ten o'clock
And Nature possibly followed her example ; for at sunset a great thaw set in , and by midnight the freed rivers and brooks were gurgling melodiously , and tree and shrub and fence were moist and dripping . The red dawn at last struggled through the vaporous veil that hid the landscape . Then occurred one of those magical changes peculiar to the climate , yet perhaps pre-eminently notable during that historic winter and spring . By ten o'clock on that 3d of May , 1780 , a fervent June-like sun had rent that vaporous veil , and poured its direct rays upon the gaunt and haggard profile of the Jersey hills . The chilled soil responded but feebly to that kiss ; perhaps a few of the willows that yellowed the river-banks took on a deeper color . But the country folk were certain that spring had come at last ; and even the correct and self-sustained Major Van Zandt came running in to announce to Mistress Thankful that one of his men had seen a violet in the meadow . In another moment Mistress Thankful had donned her cloak and pattens to view this firstling of the laggard summer .