Manchester Democrat., 1921-03-23
.s;zHoME IN
49, Ast4r~As "A lMCI

gifts, that life can bring, sometimes
man must even lay down his life
for his friends.
I was just wondering today, as I
take up my pen to greet you all in
"Old Delaware County," if you were
really as pleased to read my COM
munication in the Manchester Demo-
crat' as I am to read those letters
from absent friends, in different parts
of the world, that are frequently pub
lished in its columns.
In one of the papers, not long ago
appeared a letter written by Hubert
Carr, descriptive of some parts of
the west through which he had been
travelling, and otherwise containing
excellent information, and was cer-
tainly interesting reading matter to
any one-and in the issue Of Febru-
ary 18th is letter from the pen of
Mrs. Sarah Gillespie Huftalen, of the
faculty Of Upper Iowa University, an
old time friend of mine, and one from
whom all Delaware County would be
pleased to hear, and from whose pen
language flows in its freest and most
general phases, and I often think,
that, but for the blessed instrumental
deed cheerless existence, when miles
intervene between us and dear friends,
and that space can only be annihilated
by the pleasant interchange of these
mute tokens of friendship and esteem.
This is pleasant valley in which
to live, so pleasant that I would not
willing exchange my home here with
all it's pleasing Environments among
these grand old mountains, and at
my age, even for the dear old home
In Manchester, Iowa. Notwithstanding
it is pleasant to dwell upon the men,
ories Of the excellent churches where
I used to attend services, and Sun
day school in my younger days which
seem not very long ago, but in COM
ing away out here to make ones home,
no one need forego their CHURCH, or
other affiliations, which in former
times, have made the old home or
abiding place more attractive in by
gone days, no difference in what Sec
tion, you may take up your abode, for
according to history, when the gold
seeker first came into this wilder
ness, long years ago, he found the
Jesuit Missionary here in advance and
following close by, the representative
of the Catholic church, came the
Methodist Missionary-also ministers
of all the leading denominations, and
as towns came into prominence the
little country church came into being.
and when the population was scatter
ed, the bishops, priests, ministers and
missionaries Travelled by team, horse
back and by foot, all over the land,
holding services at their little home
be gathered together, but I must
hasten, though I find that can not
pick up my pen, and write as read
lily as 1 could in my younger days,
as at the old farm home my favorite
writing place was under the branches
of an immense old Cedar tree, set
out by some member of my fathers
family long ago-near the old door
stepping stone, and I still have
peculiar affection for that old tree.
How often, when its thick branches
have protected me, with their cool
ing shadows, has it been the only
witness to my mental struggles, and
how often too has it maintained
quiet dignity when it might have
laughed at my discomforture. The
soft twittering of the birds, the hum
of the bees, the lowing of the Kline,
all made the spot more dear to me,
but I must tell you of the conditions
here at the present time.
1t is Friday, the Oath day of Febru-
ary, 1921, and an ideal day it is.
There is no winter, in fact We have
had none to speak of, and have never
seen a particle of frost on my windows
since l came west, and the ground
is not frozen to amount to anything.
Birds are on the wing, and l can
hear them chattering in the tree tops,
in fact the blue bird and robin have
been here for some time, though it is
wonderful, where they come from in
winter time, but it is not worrying
folks much around here, while they
are enjoying the chirping songs of
scores of them who descended upon
us several days ago, and seem to have
made up their minds to stay.
Pussy willows, rock roses, and other
native flowers are in bloom, and all
nature is rejoicing, so we will soon
wont, when the weather is agreeable
The last time we went we visited
the famous old Columbia river, to ad
mire it's marvels of nature, which we
often visit by auto or by a special
journey, it is soon to be generally
visited by railroad travellers, and the
details of their sublimity more thor
oughly catalogued by pen and re-
produced by photography for the gen.
eral public.
The ride there, is among the grand
old mountains which rise to guide
and guard, not to obstruct along the
entire pathway, and the experience Is
most valuable and the journey affords
time for arranging the information
gathered during the trip, for while my
daughter, Merle and the balance of the
picknickers, prepare the midway
lunch, which is always inviting l US
ually adjust my notes and pointers
for my little write up. We usually
camp beside some little mountain