seven
in the morning
The village of Rossville was distant about five miles from the long line of railway which binds together with iron bands the cities of New York and Boston . Only when the wind was strongly that way could the monotonous noise of the railway-train be heard , as the iron monster , with its heavy burden , sped swiftly on its way . Lately a covered wagon had commenced running twice a day between Rossville and the railway-station at Wellington . It was started at seven in the morning , in time to meet the early trains , and again at four , in order to receive any passengers who might have left the city in the afternoon . Occupying a central position in the village stood the tavern -- a two-story building , with a long piazza running along the front . Here an extended seat was provided , on which , when the weather was not too inclement , the floating population of the village , who had plenty of leisure , and others when their work was over for the day , liked to congregate , and in neighborly chat discuss the affairs of the village , or the nation , speculating perchance upon the varying phases of the great civil contest , which , though raging hundreds of miles away , came home to the hearts and hearths of quiet Rossville and every other village and hamlet in the land . The driver of the carriage which made its daily journeys to and fro from the station had received from his parents the rather uncommon name of Ajax , not probably from any supposed resemblance to the ancient Grecian hero , of whom it is doubtful whether his worthy progenitor had ever heard .