seven o’clock
The first thing he saw , on entering , was the bit of paper on his table . He seized and opened it , grumbling aloud that folks used his house just as they pleased , going in and out without reference to his presence or his absence . The note , written in pencil , purported to be from Joseph Jenkins . It ran as follows : -- My old father is coming up to our place to-night , to eat a bit of supper , and he says he should like you to join him , which I and Mrs. J. shall be happy if you will , at seven o'clock . It 's tripe and onions . Yours , `` J. JENKINS . '' Now , if there was one delicacy , known to this world , more delicious to old Ketch 's palate than another , it was tripe , seasoned with onions .