ample seed corn , he believed , for a golden harvest . This large sum was expected to provide for him till he should find a situation and receive the first instalment of salary . He would inform his employer , when he found him , how he was situated , and ask to be paid early and often .