noon
All nature seemed joyously reflecting the serene smile of a benevolent God . Even the wicked hearts of the wanderers seemed lightened by the influence of the glorious morning , and cheerily , with many a jocund song and homely jest , they pressed on their way . Even guilt can sometimes forget its baseness , and enjoy the bounties of the kind Creator , for which it expresses no thankfulness and feels no gratitude . At noon they stopped at a farmer 's house , and Bill told the honest old man that they belonged to a ship which had sailed round to Philadelphia ; that it had left New York unexpectedly , without their knowledge , and taken their chests and clothes which had been placed on board ; and that , being without money , they were compelled to walk across to Philadelphia to meet it . The farmer believed the falsehood , and charitably gave them a good dinner . They walked on till after sunset , and then crossed over a field , and climbed up into a rack filled with hay , where they slept all night . In the morning they started forward very hungry , for they had eaten nothing , since the noon before , except a few green apples .