JUNE 3, 1904 -- Editor Mountain Advocate: Dear Sir:-Your paper is as fine a one as Barbourville ever possessed to my knowledge, and I want to thank you for the Home Circle column. It interests me very much. I am fond of anything relating to home life. I would that all girls could read your talk on how to make mothers happy. I have no mother. She died when I was only 10 years old, but well do I remember that I would get in a chair by the table and help her wash the dishes and she would smile at me as only a mother can, and I would find myself fully paid for what little time I spent in helping her. Some girls never think of helping mother at all. Just want to "dress up" and "sit back" while mother does it all, and strangest of all, she never complains. A mother is the best earthly friend we can ever possess, and I beg of you, my dear girls, leave all and help her while you may, for soon she is gone where you can never be of service to her any more. So while you have her by your side, do as much for her as you can and mother never forgets your kindness, and the Father who gave her, the patience, never forgets you either. I sometimes feel very lonesome without my mother. When I see other girls and their mothers together and watch her tender care for them I really cannot suppress a tear, but God does for all the best and we must take a philosophical view of such things, for we are all creatures of circumstances and have to "Take goods the gods provide," bitter or sweet as they may be. I am a mountain lass and proud of it, too, yet our people could be improved in many ways, yet we are loyal to ourselves, our country and our God as any people on earth. Verily, no better people can be found in these mountains. What is greater than to be a mountaineer? Thank God for the mountains of Kentucky where I was born, and where all nature is such a bliss.

Of course we cannot all be handsome, And it's difficult for all to be good; It's impossible for all to be happy, In fact we don't live as we should. Patience is a hard thing to keep, To always be cheerful is harder still, But seems to me we might be pleasant If we make up our minds we will. It even pays to act kindly, Even though we feel tired and blue; If you laugh at the world and look pleasant, The world generally smiles back at you. Try always to be pleasant, No matter if in country or town; Good humor is always catching, While we chose our friends with a frown. It is a pleasant duty ever sweet As life leads us from place to place, To leave behind us everywhere The memory of a pleasant fact. ----Edith Dizney

Bailey's Switch

We are having very fine weather at present. Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Black, of Crane's Nest, visited relatives in Barbourville Saturday. Mr. Nathan Parker, of Knox Fork, was in Barbourville Saturday and came back smiling. I believe that Mr. Parker heard some good news while in town. W. A. Donaldson, of Knox Fork, was in Barbourville Saturday on business. Mrs. Kate Taylor, of Ferndale, visited Mrs. Nannie Taylor here last week. Miss Mary E. Broughton returned to Pineville last Sunday, after a week's visit here. Mr. Dan Grace is having his house treated to a coat of paint this week. Born, to the wife of Thomas Dizney, Wednesday, a fine girl. Jimmy Cooper, who lives on Indian creek, and is 63 years old, went to Chenon, Bell county, last week, said that was the first time he was ever on a passenger train. Fayette Dizney visited friends at Grays Saturday. The following persons were guests of Mr. E. Hutchins Sunday: Mrs. Kate Taylor, of Ferndale; Miss Mary E. Broughton, of Pineville; Miss Fannie Noe, of Barbourville; Mrs. Nannie and Miss Mary Taylor, of this place. They all report a very pleasant time. Harve Donalson, of Jarvis' Store, was in Barbourville Monday on business. W. S. TAYLOR

KNOX FORK

There was prayer meeting at this place sunday and a good crowd was in attendance. John Helton, Sr., and Miss Marguerette Helton, of this, were quietly married Wednesday of last week. Miss Tebecca Price, who has been attending school at London for the past five months, returned home last Sunday. Miss Rose Donaldson was the guest of Mrs. Willie McDonal Sunday. Bruce Humfleet, who has been attending school at London, returned home Saturday. Joseph Wells and wife ere visiting sick folks at Mrs. Barbara Wyatt's Sunday. James Wilson, of Corbin, passed through here Sunday. J. J. Price was on Goose Saturday on business. He takes the lead in the photograph business. R.E.D.

