about nine o'clock
I believe I have mentioned the number of our stock -- to wit , a cock and seven hens , eight in all ; but I neglected , on account of their size , or somehow overlooked , the two bantams , than which two more neat or curiouser-looking creatures were not to be seen in the whole country-side . The hennie was quite a conceit of a thing , and laid an egg not muckle bigger than my thimble ; while , for its size , the bit he-ane was , for spirit in the fechting line , a perfect wee deevil incarnate . Most fortunately for my family in this matter , it so happened that , by paying in half-a-crown a-year , I was a regular member of a society for prosecuting all whom it might concern , that dabbled with foul fingers in the sinful and lawless trade of thievery , breaking the eighth commandment at no allowance , and drawing on their heads not only the passing punishments of this world , by way of banishment to Botany Bay , or hanging at the Luckenbooths , but the threatened vengeance of one that will last for ever and ever . Accordingly , putting on my hat about nine o'clock , or thereabouts , when the breakfast things were removing from the bit table , I poppit out , in the first and foremost instance , to take a vizzy of the depredation the flames had made in our neighbourhood . Losh keep us all , what a spectacle of wreck and ruination ! The roof was clean off and away , as if a thunderbolt from heaven had knocked it down through the two floors , carrying every thing before it like a perfect whirlwind . Nought were standing but black , bare walls , a perfect picture of desolation ; some with the bit pictures on nails still hanging up where the rooms were like ; and others with old coats hanging on pins ; and empty bottles in boles , and so on .