It was not until that chicken pie was on the table that the old lady finally understood that she had exerted herself for the boy and not for the minister. But again she rose at once to the occasion. That pie was too rich for her plain family, so she carefully put it away in the pantry and fed her husband and the boy on remnants. These consisted of scrapings from the bean-pot, one fish ball, boiled turnips and one “Taunton turkey,” which was the fashionable name for smoked herring. The pie was held for next day, when the reverend was actually invited, and he came. It may have been your pleasant privilege to see a hungry minister, whose lines are cast in a community where thrift marches a little ahead of charity in the social parade, get within a few feet of a genuine New England chicken pie. If you have not experienced this, you do not know the real meaning of eloquent anticipation. Mr. Joy was hungry, and old Brahma had certainly acquired the tenderness of youth. The minister had had two helps and wanted another; he saw a fine piece of breast meat right at the edge of the crust. It was an occasion for diplomacy, for well he knew that the lady was planning to save enough of that pie for the Sunday dinner. He cleared his throat and put his best pulpit voice into the announcement: “Mrs. Reed, this is an excellent pie!” This compliment did not quite carry across the table. “What say?” Very slowly and distinctly did Mr. Joy repeat his compliment in shorter words. “_This hen is a great success._” The lady got part of that sentence. She was sure of “hen” and “great success.” It happened that her nephew, Henry, was a student at the theological seminary, and had delivered a strong sermon in the local church shortly before. Naturally she thought the “hen” referred to him, particularly as anyone ought to have known that the pie had been made from an old rooster. So, with a pleasant smile she acknowledged the compliment, coming as near to the target as the deaf generally do: “_Yes, I always said that Henry was best fitted of all our flock to enter the ministry._” The Reverend Mr. Joy put his head on one side and let this remark thoroughly soak into his mind. Then he silently passed his plate for that piece of white meat, as he should have done before. Action is far more emphatic than words to the deaf.