On this day in 1898, Clive Staples Lewis was born. Here he is at 1 year.
His first letter (that exists in the 3 volume collection) was written from home in Belfast to his older brother, “Warnie”, about November of 1905. Warnie was away at boarding school in England. In this letter he referred to a pet canary, Peter, as well as a housemaid named Maude who saved bird before it become a meal for a stray cat. He also noted that a mouse got into Peter’s cage. Keeping with the pet theme, He also describes a fit by their dog, Tim, that included “foaming at the mouth” and “shuddering”.
In a longer paragraph he describes several matters including the “great fun” that was enjoyed on “Halow-een”, gathering leaves, and his study of French and Latin. He indicates a preference for the Latin. (His mother taught him the languages) His final comment to his brother was about diabolos, and the fact that they were “all the go” and that “evrry body has one except us,” it turns out to be a top-like toy.
He signs the letter:
“your loving
brother Jacks”
So goes the first extant writing of C. S. Lewis.
For those unaware, after the death of a dog named Jacksie when Lewis was 4, he decided he would thereafter be known as Jacks. This evolved to Jack as he grew older.
Happy 125th Jacks!
P.S. I thought I missed it, but a buddy set me straight about the date. Thx Tony
kingdom travelin' 
Amazing post
This is such a fascinating insight into the early life of C.S. Lewis! It’s amazing to think that this letter was the first extant writing of his. I’m curious, did C.S. Lewis continue to incorporate his love for pets and animals in his later works?
Anette Walsh
BestDogsStuff.com
I’m not aware of this affection for pets lasted very long at all. He would soon be sent to boarding schools (at about 10 after the death of his mother). That would have brought the keeping of pets to an abrupt end. There may have been a dog at the Kilns, but that’s not a fact.
Perhaps if you read the Chronicles of Narnia and the first two of his space trilogy, you’ll see that animals (though not exactly at pets) continued to hold a place in his imagination (at least).