four o'clock in the afternoon before Christmas Eve
As for new Christmas in the hills , the women paid little attention to it , and to the men it meant `` a jug of liquor , a pistol in each hand , and a galloping nag . '' Always , indeed , it meant drinking , and target-shooting to see `` who should drink and who should smell , '' for the man who made a bad shot got nothing but a smell from the jug until he had redeemed himself . So , Steve Hawn and Jason got ready in their own way and Mavis and Martha Hawn accepted their rude preparations as a matter of course . At four o'clock in the afternoon before Christmas Eve darkies began springing around the corners of the twin houses , and from closets and from behind doors , upon the white folks and shouting `` Christmas gift , '' for to the one who said the greeting first the gift came , and it is safe to say that no darky in the Blue-grass was caught that day . And the Pendleton clan made ready to make merry . Kinspeople gathered at the old general 's ancient home and at the twin houses on either side of the road . Stockings were hung up and eager-eyed children went to restless dreams of their holiday king .