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STANDARD LETTER-WRITER.
11
undertaken me, and, of course, I am very much
in love, and as silly as all single gentlemen
must be in that sentimental situation. I have
been accepted these three weeks, but when the
event will take place I don’t exactly know. It
depends partly upon the lawyers, who are never
ina hurry. One can be sure of nothing, but at
present there seems to be no other interruption
to this intention, which seems as mutual as pos-
sible, and now no; secret, though I did not tell
first, and all our relations are congratulating
away to right and left in the most fatiguing man-
nor. You perhaps know the lady. She is niece
to- and cousin to and others of your
acquaintance, and has no fault except being a
great deal too‘ good for me; and that I must
‘pardon if nobody else should, It might have
deen two years ago, and if it had, would have
saved me a world of trouble. She has em-
ployed the interval in refusing about half-a-
. dozen of my particular friends (as she did me
once, by the way), and has taken me at last, for
which Iam very much obliged to her. I wish it
was all well over, for I hate bustle, and there is
’ mo marrying without some; and then I must not
marry ina black coat, they tell me; and I can’t
bear a blue one. Pray forgive me for scribbling
all this nonsense.
Believe me,
Most sincerely yours,
~ ——_———.)
No. 48.
Containing a Matrimonial Proposal to a Lady,
from @ Gentleman almost a Stranger.
(Address————_————_)
. (Date in full—_-_—--__)
3 ——:
- Leannot conceal from myself that in ad-
dressing you I commit a well-nigh unpardonable
breach of etiquette; but when I explain how
very far it is from my intention to utter a word
caléulated to give you pain, perhaps you will
mot only forgive me, but feel interested in this
Jetter. [have endeavored to procure an intro-
duction to your friends, and explain frankly my
position and prospects, with a view to obtaining
their sanction to the step which I now take; but
being a total stranger in this neighborhood, in-
deed only a bird of passage, Iam unable to
obtain the much-coveted introduction. I have,
therefore, if I must not give up all hope of mak-
ang myself really known to you. no option but to
approach yourself, and tell the story of an at-
¢achment which I can no longer hide.
-* Since arriving here, I have seen you frequent-
dy, and on more than one occasion met you at
Miss Andsell’s library. I cannot say whether I
have been fortunate enough to be remembered
Dy you; but this I can eay, you made an impres-
sion upon me which I can never forget. learly
Decame conseious of that impression, and en-
deavored to forget 1t if possible, fearing that as
a stranger I need never hope to have the honor |.
and happiness of addressing you. But, sa far
* from being able to weaken its influence, I con-
fess myself powerless to prevent it from widen-
dng and deepening, and affecting my peace of
mind. 1 cannot expect that you can li
anything I have to say now, but may I not, when
T have written to your father, Mr. ———, asking
his permission to pay my addresses to. you ?
I remain,
- Mis
1S ———»
A sincere admirer,
———_———.
No. 49.
Requesting Permission to pay Addresses to a
* Lady. .
(Address
7} (Date in full
Sin
Riaving only recently arrived in this neigh-
vorhood, and being here quite a stranger, lam
unable to introduce myself in any other way
than by frankly stating that I wish to pay my
addresses to your daughter. I took the very
great libérty “of writing to her in the first in-
atance, and the letter I wrote you have no doubt
Let me hope that you understand how
anxious I am to act in no other respect than as &
gentleman 8o unfortunately cireumstanced in
respect of acquaintances here, that he had no
choice but to adopt a course which is most
unusual, and, in some cases, unpardonable. I
<an assure you that nothing would give me
greater pain were I told that you thought my
<onduct reprehensible, for it has indeed, Sir,
deen my sincere and serious desire to say or do
.
or any of
nothing calculated to pain Miss
the members of her family. +
T have been induced to visit ———, partly on
account of the scenery and air, and partly be-
cause I like a change in holiday rambling; an:
my visit has been prolonged in consequence of
having seen and admired your danghter. Iam
a son of Mr. -———, of —-—, and my friends
are respectable, if not wealthy. I have assisted
my father in business for many years past, and, in
the course of one or two more, I will be admitted
apartner, Were you to allow me to call upon
you, I could more fully explain my position and
prospects, and, moreover, assure you that lam
ready to take any step pointed out by you, the
result of which would induce Miss to look
upon me in the light of an admirer.
am,
Sir,
Your obedion’ servant,
+)
No. 50.
Granting a Gentieman Permission to Call.
(Address -
(Date in full
Sre:
Your letter to my daughter'was shown to
me, and although I certainly disapprove of the
course you adopted, there is evidently so much
sincerity in it and the one addressed to me yes-
terday, that I cannot refuse you permission to
call, but it must be on the distinct understand-
ing that, until you obtain my consent, you must
not address my daughter again.
I shall be disengaged at 11 o’clock to-morrow
morning.
Your obedient servant,
(—-—— —
[Name and Address.]
No. 51.
