The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1905-11-30
UNITY, MO, NOVEMBER 30, 1905.

both the night before, too. So, sne
had invited them to meet Joyce, o.
Joyce to meet them, he couldn't say
which! But would the old man go?
He wondered what the note said: the
Herricks would be there, no doubt
sbou, that, for Rod seldom had an op-
portunity to taste the fat turkeys that
he left at Staunton kitchen doors.
His mother sewed almost as indus
triously as he walked for Barton, and
heir Thanksgiving invitations were rare
indeed. All day Rod wondered about
Joyce. and wished he dared ask him
question, only he was afraid that If
invitation would be refused, for Rod
anu the old shoemaker had not always
beer upon good terms.
Old Joyce's behavior at Miss Bas-
CONS Thanksgiving dinner was some
thing that Rod Herrick never forgot:
his polite speeches, his thoughtfulness
Of everybody but himself. his eagerness
TO contribute all that he possibly could
to the pleasure and SUCCESS of the oc-
casiOn made him the guest of honor,
Rod had never supposed before that
guests had any responsibilities: he had
supposed that those belonged entirely
TO the hostess. He privately resolved
/ half dozen times during the meal
that next TO becoming B4rtons part
ner, he would study harder to learn
how to behave when he was company
Such stories as the old man told Of
lands aud castles and feasts beyond
the sea! Joyce had travelled far, and
apparently had forgotten nothing that
had ever happened to him. AS he told
his wonderful stories. he would bow
tc Miss Bascom, or Mrs. Herrick, anil
once or twice he had included Rod In
one of his wonderful courtcsles, In
such q fashion that Rod lost his self.
possession and felt polite and distin-
guished for fully Ave minutes after.
ward. II was a sensation that made
him d more manly boy for months, and
one that he never really ceased to feel
After dinner Joyce sat down before
the old piano and played such music as
not even Miss BasCom had ever heard.
ana sht was the organist of the church
and the best musician in Staunton
And somehow, from the music and the
stories and the manners they all grad
uaily understood that old Joyce" had
history behind him. and hadn't al
ways mendcd other peoples old shoes
He han suffered because of the village
oslracism anybody could see that.
Rod told himself that the old fellow
had dropped ten or dozen years
there at Miss Lizzie Bascom's old
piano
The party was over at last, but its
Influence was not, that lived and grew
uuiil II even broke down the wall be-
tween the old shoemaker and the vii
lGgc Hearts. He mcnded shoes as OF
Old LeCauso he needed to, but he no
longer kept house In his shop. He
went 10 board at the Hcrrcks; he went
to church. too, and the very first time
he Played the offcrtory on the little
organ, instead OF Miss Bascom. who
sat with her face turned toward the
people 50 that she could enjoy their
surprise. Nobody knew what he
played, perhaps it was the story OF his
life. fo! 1t had tears and storms in II.
and toward the last was something
full Of silver notes: notes of Joy, peace,
love, human sympathy, notes that were
almost an echo from the harps by the
sea Of glass. Mrs Herrick said after
ward that the organ said; Il was a
stranger and ye took me in" Miss
Bascom said 1t said: "Out of great
tribuiation;" hut Rod said to Barton
when he told him all about 1t next
day: THE whole piece was just Old
Joyce's' Thanksgiving, and perhaps 1t
Young People.