Freestone County, Texas
History



Dallas Morning News
Jan 10, 1897
Page: 14

The Cozy Corner 

  OLLIE MAE ROGERS, Bonner, Tex. -- Mr. Big Hat and cousins: This beautiful
Sabbath morning I will try to tell you all some news from Freestone.  I am the
only one that writes from Freestone now.  We have a beautiful country, good 
people, well taught schools and good churches.  But one thing is lacking - we
can not carry on a Sunday school.  It never lasts longer than two or three 
months, then it breaks up.  The cousins are discussing books, and I think no
better subject could have been selected.  I like to read books and have read
many different kinds.  I admire "David Copperfied" very much. I like the book,
only I think Dickens represented too many characters.  I think Pegotty a noble
servant, and broke down and cried when Dora (David's wife) died.  And I think
it a pity David di not know Agnes loved him so well.  I have read many 
interesting novels and some show in a strict sense how unjust people can be
treated and charged with guilt they are innocent of, and how one person will
strive to affront another.  "Woman's Powers" by Dr. Talmage, is a very good
book and very enlightening.  I have read the "Beautiful Story," just a 
deduction from the bible, with bright pictures in it to attract the attention,
and I think it a good plan, for I know several have read it that never read the
Bible.  "Error's Chain, or the Dark Continent," is one of the scariest books I
ever read.  One would tremble with fear for Stanley when he would meet with 
some of those Afican demons.  Once upon a time he het with some that would not
allow him to wrte, saying those dark lines would cause trouble for them.  When
one reads of their witchcraft one can't help but tremble with disgust.  They
would often have as many as a dozen men or women killed on account of one 
death, saying those slain had bewitched them.  Let us all feel the profoundest
sympathy for those ignorant people of the dark continent and pray that they
may earn better as the years progress.  Have any of the cousins read the 
"History of the World?"  I have read some of it.  The manners and customs of 
the people differ widely now from what they did then,  I feel great sympathy
for the queens when they would be dethroned and oten have their heads cut off.
Poor Queen May, with her head on a block, and oh! for a dog to sip the blood
of a queen!  Horrible! "The Life of Quantrell is a true, but sad stor--how he 
fought for revenge, and revenge he got.  Cousin Lena May Wise, I agree with you,
for I do not exactly understand Samantha's language: it is too chopped up for me.
But I always did like comical expressions, and Josiah Allen's wife just "takes
the cake."  Have any of the cousins ever read the Bible through?  Mamma told me
if I would read it through by the time I was 18 she would buy me a silk dress.  
I started and read twenty-seven chapters and found so many world I could not
pronounce I gave it up.  I often think of trying it again, but I am going to
school now and have other fish to fry.  Have you all read a letter from a lady
in Texas when it was just settling up?  We have one printed in our history, it 
is real amusing to read, telling of Texas so long ago.  Just think, her nearest 
neighbor was forty miles distant, and she had to do without salt for a week.