HAMMOND

The farmers are about through planting corn, and several are working theirs over. One of our preachers killed several squirrels a few Sundays ago. George Hammons, of Girdler, is all the go up here for County Assessor. We people here will roll him up a handsome majority, and we would not miss it far, if we would get the vote unanimously. J. E. Hammons has commenced to haul his lumber out. Hubbard & Hammons have dissolved partnership, and Hammons is moving his part of the goods to the Jeff Hammons' stand. Have we any County Judge or just a *drummer? If we have, we would like for him to do something for us. Our roads are terrible up here on Stinking creek. E. G. Saulsberry is having his stave mill run in headway at the Milt Jackson place, cutting headings. Rev. G. W. Smith and Everette Tiller, of Barbourville, were up here a few days ago on land business, and in crossing a big mountain where some tanbark had been pealed, they looked ahead of them in a hollow and saw a large black bear sitting on a log. Everett Tiller picked up two rocks that would probably weigh about five pounds apiece, and surrounded the bear to drive him down to the mouth of the hollow, where the preacher could shoot him. But lo! and behold, to the gentlemen's surprise, when Mr. Tiller got in above the bear ready to throw the rocks, he discovered that it was a knot on a tanbark tree that had not been peeled off. I guess the black knot on a white log looked scarey to the boys. Mr. Editor, tell the boys to put their specs on. Dr. Tip Jones, our committeeman of this precinct, and Thomas Hubbard, Joseph Hammons, Milt Jackson, Noah Smith, Wade Smith, Nabe Messer, Grant Hammons and a host of others went to Barbourville last Monday (the 23rd) County Court day with a petition to rebut one that was gotten up by some Flat Lick people to cut off part of our votes and throw them to Flat Lick, and they did oppose it. But the boys said the judge would not act in open court, but promised he would not cut the votes off. They also filed a petition with 115 signers, legal qualified voters of the precinct, asking the judge to cut two precincts out of Upper Stinking, as they could vote out up here, naming the places where the polls should be; and there was no petition opposing it. He said he would act on it next court. The judge is afraid if he cuts our precinct in time to vote up here in the primary election that they will all vote out, and he is afraid if they all vote out the largest number will be against him. His excuse for not acting on the petition, so the boys said, was that he wanted to see two or three of the boys in the lower end- see if it suited them to put the precinct where the petition with 115 signers said for it to go. He also named one of the parties he wanted to see. We people up here supposed he aimed to turn us 115 down to suit two or three other parties. Hurrah! Judge, you can pass on our petition next court, and we will pass on yours on the 12th day of November. Some of our boys have to ride twelve to furteen miles up here to vote, but on the 12th day of November they will make the trip. STRAIGHT RIDER

CRANE'S NEST

Lots of rain: farmers are smiling, you know. Saturday was Mt. Ararat meeting. Rev. H. B. Helton was elected pastor. A large crowd attended church last Sunday, which was conducted by Revs. H. B. Helton and Jones. Misses Ellen and Nancy Saylor entertained quite a number of young folks Saturday night, and among them were Misses Josie Sizemore, Emma Branson, and Sarah Smith: Messrs. J. G. Helton, Frank Black, John H. Taylor and John Smith. They all report a most delightful time. Messrs. Farmer and James Helton are visiting Rev. H. B. Helton and family this week. Little Cordie Helton was the guest of Myrtle Gilbert Saturday evening. Misses Ludie and Martha Helton were guests of Sarah and Laura Smith Sunday. Born, to the wife of H. B. Helton, a bouncing boy. Of course he is a Republican, you know. Your correspondent entertained a number of folks Sunday afternoon. F. D. Sampson is in the lead here for County Judge. Hurrah! for him. ROSE BUD

JARVIS' STORE

Sunday school at Callahan schoolhouse near this place each Sunday afternoon. Everybody is cordially invited to attend. Noah Rogers passed through here Tuesday en route to Barbourville on important business - fishing. Can anyone tell why Fayette Dizney and Henry Lawson are looking so sad this week? Miss Mattie Jarvis was a pleasant caller at the home of Mrs. W. F. Dozier Sunday afternoon. Miss Fannie Willis spent the early part of the week with relatives near this place. John Taylor and wife spent Sunday afternoon at the home of Thos. Dizney. The home of Thomas Dizney is blessed with a fine girl baby. S. R. Lawson, William and Tom Bullock have stopped farming and gone to killing rats. They killed twenty-three in one day. William and Alvis Gibson passed through wheel-riding Sunday. JUMBO

