six in
the morning
It was pleasant here . Virginia creeper and purple clematis covered the whole front of the house and hung down before the garden door , where Ellen liked to sit with her work , keeping an eye on the little ones playing on the grass , where she liked best to sit with Pelle on Sundays , when the Copenhagen families came wandering past on their little country excursions . They often stopped outside the hedge and exclaimed : `` Oh , what a lovely home ! '' * * * * * The work in Pelle 's workshop began , as in all other places , at six in the morning ; but it stopped at four , so that those who cared about it could easily make something of the day . Pelle had reduced the working hours to nine , and dared not venture any further for the present . Some of the hands liked this arrangement , and employed the afternoon in going out with their wives and children ; but others would rather have had an hour longer in bed in the morning . One day the latter came and declared that now they were in the majority and would have it changed .