Refusing a Gentleman Permission to Call,
(Address ——————_)
(Date in full_—————__)
Sm:
I have been favored with a letter from you,
asking permission to call upon me, with a view
to entering on an engagement with my daughter,
and in reply, while thanking you for the confi
dence reposed in myself and Mi
though we are total strangers, permit me to say,
that an interview is undesirable, and any
further correspondence unacceptable.
m,
28 ———, al-
sir,
Your obedient servant,
¢
(Name and Address.]
. —
No. 52.
From a Young Tradesman to a Gentleman re-
questing Permission to Visit his Daughter.
(Address ——————_)
(Date in full
Sra:
I trust that the integrity of my intention will
be sufficient excuse for my freedom, in saying
that I hold your daughter Miss in the
highest esteem and regard. Itis not my wish
to take any steps towards making myself better
known to her without first obtaining your con-
sent, which I am in hopes you will not withhold,
when satisfied as regards my respectability and
prospects. You are, I think, already acquainted
with several members of my family. I believe
you have heard also that since commencin
usiness I have been moderately successful, an
I hope you have seen nothing of me which you
disapprove of, I may not for a little time be
able to maintain a home such as I would like,
but by paying attention to my connection, and
exercising care in dealing with my small capital,
I think Iwill soon be able to give effect to my
wishes. My chief object now is to request per-
mission to visit your daughter, but before you
grant that permission or refuse it, allow me to
call upon you at an early moment, when I will
more fully explain myself, as 1 earnestly hope,
to your satisfaction, and take my encouragement
or discouragement from your own lips,
am,
Sir, .
Your obedient servant,
[Name and Address.]
No. 53.
From a‘ Gentleman who has seen a Lady in
Pubic to her Mother.
(Address
(Date in full———-_——_}
AM: .
Ishall be very happy if you are not al-
together unacquainted with the name which is
at the bottom of this letter, for thereby the ne-
cessity of saying something about myself which
had better’ be heard from’ others would be
obviated.
Iwas yesterday at , and was informed
that a lady I saw there has the happiness to be
your daughter. It is on account of that lady
that 1 now venture to write to you. Although [
am aware that this is a most unusual mode of
introducing myself, still finding no other course
open, and being of opinion that nothing deserves
censure which is tru& honorable and undis-
ised, I believe you will pardon me. The
berty I take now 1s to say, that if honored
with your permission to pay my addresses to
188 , 1 shall consider myself among the
most fortunate of men. I do not know, of course,
whether she is engaged or not, for lam an en-
tire stranger. But if she be not, 1 beg that after
you have inquired from others who itis that re-
questa the honor of being introduced to her, you
will favor me with an answer. However much
Tobject to the use of sentiment on an occasion
such as this, it would be an injustice to. myself,
were I not to say that my mind will be very il
at ease until I know how this address has been
received. Nor would it be satistactory to you
were I to conclude without saying that the Kev.
is a mutual! friend.
Madam,
With greatest respect,
Your obedient servant,
(———)
[Name and Addresé.]
No. 54.
Proposing toa Young Lady in the Country.
{Address}
(Date in full—_——--_)
Dear Miss ———:
Anxious though I was before leaving
——— to confide in pour keeping a most import-
ant secret, I had to hurry away with it etill un-
told. .It ia not one that can be well imparted in
a letter, and certainly not one that could be en-
trusted to a friend, however faithful he might
be. It must be whiepered to be really liked,
and that in some quiet spot, away from jealous
eyes and curious ears. It will be weeks, however,
before I can leave town again, and time is often
fatal to secrets suchas mine. Have you ever
thought that 1 had one? I mean something you
would like te hear. I hope so, tor then you will
understand my anxiety to make it yours. I
sometimes fancied you observed that I was ill at _.
ease when others were present, and look
happy when we were alone. I don’t think I was
able to conceal altogether what I felt when near
you. I could not do so, believing as I did, an
do now more than ever, that you were becoming
very dear tome. The truthis, dear Miss 7
thaf 1 love you, and cannot rest while this
secret remains untold, and until I know whether
there is sorrow or happiness in store forme. I
can say little in my own favor, nothing more
than that if you will make me the custodian of
your affection, I will be ever loving and true.
Let me strive to earn something more than your
regard. 1 will wait and watch, work and love,
and curb my impatience, if you but tell me f
may hope. Do not hastily say nay; give me the
benefit of every doubt, and let your heart and
not your judgment decide. You know, I dare
gay, that I am not a rich man, indeed, I am
comparatively Poors but I have sufficient to
maintain a comfortable home, and something to
spare. May look for an answer? I trust one
will come soon, and such as my heart craves for.
Beheve me, :
My dear Mies ———
Your attached,
(—_——_.
No. 55.
In Answer to a Favorable Reply from the Lady.
» (Address———-——_—-)
(Date in full-—_—-__)
¥ DEAR ———:
You have banished all my doubis and fears,
and these before your letter arrived were legion.
l allowed them to seize upon me, and make me
‘a*
