four o'clock in the afternoon
Go not to wrangling polemics , or creeds and forms of theology , but draw to thy bosom thy little one , and read in that clear , trusting eye the lesson of eternal life . Be only to thy God as thy child is to thee , and all is done . Blessed shalt thou be , indeed , '' _ when a little child shall lead thee _ . '' It was four o'clock in the afternoon of a dull winter day that Mr. H. sat in his counting room . The sun had nearly gone down , and , in fact , it was already twilight beneath the shadows of the tall , dusky stores , and the close , crooked streets of that quarter of Boston . Hardly light enough struggled through the dusky panes of the counting house for him to read the entries in a much-thumbed memorandum book , which he held in his hand . A small , thin boy , with a pale face and anxious expression , significant of delicacy of constitution , and a too early acquaintance with want and sorrow , was standing by him , earnestly watching his motions .