That was his view of life. “A feeble instrument in God’s hands.” In that spirit he pursued his useful toil, enjoyed his humble joys, and wrote his simple annals of the poor. His ways were the ways of other days, and will be known no more. JOSEPH LYE’S EPITAPH. After the death of Joseph Lye, his family placed a stone on his grave, bearing this inscription: In Memory of MR. JOSEPH LYE, who died April 10, 1834, Aged 42 Years. Receive, O earth, his faded form, In thy cold bosom let it lie; Safe let it rest from every storm, Soon may it rise, no more to die. So that stone tells of the faith Lye had in eternal life, a faith which was his guide in each act of the days of his life. THE TAPLEYS. Amos Tapley, who purchased the Lye shop after the death of Joseph Lye, was of the Danvers family of Tapleys. He married a daughter of Joseph Lye, the shoemaker and soldier of the Revolution. His son, Amos Preston Tapley, engaged in the shoe trade and became the owner of the shop upon the death of his father. His son, Henry Fuller Tapley, became owner of the shop, and gave it to the Essex Institute. Henry F. Fuller is surviving partner of the house of Amos P. Tapley & Co., whose record is this: MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF PROGRESS A CENTURY Ebenezer Vose, 1812-1816. Ebenezer Vose & Co., 1817-1828. (Josiah Pierce) Josiah Pierce, 1829-1834. Josiah Pierce & Co., 1835. (Daniel Bingham) Daniel Bingham & Co., 1836. (Amos P. Tapley) Amos P. Tapley, 1837-1838. Bingham & Tapley, 1839-1846. Amos P. Tapley, 1847. Amos P. Tapley & Co., 1848-1854. (W. S. Messenger) Amos P. Tapley, 1855-1868. Amos P. Tapley & Co., 1869-1905. (Henry F. Tapley) Amos P. Tapley & Co., 1905-1917. (Henry F. Tapley) Surviving partner. PROFIT AND LOSS. Lye didn’t live long, didn’t make money, didn’t make a reputation, didn’t build up a big business, didn’t go into politics, didn’t follow any sports as a fad, and didn’t break into society. But it looks as if he enjoyed life while he lived. Lye was contented to work for a living, to live in simple fashion, and to enjoy humble pleasures. He had a knack of getting along. When the shoe trade was dull he turned his hand to something else. He kept down his cost of living, for he farmed, fished and raised a pig. If anything around the house or shop needed repairs, he did it himself. He was an independent person. Yet he wasn’t selfish. He was always ready to give a helping hand to his neighbors. He read the Book of Life, and believed it, according to his views. He lived according to his conscience, and he was a contented man through the days of his life. Did he get more out of life than a fellow these days of complex ways. Who knows? Transcriber’s Note: Changes to the original publication have been made as follows: Page 1 October 14, 1915 _changed to_ October 14, 1915. Page 11 has hand to most anything _changed to_ his hand to most anything