ten o’clock of
winter mornings
Her husband had been drowned the year before , and there was no brick loose in her chimney to look behind as the woodpile diminished . Old Grandma Gruchy , too , who had outlived all her men folks and at ninety-three was still tough and hearty , had need of things . Between filling the wood-box and looking after the weather and keeping a casual eye on the widows and the fatherless , Uncle William had a full winter . He was not a model housekeeper at best , and ten o'clock of winter mornings often found him with breakfast dishes unwashed and the floor unswept . Andy , coming in for his daily visit , would cast an uncritical eye at the frying-pan , and seat himself comfortably by the stove . It did not occur to either of them , as Uncle William pottered about , finishing the dishes , that Andy should take a hand . Andy had women folks to do for him .