noon
Deacon Foxwell Baxter still slammed its door behind him every morning at seven o'clock and , without any such cheerful conventions as good-byes to his girls , walked down to the bridge to open his store . The day , properly speaking , had opened when Waitstill and Patience had left their beds at dawn , built the fire , fed the hens and turkeys , and prepared the breakfast , while the Deacon was graining the horse and milking the cows . Such minor `` chores '' as carrying water from the well , splitting kindling , chopping pine , or bringing wood into the kitchen , were left to Waitstill , who had a strong back , or , if she had not , had never been unwise enough to mention the fact in her father 's presence . The almanac day , however , which opened with sunrise , had nothing to do with the real human day , which always began when Mr. Baxter slammed the door behind him , and reached its high noon of delight when he disappeared from view . `` He 's opening the store shutters ! '' chanted Patience from the heights of a kitchen chair by the window . `` Now he 's taken his cane and beaten off the Boynton puppy that was sitting on the steps as usual , -- I do n't mean Ivory 's dog '' -LRB- here the girl gave a quick glance at her sister -RRB- , `` but Rodman 's little yellow cur .