A Weekly Visit of Tales, Tidings, and Old-Time Country Comfort

Welcome!

What follows is the first issue of The Hearth & Holler Gazette — a weekly, fictional newspaper set down for no purpose more urgent than keeping you company for a little while.

Before we begin, it may help to know where — and when — you are.

The Gazette hails from Honey Hill Country, a small, rural corner of the Missouri Ozarks, as it might have been known in the year 1904 — a time of front porches and wagon roads, oil lamps and handwritten letters, when news traveled at a human pace, and a Saturday paper was meant to be read slowly, with coffee close at hand.

Everything within these pages is make-believe — imagined people, places, notices, and happenings — shaped for storytelling and offered in the spirit of old-time country papers. This is not a paper of breaking news or loud headlines. It does not chase the day. It prefers instead to notice it — kitchens and workshops, hillsides and quiet corners — the small, human-sized moments that once filled a morning without asking much in return.

You are welcome to read straight through, skip about, or linger where something catches your eye. The Gazette will arrive once a week, on Saturday mornings, the way a friendly visit used to — not to hurry you, but to sit a spell and share what has been noticed.

We hope you enjoy this first visit, and that you will come back again.
The kettle will be on.

So, with that said  — Please come on in . . . . . . 

THE HEARTH & HOLLER GAZETTE

Sharing Stories and Smiles from Little Red Bear’s World
— A Weekly Visit of Tales, Tidings, and Old-Time Country Comfort —
Serving Honey Hill, Hopper’s Holler, and Beyond | Est. 1904

Saturday Morning Edition

January 24, 1904
Honey Hill Country • Cricket Hollow County

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Vol. I — No. 1
Price: Five Cents (If You Have It) • Free to Read (If You Do Not)

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Published Weekly on Saturday Mornings
From the Front Porches, Back Rooms, Kitchens, Workshops, Hillsides, and Quiet Corners of Honey Hill Country

A Note From the Editor, Clara Thimblewick . . .

This is the first issue of The Hearth & Holler Gazette, set before you with care, good intention, and a hopeful heart.

It is offered not to hurry you, nor to trouble you, but to keep you company for a little while — to share a few local happenings, a bit of humour, a remembered kindness, and a small story or two worth settin’ down with.

This paper is not meant to shout from the doorstep or chase you down the road. It does not carry breaking news, nor does it promise to fix the world before supper. What it hopes to do is simpler and steadier than that — to offer a place to pause, a chair pulled up close, and a few pages meant to be read slowly.

Within these columns you will find word from around our way — neighbourly notices, familiar voices, and observations drawn from front porches, back roads, and quiet corners. You may recognize some names. You may meet a few new ones. All are offered in good faith and with open hands.

This Gazette will arrive once a week, on Saturday mornings, the way a friendly visit used to — not to rush you, but to keep you company while the coffee cools.

Read straight through if you like. Skip around if you please. Fold the corner of a page in your mind and come back to it later.

We are glad you are here.

— Clara Thimblewick

Letters to the Editor

Our readers are invited to share their thoughts, observations, and neighbourly remarks. Letters may be shortened for space, but never for spirit.

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To the Editor,

I was pleased to hear that a new paper was being started in these parts and thought I would say so in writing. It seems a good thing to have a place where small matters may be set down before they are forgotten.

I look forward to reading it regular.

— A Friend from Maple Bend Road

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Dear Miss Thimblewick,

I was not certain what a “Gazette” might be when I first heard the word, but if it means something one can read of a Saturday without feeling hurried afterward, then I believe it will suit me fine.

Please pass along my good wishes to those involved.

— Mrs. H. B., Buttermann

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Editor,

If this paper intends to tell us what the weather is already doing, I will read it. If it intends to tell us what the weather should be doing, I will be more suspicious.

Either way, I wish you luck.

— Signed Only: A Man Who Watches the Sky

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To the Gazette,

I am glad to know there will be something arriving regular that does not ask for my opinion on matters beyond my reach. There is enough of that elsewhere.

I hope this paper lasts.

