decorations" way across the ocean! Let us add a few extra sprays of
green each Christmas in memory of them. The greens, plum puddings, and
other good things had such a happy effect that, according to Bradford,
"at night the master caused us to have some Beere." This was an event
worthy of a capital B, as the men had worked all day in the biting
cold at house-building, with only a scanty supply of water to drink.

Alas! That Christmas on the _Mayflower_ was the last the Pilgrims were
to enjoy for many a long year. Other ship-loads of people arrived
during the year and in 1621, "One ye day called Christmas Day, ye Gov.
called them out to worke (as was used), but ye most of this new
company excused themselves and said it wente against their consciences
to work on yt day. So ye Gov. tould them that if they made it mater of
conscience, he would spare them till they were better informed. So he
led away ye rest and left them, but when they came home at noone from
their worke, he found them in ye streete at play, openly, some
pitching ye bair, and some at stoole-ball, and shuch-like sports. So
he went to them and tooke away their implements, and tould them that
was against his conscience, that they should play and others worke. If
they made ye keeping of it mater of devotion, let them kepe their
houses, but ther should be no gameing or revelling in ye streets.
Since which time nothing had been attempted that way, at least
openly." And thus ended the last attempt at Christmas observance
during Governor Bradford's many terms of office.

The Massachusetts Colony that arrived in 1630, and settled in and
around Boston, believed that Christ's mission on earth as the Saviour
of man was too serious a one to be celebrated by the fallen race. He
came to save; they considered it absolutely wicked for any one to be
lively and joyous when he could not know whether or no he was doomed