PLEASANT RIDGE

We are having some nice refreshing rains here this week. J. T. Stamper, our next County Judge, is holding a series of meetings at Coalport this week. James Hopper and wife, of Poplar creek, visited relatives near here Saturday and Sunday. Church was held at this place Sunday, and was well attended. Steve Golden and wife were guests of Margaret Smith, Sunday. Oscar Vermillion, of Barbourville, visited friends near here Saturday. Chester Randall and Steve Golden, while out hunting Monday, their dogs ran across three wild hogs, and succeeded in killing two and capturing one alive. (Ground hogs, I mean.) May the Mountain Advocate prosper. JOHNNY JUMP-UP

BRUSH CREEK

Mr. Editor:-I have been reading your valuable paper and have noticed what F. D. Sampson has been saying about the State Board of Equalization and the raise it has made of our Knox county property. I do not think that it is right for a lot of men at Franfort who do not know of anything about our property to make such an unreasonable raise in our tax. For one, I am against it, and I have heard a lot of our people on the south side of the river say the same. It seems that F. D. Sampson's plan to get this raise taken off is a good one, and I am heartily in favor of it, and will help to pay the expenses of some good man from this district, and I believe many of our good citizens are willing to do the same. People to whom I have talked have all praised Mr. Sampson for the strong stand he has taken for the tax payers of the county, and it seems that all are willing to help push the good work along. I will thank you if you will give me room in your paper for this letter. With best wishes for you and the successful outcome of this plan which has been put on foot through the medium of your very valuable paper. I am yours very truly, A TAX PAYER

HOLDEN

MY MOUNTAIN HOME My mountain home I dearly love, From whence I'll never roam; My heartever yearns to live in thee, My own dear mountain home. The birds sing sweetly on the bough, From every glen and nook; While sparkling waters gently flow Along the winding brook. No gold that's in the Klondike vale, Nor pearls that's in the sea. Can ever break the charm thou hast Nor steal my heart from me. -George Higgins Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mills, of Flat Lick, were guests of Mrs. Mills' sister, Mrs. W. H. McDonald, Thursday.

OLA

Frank A. Moore, with the Mineral Development Co., passed down Friday en route to the burg on business. Newton Fannin, our accomplished photograher, is at Tacoma on business. Lincoln Collins and family have returned from Knott county, and will occupy the Widow Johnson's property on the river. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson R. Webb, of Pike county, are visiting friends and relatives here this week. Henry Adams and Ross Webb returned from Norton Saturday, where they have been on business. Henry C. Morgan, formerly of this place, left the earlier part of the week for Glamorgan, VA. Sillar, wife of John Webb, died Friday after a long and lingering illness of that dread disease-consumption. Her remains were laid to rest Saturday morning beside an infant daughter in the Craft's graveyard, near here. Mr. Chalky, of Big Stone Gap, was registered at the Kentucky Hotel, Monday. Wm. Webb, of the Kentucky Hotel, is very low at this writing with rheumatism. Sam Collins, postmaster at this place, has been on the sick list for the past week, but is now able to be out again. S. E. Hammons and Wash Jenkins were in the burg Friday on business. Several *drummers were here the past week picking up trade. A number of our farmers are through planting corn, while there are others quite backward and will not finish within two weeks. Uncle Jesse Adams, of the head of Millet, one of our oldest inhabitants, is once more visiting at the home of his daughter. Burdine Webb has returned from a flying trip to Norton. Aunt Miverva Brashear, aged 90 years old, and one of the best beloved women in the county, is near deaths door, in her old home in Whitesburg. Her death is expected hourly. Misses Maggie Webb and Ida Adams, two of the county's prettiest girls, who have been attending college at Wilmore, Ky., for the past seven months, will return home next week for a few months outing 'mid the scenes of their childhood. Dee Holbrooks was a guest of Elkhorn creek Sunday. Din Franklin, of the Mineral Development company, was over here Friday. John Spangler has returned from Pikeville, and reports everything advancing in the Sandy valley. D. D. Fields, attorney for the Northern Coal and Coke company, returned last week from Frankfort, where he has been on business for the company. Mrs. Eliza Webb, of the burg, who has been confined to her bed for several weeks, is now improving nicely. The Whitesburg Normal, under the careful management of Capt. John A. Webb, was closed Friday, and the boys think they are now ready for the examination. Jim Day, Deputy Marshal, was shot by William Haynes and instantly killed, the ball penetrating the bowels. ARCHIE * (my husband says a drummer was a salesman)

submitted by Shawn Byrd-Johnson