a
quarter past seven in winter
His orthodoxy was the admiration of the entire congregation , and the terror of all the ministers within easy driving distance of the Deacon 's native village . He it was who had argued the late pastor of the Pawkin Centre Church into that state of disquietude which had carried him , through a few days of delirious fever , into the Church triumphant ; and it was also Deacon Barker whose questions at the examination of seekers for the ex-pastor 's shoes had cast such consternation into divinity-schools , far and near , that soon it was very hard to find a candidate for ministerial honors at Pawkin Centre . Nor was his faith made manifest by words alone . Be the weather what it might , the Deacon was always in his pew , both morning and evening , in time to join in the first hymn , and on every Thursday night , at a quarter past seven in winter , and a quarter before eight in summer , the good Deacon 's cane and shoes could be heard coming solemnly down the aisle , bringing to the prayer-meeting the champion of orthodoxy . Nor did the holy air of the prayer-meeting even one single evening fail to vibrate to the voice of the Deacon , as he made , in scriptural language , humble confessions and tearful pleadings before the throne , or -- still strictly scriptural in expression -- he warned and exhorted the impenitent . The contribution-box always received his sixpence as long as specie payment lasted , and the smallest fractional currency note thereafter ; and to each of the regular annual offerings to the missionary cause , the Bible cause , and kindred Christian enterprises , the Deacon regularly contributed his dollar and his prayers . The Deacon could quote scripture in a manner which put Biblical professors to the blush , and every principle of his creed so bristled with texts , confirmatory , sustentive and aggressive , that doubters were rebuked and free-thinkers were speedily reduced to speechless humility or rage .