Mrs. Christian Burkart lived in Troy Grove, a village in LaSalle County of north-central Illinois.

The Post Office was established in 1837 for this agricultural area that later became home to silica mines for glass-making.

In 1915, the village was connected to two rail lines.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Grove,_Illinois

(The village maintains a lovely memorial to native son, Wild Bill Hickok, for his service as scout and spy for the Union in the Civil War.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Bill_Hickok_Memorial

At the end of December, 1915, Mrs. Burkart received a New Year postcard from “A. & F.”

The postcard was mailed from Moweaqua, a village on the border of Shelby and Christian Counties in south-central Illinois.

In 1891, a mine was established here over a deposit of “Pennsylvanian Strata” coal.

A gas explosion at the mine on Christmas Eve of 1931 killed 54 miners and led to significant Mine Safety legislation in the new 1932 US Congress under FDR.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moweaqua,_Illinois

Moweaqua is about 140 miles due south of Troy Grove.

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The face of the postcard displays an embossed drawing of a young person in a bare, winter landscape.

The figure is dressed in a belted, double-breasted coat, knickers, and white leggings.

There are snowshoes on the feet.

I cannot determine if this is representative of a particular national of ethnic culture.

In one hand there are sprigs of a plant, perhaps mistletoe – while the other hand holds a decorative lantern.

A printed verse proclaims:

“Time and tide pass

Quickly away;

But true friendship

Is here to stay”

In the upper right corner is printed the specific greeting:

“A Bright New Year”.

The postcard was copyrighted and printed in the United States in 1913.

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On the reverse, the senders’ message begins, “Hello All” and asks, “How are you all this morning?”

In the household of A. and F, “We are fine”.

After asking, “Where did you spend Christmas?”, A and F report the travel of their party.

“We were at Clinton, Monroe, and Decatur.”

I am not sure the meaning of the next phrase, “Suppose Helen had a good time”.

The party “..got here O.K. yesterday, are at Moweaqua this morning.”

Now, “It is snowing”.

The message concludes with “Love to all.”

Mrs. Burkart preserved the postcard in good condition throughout her life.

One hopes that she, her correspondents, and all their friends enjoyed a happy New Year in 1916.