about midday
The earth was rolling off its white covering of night mist , and the morning rose prophetically . Lasse stood still in the doorway , yawning , and making up his mind about the weather for the day ; but Pelle let the soft tones of the wind and the song of the lark -- all that was stirring -- beat upon his little heart . With open mouth and doubtful eyes he gazed into the incomprehensible as represented by each new day with all its unimagined possibilities . `` To-day you must take your coat with you , for we shall have rain about midday , '' Lasse would then say ; and Pelle peered into the sky to find out where his father got his knowledge from . For it generally came true . They then set about cleaning out the dung in the cow-stable , Pelle scraping the floor under the cows and sweeping it up , Lasse filling the wheelbarrow and wheeling it out . At half-past five they ate their morning meal of salt herring and porridge .