— E. T., Round Corners

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The Editor Replies

The Editor wishes to thank all who took the time to write, whether by letter, note, word of mouth, or a nod offered in passing. It is our intention to keep this paper close to home and well within reach.

Additional letters are always welcome.

Local News from Around the Holler

Filed by Percival “Percy” Puddlesniff, News-Hound
With Field Notes from Rusty the Fairydiddle, Roving Reporter

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Chicken Losses Reported; Tracks Point to Familiar Culprits

Two separate chicken losses were reported this week in the areas surrounding Round Corners and the lower edge of Honey Hill, with tracks in the snow suggesting outside involvement rather than simple miscount.

Farmer Turner reported one hen missing early Monday morning, with fox tracks leading away from the coop and into the tree line. Two days later, Littleberry Bedford reported three hens gone from his yard, with several smaller, closely spaced tracks circling the area before disappearing beneath a brush pile — consistent with weasel activity.

Both parties have since reinforced their coops. No further losses have been reported as of press time.

— Percy

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Frozen Laundry Causes Trouble; Nuthatch Takes a Fall

Laundry hung out to dry by Mrs. H. of Round Corners earlier this week froze solid in the night air, producing what Rusty described as “a line of shirts stiff enough to stand without help.”

A red-breasted nuthatch, attempting to perch on one such frozen shirt, lost its footing and fell to the ground, striking with enough force to stun itself briefly.

The bird recovered and flew off after several moments.

Witnesses report it appeared shaken in both body and dignity.  For all intents and purposes, seeming a bit nuttier than a nuthatch oughta be.

— Rusty

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Wagon Wheel Failure Delays Delivery; Neighbors Step In

A wagon belonging to Mr. Calvin Dorr suffered a broken wheel while en route to town Wednesday morning, leaving him and his son halted just short of the Butterfield turn.

Rather than abandon the load, several passersby stopped to assist in unloading the wagon and carrying the goods into town by hand. The wagon was later retrieved with the aid of borrowed tools and considerable patience.

Mr. Dorr reports he is now in need of a replacement wheel and is open to suggestions.

— Percy

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Horse Learns to Jump Fence; Owner Not Enthused

After carefully observing deer bounding in and out of fields, a bay gelding belonging to Mr. Ellis Harper decided to try his luck clearing the pasture fence. He was since observed wandering the roadside late Wednesday afternoon after successfully clearing the fence previously thought adequate.

Rusty reports the horse appeared calm, curious, and entirely pleased with himself, showing little interest in returning home until approached with an apple and a bucket. Mr. Harper appeared less than pleased walking the horse back home.

Neighbors are asked to notify Mr. Harper should the horse be seen practicing his jumping skills again.

— Rusty

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Cold Weather Freezes Troughs; Buckets Crack

Several farmers across Honey Hill Country reported frozen water troughs this week as overnight temperatures dipped sharply and failed to rise above freezing until mid-morning.

Chipping ice became a regular chore, and more than one bucket was reported cracked by those who underestimated the cold.

Residents are advised to check water sources early and often during the current Arctic cold spell.

— Percy

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Cherry Pie Disappears from Windowsill; Investigation Ongoing

A cherry pie left cooling on a windowsill along Maple Bend Road disappeared sometime between dusk and full dark on Tuesday evening.

Rusty reports the sill showed signs of interest but no clear tracks, owing to swept ground and the unfortunate absence of crumbs.

Possible suspects include neighborhood raccoons, opossums, or a person with poor judgment and no patience.

— Rusty

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Schoolboys’ Experiment Ends Wet, But Educational

A group of schoolboys were observed late Thursday afternoon conducting what appeared to be an experiment involving a length of rope, a sled, and a frozen cattle pond.

The activity concluded without injury but with wet boots and pants, cold fingers, and a sharp reminder from several adults regarding sound decision-making and the thickness of new ice.

No repeat performances are expected.

— Percy

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Strong Winds Delay Construction Work; Fences Take the Brunt

High winds moving through the hills late Tuesday caused scattered trouble outside town, including a small barn under construction at the Carter place on Ridge Spur Road, which was found flattened by morning. No livestock had yet been housed there, and no injuries were reported.

