noon before
`` But you know , '' said a third , `` these Yankees always carry a _ rewolwer _ or two in their pockets , the treacherous rogues . Look how they killed that Irish peddler , and robbed him , and fired six shots into Michael Gasty 's house the other night , and he in bed quietly sleeping . '' This and other such narratives and comments were the order of the day outside the door , only where those who were careless or not preparing for their duties were congregated . Inside , a large crowd of women and rough-fisted men gathered around the door of the temporary confessional , and it was near noon before the priest ascended the temporary altar to offer up the `` victim of peace '' for the assembled sons of toil . Upon his reverence asking if there was anybody to answer or serve Mass , several presented themselves ; but he accepted the services of Paul , because he had been accustomed from his childhood to wait round the altar , and he was the most intelligent of those who offered to assist the priest while celebrating . The substance of the priest 's discourse was , that they should not forget that it was God 's will that the holy sacrifice should be offered in `` every place , from the rising to the setting of the sun , '' and that probably they were made the instruments which he made use of for the _ literal _ fulfilment of that famous prophecy ; for if they were not here employed on these public works , probably the holy sacrifice would not be , for years and years to come , offered up in such places as this . That they should all regard themselves as missionaries engaged in God 's service to spread the knowledge of the true religion in this virgin soil among a people who had lost the true mode of God 's worship , though a generous and successful race of men .