A Shetland Pony Was My Best Christmas Gift

Here is a letter written around 1915 by a young fellow named Eugene about his Christmas present, which even by today’s standards, was a pretty spectacular gift. Enjoy! One day, not long ago, my mother was reading a farm magazine and she saw a picture of a Shetland pony named “Cub,” hitched up all ready…

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We All Have Reasons to Be Thankful

A housewife in 1930 writes: “Thanksgiving Day approaches again, but how can we be thankful in our community where hail and drouth and other ills of agriculture have given us a lean year and empty purses. I am not irreverent when I say that it is not easy for me to lift my voice in…

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Praying and Playing in the Great Depression

This little story was first published in 1931, at the start of America’s Great Depression. As difficult as that time was, Grandmother felt that the 1870s was the “harder” time. Hard times aren’t unprecedented and for us in 2020 with our many concerns about the future, advice from past generations is always encouraging. From Grandmother:…

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