the hour of seven
`` Yes , there is plenty of time , '' said father . `` The sun sets early ; the shortest day in the year will soon be with us , '' and his eyes closed as if he were too tired to think , and he sat in silence until the sound of feet on the walk aroused him . `` Hope we hai n't come over to see more dyin ' , Miss Em ` ly . ` Pears like its gettin ' pooty lonesome round yere , '' and as our friends seated themselves , the old clock tolled the hour of seven . Little Emily was asleep in Louis ' lap , and her cousin Hal curled himself up in one corner of the old sofa , as if he , too , felt the presence of the god of sleep . `` Now we are ready , '' said my father , `` and here is the paper written by Aunt Hildy which she bade me read to you all , and whose instructions we must obey to the letter , remembering how wise and good our kind friend has ever been . It is written in the form of a letter , '' and he read the following : `` My dear friends , I am writin ' this as ef I was dead and you still in the land of the livin ' , as we call it ; I feel now as if when you read it I shall be in the land of the livin ' , and you among them who feed mostly on husks .