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A | STANDARD LETTER-WRITER.
feeling, and wish sincerely you had thought a
little Lefore writing, and sayed me‘the pain of
eaying “‘ No.” say ‘*‘No;”. but let us remain
friends and forget this incident.
I remain,
Dear Sir,
Your sincere well wisher,
: rien
es
. No. 21.
From a Lady to a Gentleman accepting a Pro-
. posal, .
Address——__—_—_—_)
(Date in full—-_————-—)
‘My pear Sir:
I confess that your letter, although a
surprise, was an agreeable one, and I should in-
deed be remiss were I to allow it to remain un-
answered longer than [ can help. And yet itis
after all a difficult task, inasmuch as one’s
thoughts are not, on a morning like this, likely
to be steadfast, but on the contrary, are provok-
‘ingly erratic. I am sure, however, you will quite
understand me when { say that I have known
and believed you were good many a long day
ago, and that when your attentions became
marked I prayed to be made worthy to become
‘yours. Itis well that we have known each other
80 long, for had you spoken sooner, I would
have feared lest I might bring you unhappiness.
ut I-now can answer with all happiness and
sincerity ‘‘Yes” to the question your letter
asks. Ihave told my father that you are com-
ang to see him, and he will be sure to make you
welcome.
Believe me,
My dear Sir,
w Yours sincerely,
(--————-)
No. 22. ;
Another Letter accepting a Proposal.
(Address ——
(Date in full )
My pear WILLIE: .
Are you really in earnest and not
joking? Whatyou say in your letter seems too
“good to be true, and I am afraid to take it to
Rear altogether lest it takes wings like a dream
-and flee from me, at a goose | am—only I
ama very happy goose, and wouldn't exchange
places just now with not even one of the royal
~princesses. That is, if I were compelled to
marry anybody but my own satlor-boy—sailor-
“prince I ought to say, for he is all that to me,
And so you were afraid to speak or write for
‘fear I would say ‘“‘No.” I am sure I never
looked cross or likely to say ‘*No.’’ But really,
my dear Willie, you have made me very happy,
-for you carried away my heart long ago and
never brought it back. You will see papa, of
-course, and tell him how we are to live, and if
he finds out that we have not half enough he will,
‘perhaps, give us something ont of his “ locker,”
vas he calls his desk, which I shall spend like a
good careful housekeeper, and never waste any-
‘thing. I forgot, my dear, we are not married
yet; but your letter set me thinking of a thou-
-sand things, which had no business in my head
now. me immediately after you get this and
“tell me that'it’s ail true.
Dear Willie,
urer yours,
No. 23.
Another Letter accepting a Proposal.
(Address ———————__ -
(Date in fali_——————_}
“My pear Ropert:
You ask me very plainly whether I
will be your wife, and I answer with equal can-
dor, I will, Ihave no wish to conceal the fact
that you are more to me than any other bein
-on earth, but I was beginning tofear that the af-
fection was all on my side, and you know that
women must keep their secret hid. I am no
-longer a girl, but I was one when we met first,
when you- told me tyhat I have always re-
membered, that you cared for me. I shall not
cast a reflection on those who separated us.
-have thought it hard that they should have
_done ao, but now all that was sore is forgotten.
“You will come here soon and see us,
* And Believe me. :
My dear Robert,
Yours always,
~
°
o No. 24.
From a Lady complaining of her Lover’s silence.
(Aadress————_—_—__)
(Date in full_—_————_—_
My DEAREST <
Your silence makes me very aneasy,
as I have not heard from you since the 5th of
November, a very, very long time, I think—and
Iam sure you think eighteen days along time to
pass without writing me a line. I tear greatly
something very wroug is the matter, because it
is so unlike you to leave me without a word ot
enquiry. [had a newspaper from you on this
day week. I was glad to see it because you ad-
dressed it, but you know 2 newspaper is a bad
Substitute for “ thoughts that breathe and words
that bura,” such as your lettersare. Iam very
much distressed and depressed, and nothing
will cheer me but a letter from you. Write im-
mediately
To your own
(
—-—.)
No. 25.
From a Lady making Enquiries respecting the
f lace of Marriage, ete.
{Address————_—_—_—_)
(Date in full——-
My DEAREST ———:
Just time before the post leaves to say
Ihave received your letter and am well. I go
home at Christmas; will you arrange to come
there, and if my father agrees to my being mar-
ried in Boston, the notion might be carried out.
Will you be pteased to have my charming coun-
tenance opposite you at breakfast? You must
make a wonderful pet of me, and I shall forget
the melancholy habit of fretting I have.
ere are we to live in Boston? Write me
full particulars.
Adieu,
Believe me,
Ever yours, ,
No. 26.
A Lady writing to her Lover on Christmas Eve.
