Village’s youngest residents opened their hearts in expressing holiday wishes to Santa
In 1957, The Doings published Christmas letters and stories from Hinsdale schoolchildren, then republished them in the paper’s 1995 centennial edition. Here are some of those charming — and unedited — submissions for the season.
Dear Santa, I know Christmas is almost here. I love to go in to the stores and see them all decorated. It’s a lot of fun to set on your lap and tell you what I want for Christmas. I always forget the names of your reindeers. I can remember: Dancer, Prancer, Commet and Cupid, and, and, oh foo! “cause” we might have some hot coca, and cookies there for you. Have a Merry Christmas, Santa. — Dorothy Elgen, Mrs. Weber’s third grade, Oak School
Dear Santa, I hope you will come on Christmas Eve because you are funny. And I like your red coat. You are so big and you have a big bag. Full of toys. I am very good. Christmas is a Mary time. Mary Christmas and a Happy New Year. — Robert Beiringer, third grade, St. Isaac Jogues School
A Big Bump — Santa’s 10 helpers, Sandy, Christy, Bootys, Mittens, Chimpeys, Chocolatery, Chumpys, Inky, Naddy and Chuckley all loved a doll with curly gold hair. On Christmas Santa took his bundle to the sleigh and put it in. The doll was on top of the other toys. Then suddenly they took off. Half way to the city the doll fell out. She landed with a bump. Three weeks later the doll heard foot steps coming toward her. She was afraid. Suddenly someone picked her up. A smiling face looked at her and then they walked away. The girl went in a warm house and warmed up the doll. They lived happily ever after. — Gail Younker, third grade, Prospect School
Dear Baby Jesus, Please do not forget this year we are one more than last Christmas I have here my cousin Leslie now from Canada before residing in Hungary behind the iron curtain. So he could not have a nice Christmas there for I’d like to have for him this year a very nice Christmas her in the United States of America. Your child — Arpad Horwath, fourth grade, St. Isaac Jogues School
Dear Santa, I was wondering how old you and your reindeer were. I am going to see you soon. We will have some milk and cookies for you. I hope you will give me an erasor that won’t fall off my desk, like the one I have now does. A letter full of love — Scott Simundra, third grade, Walker School
Dear Mr. Claus, I would like to have books for Christmas. Lots of books, any kind. Mysteries. Fairy Tales, funny books, as long as I can read them. Also, I think I’d like the poor little children in other lands to have a nice Christmas too. I like books because they can make the hours go faster and you can learn a lot from them. Yes, books are wonderful. I guess by what I’m talking about you can see I’m a book worm. I am and the bookiest book worm you ever saw. — Mary Van Vieck, Mrs. Weber’s third grade, Oak School
Mrs. Santa’s Kitchen — There is a place up at the north pole where Santa Claus lives. He has a dear little wife. Their house is white with red shutters. His suit is red and white and so is hers. The kitchen is painted yellow and they have an old-fashioned stove. The kitchen is the warmest place in the house. A cat sits by the stove. It has a sink with a pump on it and the ice box is a square hole cut in the wall with logs around it, with a log door. Now lets see about the rest of the house. There was a living room. A den that they watch T.V. in. It’s very cosy. — Rhea Arnold, third grade, Prospect School
