Miss Gelletta Shayer lived in Gillman, a small city in Marshall County of central Iowa.
Named for an engineer of the Iowa Central Railroad, Gilman was established when the rail line was laid through this area in 1870.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilman,_Iowa
In December of 1910, Gelletta received a postcard from Etta S.
It may be that Gelletta and Etta were sisters or otherwise related.
The postcard was mailed from Grinnell, a city in Poweshiek County of central Iowa.
The community was founded by settlers from New England and reflected Yankee abolitionism and support for education.
(Abolitionist, John Brown and 12 former slaves were hosted by J. B. Grinnell and other community leaders in 1859.)
The city was incorporated in 1865 and grew rapidly when it became a junction of the east–west line of the Rock Island Railroad and the north–south line of Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grinnell,_Iowa
Once home to early automobile manufacturing, Grinnell is best-known today as the home of Grinnell College, founded as a private, liberal arts institution in 1846 by the founders of the town.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grinnell_College
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The face of the postcard is a touching picture of a figure on horseback approaching a rural home.
From the path, the horseman raises his hat in greeting.
Before the porch steps, a woman waves a handkerchief in welcome.
Behind her, on the porch, two children are also hailing the returning traveler.
It seems to be late summer as the foliage is lush and there are blossoming bushes in the yard.
Below the scene of joyous reunion is a printed title, “I Am Coming Home”.
The image was produced by the “Theochrom” process and printed in Germany.
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On the reverse, Etta has inscribed only her name.
We do not know if the postcard was intended to communicate her personal plans to make a visit.
Gelletta seems to have loved the postcard as it was preserved in very good condition throughout her life.
One hopes that Etta did visit Gelletta and that all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas in 1910.
