Code letter

8 August 1904. The affection felt by Tolkien for Father Francis is shown in this ingenious pictorial code-letter in which the twelve-year old schoolboy invites 'M-eye deer owl-d France-hiss' to come and visit him. His preoccupation with languages, rhymes and pictures is already apparent and the letter ends with a limerick: There was an old priest naméd Francis Who was so fond of "cheefongy" dances That he sat up too late And worried his pate Arranging these Frenchified Prances

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