Letters to Santa from Children in 1903

 These letters were published in the Nashville Banner (Tennessee) newspaper just prior to Christmas, 1903.  Be sure to note the family connections included in the letters from the wee ones to the man in Red. 

 

Dear Santa

I am a little girl 7 years old, and I want you to bring me a doll, set of dishes, table and some doll chairs and some candies, nuts, oranges, figs and all good things to eat.

Nellie Egan

 

P.S.  Please don’t forget my little brother, Morris Egan.  Bring him a nice rubber doll

 

Dear Santa

I am a little girl 5 years old. I want you to bring me a doll, set of dishes, doll table and doll chairs and some candies, nuts, oranges and everything good to eat.

Esther Egan

 

Dear Santa

I am a little girl 9 yrs old.  I wish you would bring me a big doll.  I have kept the one you brought me last Christmas and I want one a little larger and bring me a set of dishes and a book satchel, oranges, candies and nuts.  Bring all of the little children something.

Bessie Morgan

 

Dear Santa Claus

Please bring me a watch and a chain.  Bring me some candy and raisins and nuts.  Pleas bring me a knife and some fireworks.  Please bring me a pretty picture book.  Bring me a pretty picture book.  Bring me a steel trap.  Please bring me some oranges and some skyrockets.  Please bring me some fireworks.

John Miller Woodson

 

Dear Santa

I have been a good little boy ever since I heard that you were coming to see me Christmas.  Please bring me a pair of skates, velocipede, wagon, fireworks and everything that is good to eat.

Austin DeMontbreun

 

Dear Santa

I am 9 years old and good as I can be, so please do not forget to bring me a game of flinch and lagomachy, pair of skates, rocking chair, pocketbook, pencil box, story book and anything else that you think would suit me.  Don’t forget mamma and my four little brothers.

Jennie Lavender White

 

Dear Santa

I am looking forward to you coming with great pleasure, so please do not forget me.  I want a baseball, glove, watch, pair of skates, pair of leggins, pair of corduroy pants that come below my knees to wear with my leggins, and plenty of good things to eat above all things.  Think of Mamma and all good mammas like her.

Duncan DeMontbreun

 

Dear Santa

I am a little girl 12 years old and first of all I have quit playing with dolls.  You can bring me a work box, writing desk, rocking chair, cushions, bed, rat for my hair, some pretty hairpins, ring, trunk, furs, and somebody to help mamma with her work so I will not have to do it.

Myrtle DeMontbreun

 

Dear Santa

I am a little boy 9 years old.  I go to school every day and try to be a good little boy.  I hope you won’t forget me. I want you to please bring me a set of carpenter tools, some tops, marbles, a air-gun and some candies, oranges, nuts, firecrackers, roman candles and please bring me a story book.  Your little friend.

Hazle Russell

Dear Old Criss,

I am a little boy just 4 years old and I want you to bring me a little wagon, a paper cap pistol, and a horn, lots of candy, nuts, and oranges.

W. Ridley Smith

 

Dear Santa Claus

I am a little girl 7 years old. I live in the country.  Please bring me a doll that will go to sleep, some candy, nuts, raisins, orange and some fireworks and anything else you have nice for a little girl.  Please don’t forget my brothers and sister.  Good-bye. 

Birdie Clare Phipps

 

Dear Old Santa Claus

As it is nearing Christmas, thaught I would write you and ask you to please bring me a catcher’s glove, baseball and bat, and anything else nice you may choose to bring.  And Dear Old Santa Claus, please don’t forget my little brother, Gus.  He is such a sweet, good little fellow.  Now Santa don’t forget us, and I thank you ever so much.  Your Loving Little Friend,

Frank M. Byrne

 

Dear St. Nicholas

Please bring me a nice box of handkerchiefs, book called “The Story of a Short Life,” some hair ribbons, statuette, new dark red waist, and have the sets put in my old ring.  Also bring me some candy, oranges, apples, nuts and dates.  Yours truly

Helen Galloway

 

Dear Santy

I want some big fire crackers and some fireworks, a loud whistle, some paper caps,  fifteen cents worth of little fire crackers and a velossipede, some candy and a top and string.  Please bring me a big cannon and a fire engine and a box of tools and a football and a drum and anything else you can think of that a little boy like me wants.  Your friend

John Lea Quarles

 

Dear Santa

I want you to not forget me, for I want a rubber rattle and a pair of little shoes and a high chair and some candy.

Willie U. Knott

 

Dear Santa Claus

This letter is from Kate Leak.  Please bring me a doll, set of furniture and a tea set.  also some candy, and some oranges and nuts, and a doll.  Augusta Little says bring her a doll, set of furniture and some nuts and a tea set, and Kate a doll carriage and me one.  I want some butter nuts and some oranges, and a little red rocking chair.  I am 6 years old and Kate Leak is 7.  Bring me a doll cradle and a bottle of cologne and just anything that you can.  And bring a box of candy and a little kitchen to go to Mamie’s parlor.

Kate Leak and Augusta Little

 

Deaer Santa

I am a little man 10 years of age and have been a pretty good boy this year, and hope you will come to see me.  Please bring me a little tool box, an air gun, a fire engine, a train of cars and nuts, candies, oranges and fireworks.

Watson Williams

 

 

The following description and greeting appeared on Christmas Eve, 1903.

 

THE LILIPUTIAN ARMY MOVED ON SANTA CLAUS

The little people broke the record this time.  2,153 letters to Santa Claus, more than any previous year, were written to the Nashville Banner this year [1903].  This is evidence that the little people know their friend.  The letters have been printed just as they were written, and that most of them were genuine child-letters.  Of course, the usual “smartie” has attempted to get in his joke work or fake, and for this we have kept a careful lookout, and have thrown out all communications that seemed to us suspicious.  We have been alarmed by the enormous demand for dolls, but have no doubt the supply will quite equal the demand.

A great cause for congratulation in the magnificent report so many boy letter-writers have to offer as in their conduct during the year. Surely the world has never witnessed such a fine army of “good little boys” as those who have reported to old Santa Claus of 1903. The girls do not have much to say on that subject, but this is doubtless due to the fact that girls are always good and old Santa Claus know it.  But the boys are evidently “catching up” and will no doubt soon be just as good.

Of course, all may not get just what they desired, for there are a great many little boys and girls in the world, and some of you have sent in rather large orders.  But your old friend Santa Claus is going to do his very best for you; you may be sure of that.  But, after all, the real happiness of Christmas does not consist in what we get, nor even in what we give, but in a glad heart, a contented spirit and a sweet and loving gratitude to the friends who remember us at this gracious season of good will