Neighbors assisted in gathering usable boards, with rebuilding expected once remaining materials can be gathered and set right again.

Elsewhere, a section of fencing near Cedar Bend gave way, allowing several cattle to roam before being gathered with assistance from neighbors shortly after sunrise. Repairs to the fence line are already underway.

— Percy

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Order of the Hewn Log Postpones Vote on Hall Stove, Again

Local business of a practical nature occupied members of The Order of the Hewn Log this week, as a scheduled vote on replacing the stove in their meeting hall was once again postponed.

What began as a straightforward comparison between cast-iron and sheet-metal models soon widened to include fuel efficiency, the reliability of modern workmanship, the proper placement of stovepipe elbows, and a detailed account of a similar stove installed years ago in another county, which, while not directly relevant, was remembered at length.

The meeting ran long, coffee ran out early, and the vote was ultimately deferred until “everyone has had time to think on it properly,” despite several members stating they had already done so and changed their minds twice.

Another meeting has been set. The old stove remains in place.

— Rusty

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Editor’s Note

Readers are reminded that not all happenings arrive with fanfare or leave visible marks. Some matters are quietly seen to — a fence set right, a task finished, a small trouble tended to before it grows larger.

Such reports from the community are always welcome.

Community Notices & Small Tidings

Items of interest from Honey Hill Country and nearby hollers. Notices are printed as received and offered in good faith.

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• The schoolhouse at Round Corners reports a full slate of pupils this winter, with attendance holding strong despite the cold mornings. Boots remain muddy, spirits remain sound, and damp coats and mittens are commonly found drying by the stove before lessons begin.

The arrival of new readers and copybooks has been delayed by weather farther north, leaving the older volumes to serve a while longer.

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• Mrs. Lottie Finch wishes it known that she has resumed taking in mending on Wednesdays and Fridays. Buttons sewn with care. Small tears, worn hems, and sensible alterations undertaken as time allows. Conversation included if desired.

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• The Butterfield General Store wishes it known that it has received a small shipment of lamp oil, coffee, and roofing nails; along with a new line of Washburn-Crosby unbleached soft wheat flour that it is proud to introduce. Supplies are expected to be steady, though weather dependent and not hurried.

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• A bay mare was observed grazing near the fence line along Maple Bend Road earlier this week. She appears well and untroubled. Any owner missing such an animal may wish to inquire, though the mare herself appeared in no hurry to go anywhere.

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• Church suppers and socials continue as planned throughout the county. Upcoming gatherings are noted at Pleasant Grove Church, Little Cedar Chapel, and Union Chapel of the Lower Upper Ridge, with evening meals, hymn singing, and neighborly visiting promised.

Members of the Ladies’ Practical Improvements Circle and the Honey Hill Improvement Circle are also preparing seasonal socials.

Notices of additional meals, socials, and benefit evenings will be printed as received.

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• The Editor has been asked to clarify that this paper is not intended to replace conversations already taking place on front porches, at store counters, or along fence rails — only to keep them company.

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A Small Reminder

If you have a notice to share — a gathering, a need, a thank-you, or a simple word worth passing along — you may leave it with the Editor by letter or in person. Space is limited, but goodwill is not.

Crops & Markets Report

By Virgil Stone

A Fair Start to the Year

The winter has settled in without too much undue trouble, and the ground is resting as it should for this time of year. Those who planned ahead last fall appear to be in good shape, and those who did not are catching up and already planning better for next season.

Corn stored properly has held well. Feed remains steady, and there has been no notable spoilage reported. Hay is moving as expected, with most barns carrying enough to see them through unless the weather takes a sharp turn.

Wheat prices remain unchanged from last week.

Market Notes

• Corn: Holding firm
• Wheat: Steady
• Hay: In regular demand
• Eggs: Scarce but consistent for this time of year
• Butter: Good quality reported where churned fresh

Buyers continue to favor goods brought in clean and measured honestly. Sellers who take the time to sort and stack properly are seeing better trade than those who do not.

