Mrs. Orlie Childs lived in West Clarksville, a hamlet along Dodge Creek within the town of Clarksville in Allegheny County of southwest New York.
The town, composed of several small communities, was named for a clerk of the Holland Land Company – which sold land grants to the first European settlers during the first years of the 19th century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarksville,_New_York
In October of 1914, Orlie received a birthday postcard from Aunt Louise Williams.
Aunt Louse mailed the postcard from Indianapolis, the State Capital and the hub of commerce and finance in central Indiana.
Soon after Indiana became a state in 1816, the Indiana General Assembly authorized the planning of a State Capital.
Indianapolis was platted on the White River in a mostly-uninhabited area; the city grew in population with the completion of the National Road and the Michigan Road.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis
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The face of the postcard displays a medallion drawing of a rural scene.
A stream flows through grassy fields, under a bright sky.
A wooden bridge crosses the stream, overshadowed by a large tree.
In the distance, a tangle of trees and brush may conceal the hint of a building.
The medallion is surrounded by blossoms and buds.
Below, printed letters extend, “Birthday Greetings”.
The postcard was “Printed in Saxony”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxony
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On the reverse, Aunt Louise greets, “Dear Orlie”.
There is a suggestion of a recent illness as Aunt Louise reports, “we are better and expect to start for home Monday.”
After acknowledging that “it is late”, Aunt Louise asks Orlie to accept “Birthday Greetings and kind wishes of Aunt Louise Williams”.
In closing, Aunt Louise notes that “it has been quite cold for a few days.”
Orlie seems to have forgiven her aunt as the postcard was preserved in good condition throughout her life.
One hopes that Aunt Louise and her party returned safely to their home and that many affectionate postcards were exchanged between the aunt and her niece.
