six o'clock
No fence divides its grounds from the public walk , and on the smooth-shaven lawn between the ornamental flower beds and the walk stand two stern mastiffs of iron , emblematic of the solidity and power of their owner . It was as much to see this house as to hear the oratory that the countryside flocked to Brampton that day . All the day before Cynthia and Milly , and many another housewife , had been making wonderful things for the dinners they were to bring , and stowing them in the great basket ready for the early morning start . At six o'clock Jethro 's three-seated farm wagon was in front of the store . Cousin Ephraim Prescott , in a blue suit and an army felt hat with a cord , got up behind , a little stiffly by reason of that Wilderness bullet ; and there were also William Wetherell and Lem Hallowell , his honest face shining , and Sue , his wife , and young Sue and Jock and Lilian , all a-quiver with excitement in their Sunday best . And as they drove away there trotted up behind them Moses and Amandy Hatch , with their farm team , and all the little Hatches , -- Eben and George and Judy and Liza . As they jogged along they drank in the fragrance of the dew-washed meadows and the pines , and a great blue heron stood knee-deep on the far side of Deacon Lysander 's old mill-pond , watching them philosophically as they passed .