On Preparation

Those already thinking toward spring would do well to inspect tools now rather than later. Repairs made in winter cost less time and trouble than repairs made in planting season.

Remember, there is no harm in sharpening blades twice.

February will be here before you know it and is prime time for indoor seed-starting, especially for those plants that require a long head start.

A Word on Patience

Nothing is gained by rushing the ground before it is ready. Check the last frost date, but the soil knows its own mind, and is best listened to.

A steady hand, observing Mother Nature’s signs, and a watched sky will serve better than guesswork and a forecast. And though he may be famous, don’t rely on groundhogs and rodents for a weather forecast.

— Virgil Stone

From Around Our Way

By Lillian Harper

A Few Words, Set Down Carefully

There are weeks when very little travels far from home, and this has been one of them.

Most letters received from neighboring towns speak not of change, but of continuity — familiar routines kept, ordinary matters attended to, and the quiet satisfaction that comes from seeing things proceed as expected. In times such as these, distance feels shorter, not longer, for it is measured in shared experience rather than miles.

Notes Received

Word from Packet’s Landing indicates the Mississippi river remains within its banks south of Keokuk, Iowa, and moving along at a sensible pace. Freight continues to arrive without delay from the lower river, and no unusual stoppages have been reported locally.

It is noted, however, that goods coming from farther upriver may be held for an undetermined length of time, as ice has been reported along stretches of the river north of Toolesboro, Iowa, slowing riverboat traffic in that direction.

Word has also been received that shipments of buttons from Muscatine may be delayed owing to ice along the upper river. Muscatine, long known as the Pearl Button Capital of the World, supplies much of the region’s trade in fastenings.

Local dressmakers and shopkeepers report they are making do with existing stock for the present, though further delays may require some ingenuity until regular shipments resume. “Muscatine may be the Pearl Button Capital of the World,” said Iona Campbell, owner of Campbell’s Millinery & Notions, “but they are not much good if I cannot get them here.”

A brief letter from Blusterburg mentions the reopening of Haskins’ Repair & Tin Shop, long shuttered on the east side of the square. No ceremony accompanied the occasion. The door was simply unlocked, the windows washed, and business resumed, with kettles, pans, and a small line of lantern parts once again visible on the front bench. You may recall, the shop had been closed for several months while Mr. Haskins recovered from a lingering illness. He is now reported to be back at his workbench, moving a bit slower than before but glad to be there.

From Round Corners, there is mention of a well-attended evening gathering at the The Tin Cup Café where the chief pleasure seemed to be the opportunity to sit together without particular purpose. Such occasions rarely make notice elsewhere, though they are often the ones most remembered.

On Familiar Ground

It has been observed more than once that places tend to change less than people expect, and people less than places fear. The longer one pays attention, the more this seems to hold true.

If there is any lesson to be drawn from the week just past, it may be this — that much is gained by noticing what remains steady, and little is lost by allowing it to do so without remark.

In Closing

Further notes from near and neighboring places are always welcome. They need not be deemed important to be worth sharing, nor from distant places to be of interest.

Sometimes it is enough merely to know how the simpler things stand, right where we are.

— Lillian Harper

Farm & Home

By Myrtle Mae Meadowbloom

Settling In for the Season at Hand

January has a way of asking us to mind the small things, and it is usually right to do so.

This is a good time to take stock — not in a fussy way, but with a clear eye. Shelves need looking over. Drawers benefit from being opened and closed again with intention. What was put by last Autumn ought to be checked now, while there is still time to re-sort, refill, or make do in a better fashion.

A warm and functioning kitchen does not happen by accident.

Winter comfort need not be fancy to be felt. A clean table, a swept floor, and something simple simmering nearby will often do more than anything purchased.

If you find yourself with a little extra time, this is a fine time to darn socks or mend seams. Such work travels well from one evening to the next and asks only that your hands keep moving. Which also has the benefit of keeping them warm on a cold night.

A Few Practical Notes

• Potatoes keep best when stored dark and dry, with a bit of air to them. Those kept too warm will try to remember spring before its time.

