From the Matagorda County History & Genealogy page
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following children’s letters to Santa are taken from the Palacios Beacon in its Dec. 22, 1916 edition.
Santa Claus Letters
Palacios Beacon, December 22, 1916
Some of the fourth grade pupils of the public schools have written letters to Santa Claus, telling him what they want for Christmas, and they have been furnished the Beacon by the teacher, Miss Skinner, which we are pleased to publish and which we are sure will be read with interest.
Palacios, Tex., Dec. 15, 1916
Dear Santa Claus: I am going to write you a letter today. You live way up north where it is so cold, and I am going to tell you about my home. We are going to have a good time Xmas.
We can go bathing sometimes in the winter and all the time in summer. We have a large bay down here. The trees are still green down here and so is the grass and flowers.
Oh! Santa Claus are you going to bring the little children anything for Xmas, if you are, this is what I want. I want some candy, nuts and a bicycle, a wagon, a Ford car, a little pony, a cart, and some apples and some oranges, and a shot gun, a target, a rifle, and a pair of roller skates, a base ball, a base ball bat, a glove, a mitt and a box of stationery, a sail boat, a motor boat, motor car, a horse and buggy, a cow, an overcoat, a necktie, a diamond ring, a pair of long pants and a watch chain.
Your friend, James Ira Powell
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Palacios, Tex, Dec. 15, 1916
Dear Santa Claus: I hope you are very well up there in that cold, cold northland, although I expect you have started on your journey now, you live in that northland where you have to wrap up all time. Every time I see your picture you are all wrapped up in fur, and where it snows pretty near all the time.
This is not a very big town, but big enough to tell a little about anyway. Sometimes we go bathing in the winter down here, and in some places the grass stays green through the winter and the roses bloom, and we have shell streets, an electric light and ice plant, a pavilion where dancing and skating is done, we have a high school which is very nice and the East Bay school which is nice too we have very nice teachers here, the first, second and third grades are at the East Bay schools and the rest at the High school, we have a fire department which is drawn by a car, and we have a B. Y. P. U. which stands for Baptist Young Peoples Union where people camp and board in during the summer, and we have a large bay which we fish and oyster in.
Well I will begin to tell you what I want for Christmas. I guess you will have to come in your airship since there is not snow and ice down here. Well, I want some doll clothes and a set of cooking utensils for my stove I got for a prize at the racket store, and I want some stationery, and if you haven’t got any cooking utensils for a little stove I will take a game instead. I guess I will close for this time for I guess I will not get much this year, but be sure and don’t forget the little poor girls and boys. Good-bye.
Your friend, Blanche Phillips
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Palacios, Tex., Dec. 13, 1916
Dear Santa Claus: I am going to write you a letter about Palacios. It is not very cold down here although we think so when we have northers. I suppose it is snowing up where you live and you have to wear coats and furs.
I will tell you about Palacios. The grass is still green and the roses are blooming. Some people go in bathing. We have a big bay down here and a pavilion, three oyster houses and a ship yard.
Santa Claus I wish I were up there to help you make your toys, but I think it would be too cold for me.
Now I am going to tell you what I want you to bring me Christmas. I want a big doll, a silk dress, a silk handkerchief, a Shetland pony and a cart and a game. I am going to school and I am in the fourth grade. Don’t bring me a sled or ice skates because it don’t snow down here. I guess that is all.
From your friend, Gladys McGlothlin
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Palacios, Tex, Dec. 13, 1916
Dear Santa Claus: As you live in the northern country and don’t know much about Palacios I will tell you some about it.
There is a beautiful bay on the east and south sides; there are two school houses and four churches, and oh yes! we are going to have our Christmas tree at the Methodist church Monday night and I want you to be sure and get here in time for that as I want a big doll, a doll bed and buggy, fruit, a good book and a ring.
Hoping this finds you well and good looking, and already to start for Palacios loaded with toys. Good-bye for this time.
Your friend, Meta Baxter
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Palacios, Tex., Dec. 17, 1916
Dear Santa Claus: It is cold up where you live and you have snow in your country, and I will tell you about my country. It is warm and the flowers bloom sometimes in the winter and the birds sing and we can go boat riding in the winter. The trees are not dead and some of the grass is not dead. And not I will tell you what I want. A big doll head, a buggy, some nuts and candy, a pony and saddle.
Your friend, Luella Smith
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Palacios Tex., Dec. 15, 1916
Dear Santa Claus: It is not cold down here like it is up north where you live for where you are you have to wear a heavy coat all the time. Here it is warm nearly all winter and we don’t have to wear a coat very often and we can go barefooted all the time. We can go boat riding on the bay and have fun. There are a few green spots of grass here. I want to watch and some candy and nuts for Christmas, but don’t bring me a sled or ice skates for I couldn’t use them here.
Yours truly, Billie Gray
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Palacios Texas
Dear Santa Claus: You live where it is cold and snows and I live where it is warm and pleasant in the winter. We have flowers and pretty green trees in the winter. Sometimes we can go in bathing it is so warm and we can go boat riding. We have three hotels and several rooming houses, an encampment grounds and a pavilion. You don’t need to bring me a sled or skates, but I want a book, a box of handkerchiefs, a ribbon, a box of paints and a box of candy, a box of stationery, a box of sewing cards, some nuts, apples and oranges.
Your friend, Freda Jossernd
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Palacios Tex., Dec. 14, 1916
Dear Old Santa Claus: I am going to tell you about the country I live in as your country is so cold up where you live. The grass doesn’t always die and the trees have a few leaves on them, the flowers bloom in the winter and sometimes we can go in bathing in the winter. The weather gets cold and then turns warm. We are having a cold spell now. Don’t forget to bring toys to the poor little girls and boys, bring them a lot of things so they will have a Merry Christmas. Well I am going to tell you what I want for Christmas. I want a girl’s bicycle, a doll, a doll dress, a tea set, doll bed, some candy, fruit and nuts. Now don’t forget the poor children.
Well I must close.
Your friend, Ruth Young
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Palacios, Tex., Dec. 15, 1916
Dear Santa: I live in a warm land where there is grass all winter. When you have snow, it never snows here. We love very much to have you come. We always remember your coming at school.
We don’t wear half as many warm clothes as you. We don’t need sleds and skates either. Our trees haven’t lost all their leaves. We have high winds here on the bay, but it is not cold. The flowers are still blooming here. This is a good sized town. We have a real nice school too.
I want to tell you what I would like for you to bring me for Christmas, as it is only nine days off. I want a bicycle, a topaz ring, a pink and blue hair ribbon and a silk handkerchief.
Now Santa I will have to close, hoping you will visit my friends and, I am
Your sincere friend; Georgia Heck
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Palacios, Tex., Dec. 13, 1916
Dear Santa: It is cold where you live and it snows. I will tell you about my country. The flowers are blooming and the grass is green. You can go bathing in the winter sometimes. It is nice and warm now. You need not send me a sled or skates. I would not have any use for them. Have you made very many presents for the little boys and girls? I wish I were up there to hold your reindeers when you fill the little children’s stockings.
When you come by here I want you to leave me a bicycle, Shetland pony, pad and saddle, a big doll, a bracelet, doll buggy, paints, tea set, hair ribbon, pretty dress, Indian suit, pretty coat and a box of stationery. I won’t ask for too much. Good-bye Santa.
From your friend, Zelma Withers.
P. S. Don’t forget me.