three o'clock in
the afternoon
As I had no part in the planting of the melons , I was not a partner in the sales , although Gramp allowed me to go to the town-meeting with him , later in the forenoon . The distance was seven miles from the farm . The boys sold thirty melons at ten cents apiece and disposed of the most of the apples at two for a cent and pears at a cent apiece ; so that the combined profits amounted to rather over seven dollars . Sales were so good , that they had disposed of their entire stock by three o'clock in the afternoon . The polls were not closed , however , till sunset , that is to say voting could legally continue till that time . Halse had called on Addison for a division of the money , at about three o'clock , and received his share ; he then told Addison that he was going home . Addison preferred to remain , to learn how the town had voted ; for he was much interested in a `` temperance movement '' which was agitating that portion of the State that year .