Asa Holmes

A country store at the crossroads serves as a meeting place, classroom and stage for the neighbours in Annie Fellows Johnston's village novel. Among the men gathered around its stove is Asa Holmes, a retired miller whose cheerful outlook and sound advice make him a trusted presence. On the day before Thanksgiving, talk of disappointing crops, illness and an election tests the group's holiday spirits, while a boy watches and absorbs the opinions of his elders.

The store's conversations also reveal how easily local prejudice can pass for knowledge. When Cy Akers's college-educated son returns home, his proud father wants the neighbours to admire him, but childhood memories soon challenge the young man's sense of importance. Through these encounters, the book considers the value of education, practical judgment and family pride. Readers interested in village life will find close attention to the habits and small exchanges that shape a community.