noon
`` An ' it please you , Governor , Hicks and the rest of them say it goeth against their conscience to work on Christmas Day , '' reported Howland with a grim smile . For a moment Bradford frowned , but as he caught the gay glint of Standish 's eyes his own softened , and after a brief pause he answered temperately , -- `` We will force no man 's conscience . Tell Robert Hicks and the rest that I excuse them until they be better informed . '' At noon the wood-choppers returned to the village weary and hungry , for already had the entire company been placed upon half rations of food , so to continue until another cargo should arrive , or the next year 's crop be ripe . Well for their endurance that they could not foresee that no farther cargo of provisions should ever arrive for them , from those who had undertaken to support them , and that the next year 's crop should prove a failure . But now as they wearily toiled up the hill from the brookside , eager for the hour of rest and the scanty meal they were learning to value so highly , sounds of loud revelry and boisterous mirth fell upon their ears , sounds alien to their mood , their necessities , and on this day to their principles . `` Those runagates are holding Christmas revels in spite of you , Governor , '' remarked Standish half jeeringly ; while Hopkins , whose humor just now was not far removed from mutiny , muttered that if godless men were to play , he saw not why good Christians should be forced to work , call it Christmas Day or any other .