seven o'clock
Mr. Dyer was a poor man ; why should not he make a little money ? But Mr. Dyer replied that he had no cart and horse to take the potatoes to Spinville with , and no time either . He had agreed to mow the deacon 's off-lot , and he was not going to disappoint the deacon , even if he should get a couple of dollars by it ; and he was n't going to let his potatoes rot , when all Spinville was in want of potatoes . So Mr. Dyer set to work , and printed in large letters on a sheet of paper these words : `` All persons in want of potatoes , apply to J. Dyer , Cranberry Lane , Wednesday , the fifteenth , after seven o'clock , A.M. Gratis . '' The last word was added after Mr. Dyer had pasted the notice against the town hall of Spinville ; for so many people came up to bother him with questions as to how much he was going to ask for his potatoes , that he was obliged to add this by way of explanation , or he would never have got to the deacon 's off-lot Tuesday morning . Wednesday morning , Mrs. Dyer sat by the front window , with her darning . She had persuaded Mr. Dyer to wait till Wednesday ; for as for having all the people tramping through the yard when the clean clothes were out , she could n't think of it ; and she might as well get through the ironing , then she could have an eye on them .