seven o'clock
`` And what is worse , '' resumed Bessie , recurring to the mischievous pig , `` as if it was n't enough that the elder lost all his chickens , but some evil-minded people must go and get into the church , and put a coop full of poor little fowls on the pulpit . O ! there 's such an ado about it over town ! '' It being the custom of the country to breakfast at seven o'clock , and that hour having arrived , a man in a blue smock frock issued from a side door , -LRB- Bessie vaulted up the hall as he entered , -RRB- and commenced ringing a bell in so loud a manner that I verily thought he would alarm the whole neighborhood . An opening of doors , and a general movement for the dining room , a long , simply furnished , but exquisitely clean apartment , was now made . A table covered with linen of snowy whiteness , and set out with great good taste , ranged up the center of the room ; and we sat down to a breakfast of steak , and ham , and eggs , and cold chickens , and fish balls , and hot rolls , and corn cakes , and brown bread-all prepared so nice and delicately , that even the most fastidious could have found nothing to grumble at . Indeed it was said of the the landlord of the `` Independent Temperance , '' that he spared neither pains nor expense in the management of his house , which had gained much fame over the country , though it had thrice made him a bankrupt with three score of creditors , who were always ready to say wicked things of him .