• Flour bins should be wiped out once mid-winter. Old dust invites trouble.

• A kettle set on early, even if you do not yet mean to use it, makes the house feel ready for the day.

For the Farmyard

Livestock are best served by regularity. Feed at the same hours. Water before it freezes. Break up frozen water in troughs. Speak to them kindly, even if you do not expect an answer.

They notice more than we think.

A Closing Thought

The work of farm and home is rarely finished, but it can be well-tended. If you end the day with fewer loose ends than you began it, you have done enough.

We will take up more in the weeks to come.

— Myrtle Mae

Hillside Chronicles

By Silas Thorne

I heard them before I saw them.

It was late January, one of those evenings when the cold settles in early and the daylight seems to give up without much of a fight. From the far side of the ridge came a low, measured call — not sharp, not hurried, but certain. A moment later, an answer rose from farther downslope.

Great Horned Owls have begun nesting.

Most folks think of spring as something that arrives all at once, announced by blossoms and birdsong, but out here it starts quietly and well ahead of schedule. The Great Horned Owl does not wait for warmth. By January or early February, pairs are already settled, claiming old hawk nests or sturdy tree forks, preparing for young while the ground is still locked hard with frost.

There is sense in this, though it may not seem so at first. By the time their owlets are ready to leave the nest, the hills and hollers will be stirring with life, providing immature and unskilled hunters food in abundance. Mice and voles will be on the move again. Chipmunks and squirrels will be venturing out with young of their own. The owl plans ahead, in a way that feels less like instinct and more like quiet foresight.

I watched the pair for some time from the edge of the field, their silhouettes barely shifting against the dark. They were not hunting. They were keeping watch. There is a difference.

January often feels like a month when nothing much is happening, but that is only true if you are not paying attention. Beneath the cold, preparations are underway. Lives are being timed. Futures are being arranged.

The hillside looks still. It never truly is.

— Silas

Where Folks Gather in Good Company

By Felicity Grace Merriweather

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Honey Hill Players Make Limited but Notable Progress

A gathering of familiar faces took place Thursday evening as The Honey Hill Players met to begin planning their upcoming spring production, with the stated purpose of selecting a play and assigning initial responsibilities.

Coffee, punch, and an impressive quantity of cookies were served, after which conversation moved easily from the choice of play to costumes remembered fondly from years past, the draftiness of the Grange Hall stage, and a friendly disagreement over whether punch should be served warm or cold in May.

Several titles were suggested, including Our Town, The Importance of Being Earnest, and a play someone was certain would be perfect once the name of it came back to her. Opinions were shared freely, often at the same time.

No play was selected, no parts assigned, and no rehearsals scheduled. However, after some discussion and a second round of cookies, the group did agree that the production should open sometime in May, which was generally felt to be a sensible decision given the season.

The meeting adjourned on an optimistic note despite having achieved nothing save the establishment of a play date. Nevertheless, optimism abounded, and plans were made to reconvene soon and continue where matters were left off.

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A Winter Bake Sale, Kindly Attended

Last Saturday afternoon, despite the frost holding firm along the shaded lanes, a good number of neighbors made their way to the meeting room behind the Butterfield Schoolhouse for a Winter Bake Sale and Raffle, held for the benefit of the Cricket Hollow Relief Fund.

Tables were arranged plainly, without fuss, and soon filled with offerings that spoke for themselves — loaves wrapped in cloth, pies cooled just enough to travel, jars of preserves lined up like patient guests, and a cake that drew quiet admiration before it was claimed.

There was no program to speak of, and none was needed. People came, visited, made their selections, and lingered long enough to exchange a few words before moving on. Children were observed being trusted with coins and decisions of their own, which they carried out with great seriousness.

By the time the light began to fade, most plates were empty, and the room felt used in the best possible way.

The raffle prize — a neatly pieced quilt worked in winter tones and donated by Mrs. Maggie Whitlock of Butterfield, stitched during the long evenings of December — was awarded to Mrs. Clara Hensley, who received it with visible pleasure and no attempt at modest refusal. It was later seen folded over the back of her chair as she spoke with friends, as though already at home.

