From MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Here you will find some unedited letters to Santa from almost a century ago, as printed in the Dec. 23, 1909, Mooresville Enterprise, predecessor to the Mooresville Tribune.

I suspect that, as is the case today, some parents helped their children in the composition and printing of letters to the jolly old elf.

Note what the children are asking for and not asking for. They are not requesting CDs, DVDs, HDTVs, WMDs, iPods or anything electronic or relating to Hannah Montana or SpongeBob SquarePants.

Note that they are asking for fruit, which was scarce in winter. Think about the last time your child or grandchild asked Santa for nuts and oranges?

Remember, too, that in 1909, people had chimneys large enough to accommodate someone with a bag of toys on his back.
Dear Santa:
Please do not forget me. I want a doll carriage, a doll, a bed, and a tea set. Please bring me lots of nuts, candy and fruits.
From your friend,
Mary E. Brown

Dear Santa Claus:
I am a little boy five years old and would like to have an elephant and a horn and all kinds of fruits and nuts.
Eddie Payne Kennerly

Dear Santa Claus:
I am a little boy three years old and would like to have a horse and wagon and whip.
Hubert Kennerly

Dear Santa:
I will be five years old Christmas and want you to bring me an automobile and a little watch. Please bring lots of nuts, candy, oranges and nice things.
From your little friend,
J. Will Brown

Dear Santa:
Please be good enough to bring me plenty of toys and fruits. I want an ABC book and a watch and a teddy bear. I want a wagon, too. Please bring me lots of candy, nuts and fruits.
Your little friend,
Marvin Brown

Dear old Santa:
Please don’t forget me. I want you to bring me a fiddle and an automobile and a police suit. Please bring me some candy and oranges and nuts and raisens and every good thing. I am 7 years old.
Edgar Cornelius
Mooresville, N. C.

Dear Santa Claus:
Come down the chimney tonight. Dear Santa Claus I am seven years old. Santa, I want you to bring me a bicycle and an air gun and a drum, a horn, and a box of fire crackers, both big and little boxes, and candy and nuts and good things. Be sure and bring a bicycle. Good bye, S. C.
Ernest Lee Miller

Dear Santa Claus:
Please bring me a drum, a gun, and some fire crackers, a jumping jack and skates, a sled, a pair of gloves, candy, nuts, apples and oranges.
Your little friend,
James Miller

Dear old Santa Claus:
I am a little girl 4 years old. I want you to bring me a great big doll with a pink dress on, and I want you to bring me some apples, oranges, candy and nuts and all kinds of good things to eat.
I am your little friend,
Nora Mayhew

Dear Santa Claus:
I am visiting my aunt for Christmas, and I want you to bring me a tricycle, a rabbit, a wagon, a drum and lots of oranges and candy. If you can’t get down the chimney, come in at the window, and I won’t peep one bit. I am three years old.
Your little friend,
Roosevelt Templeton
Mooresville, N.C.

Dear Santa:
Please bring me a stocking full of candy. That is all I want.
Your little friend,
Robert Carpenter Templeton

Dear Santa Claus:
I want you to bring me a big doll with black hair, a doll carriage, a little ironing board and iron, and a big bag of candy and oranges. Please bring me a box of pretty doll dresses. I am six years old.
Josie Templeton

Dear Santa:
Will you please bring me a little train and some apples, oranges, raisens, candy and nuts of all kinds. Please bring me all of the things I ask you to bring me. I live 9 miles from Mooresville on the Catawba river. I am 11 years old. Good bye, Santa Claus.
Your friend,
Lonie Sherrill

Dear Old Santa:
I am seven years old and I want you to bring me a big doll with white curly hair and with a pink dress on. Please bring me a tea set and I want lots of candy, fruits and nuts.
Your little friend,
Snowdie Templeton

Dear Santa Claus:
I will write you a few lines to tell you what I want, a doll that can open and shut her eyes, and a bed for her to sleep on, and a chair to sit on, and a carriage to ride in, and a little book to read in, and a little pitcher, and some candy and all kinds of good things to eat.
Now I will close. Good night.
Rena Brown