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The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume 1
Family Letters, 1905-1931
To his brother (LP iii: 63):
Little Lea.
Strandtown.
[c. November 1905]
My dear Warnie
Peter has had two un-fortunate aventures since I last wrote, however they came out all right in the end. No. 1, Maude was in her room (up there remember) heard Peter howling. When she came down, what do you think? sitting on the floor ready to spring on Peter was a big black cat. Maude chased it for a long way. I was not able to help matters because I was out on my bych.
The next adventure was not so starling, never the-less it is worth while relating that a mouse got into his cage.
Tim got the head staggers the other day while running on the lawn, he suddenly lay down and began to kick and foam at the mouth and shudder.
On Halow-een we had great [fun?] and had fireworks; rockets, and catterine wheels, squbes, and a kind of thing that you lit and twirled and then they made stars. We hung up an apple and bit at it we got Grandfather down to watch and he tried to bite. Maud got the ring out of the barn-brach and we had apple dumpling with in it a button a ring and a 3 penny bit. Martha got the button, Maude got nothing, and I got the ring and the 3 pence all in one bite. We got some leaves off the road the other day, that is to say the roadmen gave us some that they had got off the road, in fact they wanted them because they make good manure. I am doing french as well as latin now, and I think I like the latin better. Tomorrow I decline that old 'Bonus,' 'Bona,' 'Bonum' thing, but I think it is very hard (not now of course but it was).
Diabolos are all the go here, evrrey body has one except us, I don't think the Lewis temper would hold out do you? Jackie Calwell has one and can do it beautifully (wish I could)
your loving
brother Jacks
To his brother (LP III: 75–6):
Little Lea.
Strandtown.
[c. 1906]
My dear Warnie
I am sorrey that I did not write to you before. At present Boxen is slightly convulsed. The news has just reached her that King Bunny is a prisoner. The colonists (who are of course the war party) are in a bad way: they dare scarcely leave their houses because of the mobs. In Tararo the Prussians and Boxonians are at fearful odds against each other and the natives.
Such were the states of affairs recently: but the able general Quicksteppe is taking steps for the rescue of King Bunny. (the news somewhat pacified the rioters.)
your loving
brother Jacks.
To his brother (LP III: 79):
Little Lea.
Strandtown.
18 May 1907
My dear Warnie,
Tommy is very well thank you. We have got the telephone in to our house. Is Bennett beter again, as he has been ill you see that you are not the onley boy who stayes at home.
We have nearly seteld that we are going to france this summer, all though I do not like that country I think I shall like the trip, wont you. I liked the card you sent me, I have put it in the album. I was talking to the Greaves through the telephone I wanted Arthur but he was out and I onley got Thom.
I am sorry I can't give you any news about Nearo, but I have not got anny to give. The grass in the front is coming up nicely. It is fearfully hot here. I have got an adia, you know the play I was writing. I think we will try and act it with new stage don't say annything about it not being dark we will have it up stairs and draw the thick curtains and the wight ones, the scenery is rather hard, but still I think we shall do it.
your loving
brother Jacks
The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume 1
Family Letters, 1905-1931. Copyright © by C. Lewis. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.