The final tally, while not announced aloud, was said to be sufficient to meet several immediate needs and leave a little aside for whatever may come next. Those involved expressed quiet satisfaction and promptly began discussing who might host the next such effort when the weather turns again.

It bears repeating that gatherings of this sort do not rely on spectacle to succeed. They ask only that people show up, bring what they can, and trust one another to do the rest.

By that measure, the afternoon may be counted a success.

— Felicity Grace 

Oddments & Oddities

By Homer T. Happenstance

Unusual items, strange reports, and matters set down exactly as they were told. Printed Without Apology.

• A farmer outside Round Corners reports the birth of a two-headed calf, both heads appearing healthy and alert. According to the farmer, the calf eats well, sleeps soundly, and disagrees with itself frequently.

• A woman near Piney Ridge insists her pet crow has learned to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Several neighbors confirm the crow sings loudly and at length, though opinions vary as to the tune.

• A hen belonging to Littleberry Bedford has reportedly laid an egg containing another, smaller egg inside it. The outer egg was eaten. The inner egg was kept for show and has since been misplaced.

• A man passing through Butterfield claims he was invited in for tea by a woman who later identified herself as “not originally from this planet.” The tea was described as pleasant, the conversation a bit odd. No further visits have have been planned.

• A rabbit owned by a family along Cedar Bend Road is said to count its young by tapping the hutch door with one paw. Visitors report the rabbit taps reliably, though not always accurately.

• Several residents swear they observed frozen fish falling from the sky during last Tuesday’s snowstorm. Others insist the fish were frozen after they hit the ground. No agreement has been reached.

• A dog belonging to no one in particular has been seen repeatedly sitting on the Round Corners Courthouse steps precisely at noon each day, howling once and then leaving. No clock is posted nearby.

• Spotted this week along the edges of Witches Holler, a strange light has been reported by several in the area. Descriptions vary.

Some witnesses describe the light as a greenish-blue glow, faintly pulsating. Others insist it appeared as a steady white orb, holding its brightness without flicker. Estimates of size range from that of a bowling ball to something closer to a wagon wheel, with one account likening it to the size of a small country church.

Those who observed the light report no sound, no heat, and no discernible source. It appeared without warning, and extinguished just as suddenly. No tracks, marks, or lingering effects were found afterward.

Neighbors bordering Witches Holler admit to some unease, though no true cause for alarm has yet been identified. The light has not been observed on consecutive nights, nor at any regular hour.

No explanation has yet been offered.

— Homer T.

Country Chuckles

By Cousin Orville P. Dithers

• Overheard at the feed store:
“That mule’s so slow he’d lose a race to molasses in January.”

• “Farmer Turner says his scarecrow finally won an award.”
“For what?”
“Outstanding in his field.”

• “Why don’t pigs tell secrets?”
“’Cause they always squeal.”

• “Pa slept in the barn last night.”
“Why?”
“He said the hay snored less than Ma.”

• “Why don’t cows make good comedians?”
“Because their timing’s udderly awful.”

• “Did you hear about the fellow who tried to teach his dog to fetch a stick?”
“What happened?”
“The dog brought back a fence post and expected an extra treat.”

• “That rooster of yours crows awful early.”
“He’s been wrong before.”

• “Why did the chicken cross the road?”
“To prove to the armadillo it could be done.”

• “I hear Farmer Jenkins is reading a new book.”
“What’s it about?”
“Hard to say. He’s been on the same page for three nights now.”

• “My watch stopped working.”
“What time did it quit?”
“About when I stopped needin’ to know the time.”

• “That man’s so stubborn he’d argue with a fence post. And lose.”

If you find yourself laughing at any of the above, that’s a good thing.

If you did not laugh, that’s fine as well. There’s always next week.

— Cousin Orville

Classifieds

Notices are printed as submitted. Replies may be made discreetly, or not at all.

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FOR SALE — One solid oak table, scarred but steady. Seats four if they know one another, six if they do not mind rubbing elbows. Inquire at the Gazette office.

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WANTED — Someone willing to take a long look at a gate that has never quite hung right. Tools helpful. Opinions optional.

