The Quest of Spencer Hall

In a previous previous post I mentioned that I'd written a short story which I included as an appendix to my essay on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.  Dr. Snyder returned our essays today, and I'm happy to say that he was quite amused.  He even sent me the following text: "Just read the Quest of Spencer Hall. Marvelous!"  

Hope you enjoy it as much as our group has.

Author's Note:  The following work is a literary adaptation of a theme proposed by Ms. Hannah Rogers on the afternoon of 7 June 2012 as recorded by the author.  See Bibliography for full citation. 

The Quest of Spencer Hall

In a town in Mississippi there lived a Hall.  Not one of those river towns in the Delta or one of those bustling municipalities down on the Gulf Coast but rather a small and secluded town in the northeastern corner of that fair state:  it was a town fit for a Hall, and that means comfort.  This particular Hall went be the name of Spencer and was by all accounts a most excellent Southern gentleman with a kindly disposition and a fondness for Faulkner and the comforts of home and hearth.  “One can deal with being lost. Or late. But one just can’t deal with being uncomfortable.  You just can’t live if you’re not comfortable,” he would often say.   But then the professor Snyder came along with a band of thirteen scholars and drew Spencer into their quest.  “For we are going to Oxford,” said the professor, “not the Oxford you may know, but another far across the sea.  We go there seeking knowledge, but the Road is long and weary, and we have need of a Free-Spirit to aid us in our quest.  There may be odd weather and we may not always take our meals at noon nor be so free with our time, as is your custom.  But for your pains, you will be richly rewarded with knowledge beyond compare.”  And so Spencer joined with the merry band, and the companions went and ventured far.  And Spencer was indeed often late, and sometimes missed breakfast or found himself in most uncomfortable situations.  Nevertheless, he acquitted himself well and in discussions of math and physics was well-esteemed by all the company.   And it was as the professor Snyder had predicted, lo the company departed, “There is far more to you than some guess, Mr. Hall, and I believe you may prove your merit, ere the end.”

Mr. Hall reads his story.

 Bibliography:

Hall, John Spencer. On Comfort and the Crowding of Elevators. George & Davis’ Ice Cream Café, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK, 1 June 2012. Address.

Rogers, Hannah L.  Why Spencer Hall is the Hobbit. WISC Offices, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK, 7 June 2012. Address.

Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit. the enchanting prelude to "The Lord of the Rings.". New York : Ballantine, c1937, 1979.