It's a beautiful day in the Ozarks. October is such a pretty month with its cool nights and warm days.
    October was a busy time for farmers in the long ago. Corn was gathered and the cribs filled to capacity. Hogs were fattened for butchering, sorghum was being made, winter wood was cut and stacked. We looked forward to Thanksgiving when we could all go to grandma's for a turkey dinner.
    I remember our walking to school and how we enjoyed the crisp, frosty mornings after the heat of August and September. We had time to enjoy the scenery along the way. Our school was taught by one teacher, who had all eight grades. About forty pupils attended the school.
    We have other happy memories of those days, too. There was no radio or television and we had fun going to singings and play parties. Candy-pulling was another good time. We had organs, violins, harmonicas and guitars to make our own instrumental music.
    We read Country Gentlemen, Youth's Companion and Comfort magazines. We had Bertha Clay and Mary J. Holmes novels and James Fenimore Cooper's books. Those were the good old days.
    But we like living in the present time, too. We love our Ozarks where people are friendly and always find time to help those less fortunate.
    So, if you are looking for a good place to live or visit, come to the Ozarks ... especially in October.

Mellie Smith
undated