nearly four o'clock in the morning
She had lived forty-five years , as men reckon summers and winters ; but she had never learned , in all that time , to know her Mother , Nature , her Father , God , nor her brothers and sisters , the children of the world . She had lived friendless and unfriendly , keeping none of the ten commandments , nor yet the eleventh , which is the greatest of all ; and now there was no human being to slip a flower into the still hand , to kiss the clay-cold lips at the remembrance of some sweet word that had fallen from them , or drop a tear and say , `` I loved her ! '' Apparently , the two watchers did not regard Flossy Morrison even in the light of `` the dear remains , '' as they are sometimes called at country funerals . They were in the best of spirits -LRB- there was an abundance of beer -RRB- , and their gruesome task would be over in a few hours ; for it was nearly four o'clock in the morning , and the body was to be taken away at ten . `` I tell you one thing , Ettie , Flossy has n't left any bother for her friends , '' remarked Mrs. Nancy Simmons , settling herself back in her rocking-chair . `` As she did n't own anything but the clothes on her back , there wo n't be any quarreling over the property ! '' and she chuckled at her delicate humor .