The first stanza of Robert Southey’s poem ‘After Blenheim’ deals with the serene atmosphere about Old Kaspar’s house. It is a summer evening — the time when most people return from work. The days are long and tiring in summers, and the sun sets late in the evening. The elderly farmer named Kaspar sits in front of his cottage watching his grandchildren Wilhelmine and Peterkin at play on the green field.
 
Clearly this is not a busy time; everyone has probably completed their work like Old Kaspar.

In was a summer evening,
Old Kaspar’s work was done.

Moreover, we don’t see other people nearby except Kaspar and his two grandchildren. People like he were just resting after the day’s work and little children sporting around in the green. Thus the poet has successfully created a vivid picture of a calm and serene atmosphere.