As we go to write our letter for the Christmas number the though comes to our mind of the many changes that have taken place in this community since we first came here with our husband to live, over thirty years ago.  On Nov. 22, 1881, was the day we started housekeeping in the same place where we now live, only our house then stood a little east of where our present one stands.  We came as a stranger to all the neighbors of this vicinity.  But we soon got acquainted as those good people all soon came to see us and gave us such a kindly greeting that we soon felt at home among them.  We had very near neighbors in those days, some having been here in an early day and out of the twenty-eight homes which were not over one and one half miles from us the heads of families are all gone today but six.  Some have moved to other localities but most of them have passed to the other world.  The remaining families are Uncle Seborn Wright, A. R. Simmons, Wm. Burrow, Wm. Lovely and Mrs. Emeline Burrow.  All of the other homes are now owned by different ones only some are still held by some of the children of these parents who are all gone and now we have these young people for near neighbors who we call our young friends.

We are always glad to give these young folks a welcome as we know how one feels to come among all strangers.

On Feb. 1, 1887, while we were at the home of our father-in-law, the late Chas. Parker and wife, our house took fire and burned to the ground with all its contents.  Then once again our neighbors were kind to us.  During the summer we built our present house and then on Oct. 22, 1887, we started housekeeping for the second time as we often tell our friends.  We loved all of these dear people who were so kind to us and often has our hearts been sad as we have seen them one by one pass away.

We recall a visit that Mrs. Katherine Huston made us when our first child, a little girl, was about four weeks old.  She found us trying to stop baby from crying and we are not sure but what we were crying too a little, as we didn't know but baby was sick.  Seemed as if Mother Huston knew just what to do for it as she soon had it to sleep.  We were very careful to pay good attention to what she told us to do whenever our baby took such ideas in its little head as to cry again and we followed this dear mother's instructions and got along nicely after that with our little girl.

This dear good woman has passed to her reward by we have not forgotten her.

Then there was our mother-in-law and Grandma Riggs who were always ready to do something to help us.  We found Mrs. Riggs was an expert on cooking.  She gave us some good cake and pudding receipts which we still have.

One time we went to make a coat for our only boy who was about four years old.  A lady friend who had boys gave us a coat pattern but when we went to put our coat together it seemed as if there was some part didn't go right.  So we decided to put it away and not say anything about making coats when our neighbor, Mrs. Celia Walters, happened to come in and ask us what we were trying to do.  She soon had our coat all put together for us as she had raised a family of three boys and knew just how to make coats.  Well, the next time we wanted a coat for our boy we took him to town and had him fit out.

We are pleased with all our neighbors of today but we often think of the old ones who were here in an early day, some coming when this vicinity was not very thicky settled.  We have been told that Thomas Lincoln came here as early as 1829.  He now lives with his daughter, Mrs. Emma Nelson, of Webster.

The Simmons family came in 1837 as also did our husband's parents.  Uncle Seborn Wright came as early as 1832.

The Days, Hustons, Williams, Rigges, Barbs, Conns and many others came between 1829 and 1847.  All of these older settlers are gone.  When we visit the cemetery at Majorville there we can read the names of most of them on the monuments which have been erected to their memory and there too our own dear father and mother who have passed away and many of our dear friends from the neighborhood where our childhood was spent.

Customs have changed wonderfully and doubtless for the better, nevertheless the old pioneers were good people.  We had kindly men and women then, given to hospitality as much as now so we think.

Now dear readers, we hope this sketch which has been hastily written, will be read with interest by the few remaining settlers and we known is full of imperfection which will not escape severe criticism on the part of the younger people who may read our imperfect sketch.  Our desire to add something to the bright pages of the dear old Republican in its Christmas number, led to the present attempt.

A merry merry Christmas to every reader of The Republican.      Hetty.