As the world moves on and times change, being a child today can seem extremely different from what it was 100 years ago.
But this Twitter account show us that there's perhaps not as much of a difference as we thought.
Taking newspaper clippings and letters from archives, R.L.Ripples documents letters to Santa written by children over a century ago.
And they are completely heartwarming.
Already preparing for what they want to be when they grow up:
Dear Santa: Please bring me a horse, some wood, and a hammer and nails. Papa expects I will be a carpenter. Your girl, Rhoda
— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) 10 December 2017
Virginia 1900
Dear Santa, Please bring me a doll, a poodle dog with ear bobs and a black cat with green eyes, as I expect to be an old maid. Your loving girl, Adrien
— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) 9 December 2017
South Carolina 1922
So sibling rivalry appears to always have been a thing:
Dear Santa: Par says I am so bad that it is no use to write to you for anything. I am not so bad as pap makes out like. I just punches my brother when he makes me mad. So santa when you was a little boy, didn’t you punch your little brother? Ernest Williams Virginia 1900
— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) 10 December 2017
Dear Santa, I want a sled better than mine a sled like my brother’s so I could race with him, and if I beat him he will want to trade, but I won’t do it for if I did he would say he had the best sled and I don’t want him to. Your loving boy, Lorenzo
— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) 10 December 2017
Vermont 1894
Dear Santa, Please bring me a doll. And don’t bring Eleanor anything. She took my money and threw it in the coal skuttle. Caromae
— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) 5 December 2017
South Carolina 1908
Some of them would actually bring a tear to your eye:
Dear Santa Claus: I'd order a doll but I'm afraid the girls will laugh at me. -Anson
— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) 10 December 2017
New York 1902
Santa Claus: My papa is ded i havent got no body to get me any thing if you want to send me any thing send it 703 mechanic St Your friend, Floyd Iowa 1915
— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) 9 December 2017
Dear Santa: Bring mamma a new dress. and papa a new suit. and me a hundred dollars worth of peanuts. so I guess that is all. Russell
— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) 6 December 2017
Missouri 1919
But these will have you in stitches:
Dear Mr. Santa Claus, Please dont bring any more cats, we have plenty of cats. Goodby, Henry
— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) 9 December 2017
Pennsylvania 1903
Dear Santa, Don't come to my house because you will scare me. Go to Uncle Henry's house. Clyde Lowe Illinois 1903
— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) 4 December 2017
Dear Santa: I want a loud toy cannon. Also bring me a girl, for mine has just quit me. I will be a good little boy. -Doc Paschall
— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) 3 December 2017
WacoEveningNews Texas1900
This one especially hit us right in the feels:
Dear Santee, Pleas ask God to give us back our mamma and you can give our presents to somebody else. We just only want her. -Harriette
— R.L. Ripples (@TweetsofOld) 11 December 2017
Nebraska 1901
It's so heartening to see that over time children still need the same things, love, compassion.... and maybe the odd hundred dollars worth of peanuts!
