A little later he records that he:
“Attended the town meeting. High party spirit is again revived, and has destroyed the good feeling which has for a number of years prevailed in town.”
But that spell of bad feeling among townsmen passed, and July 4, 1821, finds Lye recording:
“Independence Day was celebrated by the citizens without distinction of party. Oration in the Methodist meeting house by Rev. E. Mudge. Procession by Artillery and Light Infantry. Dinner at hotel. Devoted this day to celebration.”
Lye was always ready to do his part in the public service. He mentions his service in the militia several times, and once remarked that he “trained near Rum Rock, in Danvers.”
Certainly Lye’s pleasures in life were simple. He had a lot of satisfaction in performing his duties as a citizen and as a neighbor.
JOSEPH LYE AS A NEIGHBOR.
In a neighborly way Lye did many things, helping to fix fences, to mend boats, to kill pigs, to repair pumps, and to do any of the kind deeds that help a neighbor along the path of life.
Two records from his diary show what a kindly neighbor he was:
“May 4, 1820. Watched this night with our neighbor, David Farrington, who, it is feared, is approaching the last end.”