I suppose a skonk had been there or else a hen In the shape of a skonk

Kids write the funniest things

Jul 16, 2022

Emily Dickinson posting her letter in 1842. (Photo: Getty.)

[T]he chickens grow very fast I am afraid they will be so large that you cannot perceive them with the naked Eye when you get home the yellow hen is coming off with a brood of chickens we found a hens nest with four Eggs in it I took out three and brought them in the next day I went to see if there had been any laid and there had not been any laid and the one that was there had gone so I suppose a skonk had been there or else a hen In the shape of a skonk and I dont know which.

11-year-old Emily Dickinson
Letter to her brother
18th April 1842

We went out for a walk with Stella this morning up to the pond and there were a lot of big boats. Mrs Prinsep says that she will only go in a slow train cos she says all the fast trains have accidents and she told us about an old man of 70 who got his legs caute in the weels of the train and the train began to go on and the old gentleman was draged along till the train caute fire and he called out for somebody to cut off his legs but nobody came he was burnt up. Good bye

6-year-old Virginia Woolf
Letter to her mother
1888

You must know that after my Georgraphy, she [his sister, Caroline] said I should go down to ask for Richards poney, just as I was going, she said she must ask me not a very decent question, that was whether I wash all over every morning. No. Then she said it was quite disgustin, then she asked me if I did every other morning, and I said no, then she said how often I did, and I said once a week, then she said of course you wash your feet every day, and I said no, then she begun saying how very disgusting and went on that way a good while, then she said I ought to do it, I said I would wash my neck and shoulders, then she said you had better do it all over, then I said upon my word I would not, then she told me, and made me promise I would not tell, then I said, well I only wash my feet once a month at school, which I confess is nasty, but I cannot help it, for we have nothing to do it with, so then Caroline pretended to be quite sick, and left the room, so then I went and told my brother, and he burst out in laughing and said I had better tell her to come and wash them herself, besides that she said she did not like sitting by me or Erasmus for we smelt of not washing all over, there we sat arguing away for a good while.

12-year-old Charles Darwin
Letter to a friend
4th January 1822

I have spent a very pleasant morning and I hardly dare to speak to Annie [her sister] for fear she should speak unkindly and get me angry. O she is so very very cross I cannot love her it seems as though she did every thing to trouble me but I will try to love her better, I hope you have spent a pleasant morning. Please axcept this book mark from your affectionate daughter.

10-year-old Louisa May Alcott
Letter to her mother
8th October 1843