midnight
By the time his emotions had worked up to the proper climax for a successful result , he was `` done tired out , '' and would `` jest give right up '' and `` let go , '' and `` there he was as bad 's ever , if not wuss . '' Poor old Nan was a very ardent and sincere Christian , spite of her infirmities of temper , and she would wrestle in prayer with and for her husband till her black cheeks shone under streams of tears . She wrestled all the harder because the ungodly Cæsar would sometimes turn upon her , and in the most sarcastic and ungenerous way ask if he did n't keep his temper better `` without religion than she did with it : '' upon which Nan would groan and travail in spirit , and beseech the Lord not to `` go an ' let her be a stumbler-block in Cæsar 's way . '' The Squire 's death had produced a great impression on Cæsar : from that day he had been , Nan declared , `` quite a changed pusson ; '' and the impression deepened until three months later , in the course of a great midnight meeting in the Methodist church , Cæsar Gunn suddenly announced that he had `` got religion . '' The one habit which it was hardest for Cæsar to give up , in his new character , was the habit of swearing . Profanity had never been strongly discountenanced at `` Gunn 's . '' The old Squire and the young Squire had both been in the habit of swearing , on occasion , as roundly as troopers !