noon
In the same ignorance they toiled through a long day . It was a close October day in the end of a summer that had lingered to give the countryside nothing better than a second crop of haws . Beneath the beeches leaves lay in yellow heaps like sliced turnip , and over all the strath was a pink haze ; the fields were singed brown , except where a recent ploughing gave them a mourning border . From early morn men , women and children -LRB- Tommy among them -RRB- were in the fields taking up their potatoes , half-a-dozen gatherers at first to every drill , and by noon it seemed a dozen , though the new-comers were but stout sacks , now able to stand alone . By and by heavy-laden carts were trailing into Thrums , dog-tired toilers hanging on behind , not to be dragged , but for an incentive to keep them trudging , boys and girls falling asleep on top of the load , and so neglecting to enjoy the ride which was their recompense for lifting . A growing mist mixed with the daylight , and still there were a few people out , falling over their feet with fatigue ; it took silent possession , and then the shadowy forms left in the fields were motionless and would remain there until carted to garrets and kitchen corners and other winter quarters on Monday morning . There were few gad-abouts that Saturday night .