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Mr. Amos Calder of Round Corners makes it known that he is seeking work in carpentry and general repairs. Experience includes fence mending, outbuildings, wagon sheds, and small household fixes. Inquiries may be made locally.

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FOUND — One mitten, child-sized, blue with a loose stitch at the thumb. Left on the bench near the High Hill schoolhouse. Find it in the school’s ‘Lost & Found’ box.

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ESTATE SALE — Having decided to quit farming and broke, I will sell entirety of my possessions at my residence 3 miles west of Patchtown. Saturday, February 7th, 8 a.m. until its all gone.

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WANTED — Double-drive Band for a Farnham Double-drive Flax Spinning Wheel. Contact MaryJo Weathers, R.F.D. No. 3, Butterfield, MO.

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HELP WANTED

Roving Restaurant Reviewer
(Occasional • Well-Fed • Opinionated)

The Gazette is now accepting applications for a Roving Restaurant Reviewer / Food Critic to visit kitchens, cafés, church suppers, smokehouses, and other locations where food is served with confidence.

Applicants should possess:

• A hearty appetite
• A patient fork
• A willingness to accept second helpings “for accuracy”
• The ability to observe quietly while eating
• An honest opinion delivered without meanness

Applicants must be willing to travel, linger, and notice details such as gravy consistency, biscuit height, the quality of cornbread crumb, the proper preparation and tending of grits, and whether pie was offered before or after being requested.

Cooking skill preferred but not required.
Empty plates encouraged.

Interested parties may apply by letter to the Editor.
Samples of past reviews and opinions welcome. Samples of pie may influence scheduling of interviews but not judgment.

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A Small Reminder

Classified notices may be left with the Editor in person or by letter. Brevity is appreciated. Honesty assumed.

Heart of the Holler

By Abigail “Abby” Whitcombe

A Small Light, Left On

Late one evening this past week, a small lamp was lit and left burning on the porch of a house, long after the rest of the home had gone dark, a quiet sign understood by neighbors to mean that someone inside was unwell.

By mid-morning, a pot of broth had appeared, along with a casserole, a loaf of bread, and an apple pie left cooling where it could be found. Errands had been quietly run, and chores tended to.

Word that a neighbor had taken ill earlier in the day had traveled quietly, as it often does, without knocking or announcement.

The simple return message — You are not alone. Someone is aware. If you need us, we are near.

There are kindnesses that never make a sound, and comforts that ask nothing in return. They are easy to miss if one is looking only for grand gestures.

But they are the reason a place feels like home.

— Abby W. 

Front Porch Reflections

There is a particular feeling that comes at the end of a good Saturday morning — when the paper has been folded once or twice, when the cup has gone cold while one was absorbed in a good story or conversation, and when the day still lies open ahead.

That is the moment this page is meant for.

Much has been said this week, though very little of it was loud. A few things were noticed. A few were set down so they would not wander off entirely. None of it was meant to hurry you.

If there is a thread running through these pages, it is not urgency, but care — for small work done properly, for neighbours met without ceremony. For seasons of the year and for seasons of life allowed to arrive in their own time.

The world beyond the porch will go on doing what it does. It always has. Often loudly. Sometimes frighteningly. But for a little while, it is enough to know what is happening close at hand — how the ground rests, how people gather, how stories travel when they are not pushed. Noticing what is right in front of us.

Next week will bring its own small burdens and its own weather — and from the looks of it, the weather may be a real doozy for many of us. But when it does, there will be room and time to set it all down here for a while, and to be unburdened among friends. Even if only for a little while.

Until then, we hope you will accept the comfort that is offered, and offer what kindness you have to others. And simply leave the rest where it lies.

We will see you again next Saturday.

— Jim (and Red!)

The Hearth & Holler Gazette is a work of fiction, created for entertainment and storytelling purposes. The people, places, events, and notices appearing within its pages are imagined, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

© 2026 James Milson. All rights reserved.

Pen-and-ink illustrations created with the assistance of AI and lovingly styled for Little Red Bear Land.

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