noon
It was a little brown house , built surely when its owner 's means were not greater than his wishes , and probably some time before his family had reached the goodly growth it boasted now . All of them were gathered at the breakfast-table . `` Boys , you may take the oxen , and finish ploughing that upland field -- I shall be busy all day sowing wheat in the bend meadow . '' `` Then I 'll bring the boat for you , papa , at noon , '' said a child on the other side of the table . `` And see if you can keep those headlands as clean as I have left them . '' `` Yes , sir . Shall you want the horses , father , or shall we take both the oxen ? ''