(Address —____—_)
‘ (Date in full
My DEAREsT ———:
My first duty, nay, my first pleasure, is to
write to you and wish you a merry Christmas,
and to express to you a little of the great hope
that your life may be blessed and your_path
prosperous. I wish mndeed, my dear, I had
some better gift to offer you to-morrow. But
the willis here, though not the power, and you
will take that will for the deed, and believe that
could I show more substantially than by words
my warm wishes for you it should be gladly
one.
On this Christmas Eve I feel a kind of solemn
happiness dwelling in my heart I cannot at all
express—feelings that bring my spirit often to
its knees as it were, and dim my eyes. Heaven
bless you, dearest, for all your goodness to me,
and may the kindness and love you have given
me be repaid tenfold into your own bosom by
im with whom all goodness dwells. Good-
bye, and with much love and many a warm wish
for you future,
Believe me,
Ever your own
(—
No. 27.
From a Lady explaining a misunderstanding.
(Address ——_—_—_—_____}
(Date in full
My DEAREST ——~—:
_, You surely never really thought that Iwas
guilty of ‘‘tlirting” with a stranger at the
Wilsons’, even though a report was spread to
that effect. Yet the tone of your letter, more
than qour words, seems to imply that you ac-
cepted the statement as true, without even ask-
ing me, with whom you profess to have reposed
undoubted confidence, whether or not I had al-
lowed the stranger to pay me marked attention.
My dear, Iam sorely grieved to think that you are
capable of doubting me, for I fear there is un-
happiness in store for us both if you allow idle
tales to catch your ear, Now the true story of
my meeting with the stranger is this: He has
recently returned from the West Coast of Africa,
where he saw John, who gave him a letter of in-
troduction to my father. I saw him on t
night of his arrival at the Wilsons’, and was in-
troduced to him as John’s sister. Was it not
ima
@
natural that { should inquire for my brother and
ask him questions about the mode of life on the
West Coast? I was interested, not in the gentie-
man himself, butin his story, and listened eager-
ly as he told it, and from my attention to it
probably arose the report that reached your,
ears,
I have entered into this explanation because
I feel you were not really yourself when you
wrote. You will write to me by return, dear,
and say that after all you didn’t believe what
was told you
About your own
(
-—.)
No. 28.
A Letter of Expostulation.
(Address. —)
(Date in full—-——_—_}
My prEaR ———:
I have lately observed with very great
sorrow that your interest in my society and my
plans has been rapidly lessening, and I tear now
it has no real existence. You come here very
seldom, and never to spend the evening as you
used to do, and when I express a wish of any
kind it seems to fall on a deaf ear. How has
such a change been wrought? I have never
been exacting or jealous, nor troubled you when
1 saw you were weary or more disposed to visit
your friends instead of coming to me. Ah, I
fear there is something wreng, some trouble ap-
proathing which will make this poor heart of
mine ache. When first you came it was with a
winning smile and a willing step. You were im-
atient until we saw each other; and when we
id, you thought the time flew fast away. . Now
your step is slow, and there is no smile; the
time hangs heavy, and the moment you seem
pleased, 18 when we are not alone.
The change has been noticed, not by me only,
but by all here, and much surprise has been
expressed atit. But how can I explain when [
myself am in the dark? Is it that you are tred
of coming here and wish to break off the en-
gagement, oris there some great sorrow hang-
ing over you? If you wish to leave me you have
but to speak and you are free. Ifit be trouble,
why not tell me and let us all gather round you
and save you from it. You are sadly mistaken
if you think I would care for you less were you
poorer, and as mistaken if you think me a bar
to another attachment.
You will write and tell me what I am to think,
for this dreadful suspense is more than I can
ear, ~ ,
, Still your own ;
(- .
No. 29.
Breaking off an Engagement.
(Address ——-—————_)
(Date in fall—~———-—_)
My DEAR ———:
I can understand your letter, although
it was not such as [ expected. Itis as if. you
were undecided, whether to go or come, which
means to me that you wish to go. I have made
up your letters and presents into a small packet
whieh will be left with this at your office, and
when you have time please return the letters
you have of mine.
. Good bye, )
(-—-———.
No. 30.
Renewing an Engagement.
{Address—-——.
(Date in fall
My DEAR ———: -
It appears I have been sadly mistaken
in supposing you- wished to desert me. But
why did you not tell me you were in difficulties .
and I would have told you you were dearer te
me than ever? Come to me early, and bring with
you all your letters, for I am anxious to have
them in my safe keeping again. You may be
sure that you are doubly welcome now that we
know all
Ever your own
(——— a,
No. 31.
Stating Objections to an Early Marriage.
(Address.
———
(Date in fnll——-—_——_-__}
My prEar ———:
may be sure I was pleased to get
your last letter; your letters are always pleas-
