three o'clock
Miss Fitch praised the food , and Sister Samantha , who looked pleased , said they tried to do things thoroughly , `` as to the Lord . '' Miss Fitch said afterward that she thought this was an admirable idea , and she wished more people would try it , because then there would be less bad cooking in the world , and less saleratus and dyspepsia . She said that to be faithful and thorough in every thing , even in getting dinner ready , was a real way of serving God , and pleased Him too , because He looks beyond things , and sees the spirit in which we do them . At three o'clock the wagon came to the door , and they said good-by to the kind Shakers . Miss Fitch paid for the dinner ; but the elder was not willing to take much . They entertained the poor for nothing , he said . A small compensation from those who were able and willing to pay , did not come amiss , but a dinner for boys and girls like those , he guessed , did n't amount to much .