the hour of four o'clock
You have often observed the calm , gloomy silence that precedes a thunder-storm ; and had you been there that day , you might have witnessed its illustration in a scene much more awful . The thick living mass of people extended from the corner-house , nearly a quarter of a mile , at this end of the town , up to the parsonage on the other side . During the early part of the day , every kind of business was carried on in a hurry and an impatience , which denoted the little chance they knew there would be for transacting it in the evening . `` Up to the hour of four o'clock the fair was unusually quiet , and , on the whole , presented nothing in any way remarkable ; but after that hour you might observe the busy stir and hum of the mass settling down into a deep , brooding , portentous silence , that was absolutely fearful . The females , with dismay and terror pictured in their faces , hurried home ; and in various instances you might see mothers , and wives , and sisters , clinging about the sons , husbands , and brothers , attempting to drag them by main force from the danger which they knew impended over them . In this they seldom succeeded : for the person so urged was usually compelled to tear himself from them by superior strength . `` The pedlars and basket-women , and such as had tables and standings erected in the streets , commenced removing them with all possible haste .