About nine o'clock
It was certainly not at variance with the cheerfulness which they felt , but , at the same time , it shed over it a serene solemnity of manner which communicated a moral grandeur to the whole proceeding that fell little short of sublimity . This was a principle of simple virtue upon which all were equal ; but it was more than that , it was at once a manifestation of humility , and an exertion of faith in the aid and support of the Almighty , by whose grace those earnest but humble people felt and trusted that they would be supported . And who can say that their simplicity of heart -- their unaffected humility , and their firmness of faith have not been amply rewarded , and triumphantly confirmed by the steadfastness with which they have been , with extremely few exceptions , faithful to their pledge . About nine o'clock the town of Ballykeerin was crowded with a multitude such as had never certainly met in it before . All , from the rustic middle classes down , were there . The crowd was , indeed , immense , yet , notwithstanding their numbers , one could easily mark the peculiar class for whose sake principally the meeting had been called together . There was the red-faced farmer of substance , whose sunburnt cheeks , and red side-neck , were scorched into a color that disputed its healthy hue with the deeper purple tint of strong and abundant drink .