Year: 1877




Letter-writing is very much a matter of
habit and for that reason it is important
that young people should learn early to
consider it pleasant way of communi-
eating thoughts and feelings to their
friends, instead Of burdensome task to be
got over as quickly as possible.


We often hear people excuse themselves
by saying they have no "gilt for writing
letters" us though it were something like
an ear for music, only accorded to Il favor
ed few. But the truth is, that any one
can write interesting and pleasant letters,
who will take little trouble and really
persevere in the effort The grand diff
Guilty in the way, is that they are too sell
fish, and too indolent to try. Nothing
that is worth anything comes without ef-
fort and if you do not care enough about
gratifying your friends to take Il little
pains for it, you deserve never TO receive
any letters yourselves.


A few simple rules, carefully observed,
will help you over some of the things
which you call difficulties. In the first
place, afaOayS Write distinctly. 1t destroys
much Of the pleasure in receiving n letter
if it cannot be read without puzzling over
every word. Many an epistle, written on
heavy, cream-laid paper, with monogram
at the top, is only an annoyance to the one
to whom it is addressed, on account of
pale ink and careless hand. writing.


BE particular in the matter of dating,
giving every item distinctly, and sign tie
letter with your full name. If this habit
is formed, you will not run the risk of
losing valuable letters. which cannot be
forwarded from the Dead Letter Office,
unless accompanied with the full address.


You will find it more easy to reply to a
letter soon after you get it than if You
neglect it for n few weeks, because YOU
will have the impression which the first
reading made upon you. Tell youl
friend, when you received the letter which
you are answering, and take up the top
rs in the order in which they naturally
come, remembering 10 answer all the
questions that have been asked TRY It
think what your friend would like to heal
best about, and when yoa undertake t.
tell anything, do not leave it half told.
but finish the story. People who are moi
careful about this often give II false i'm
preston, without meaning to do so. Fol
Instance, one of those careless writer's, in
giving an account Of fire, simply STATED
that the house was burned, without giving
any qualifications, thus giving the impress
sion that it was entirely consumed, thereby
causing II whole family much unnecessary
trouble and anxiety, as the actual burning
in question was very slight.


Do not consider anything too trivial tC
write about which you would think wortl
mentioning in conversation. Writing let
tiers is simply talking upon paper, anc
your friends will be much more entertain
ed by the narration of little every day af
fairs than by profound observations upor
topics which you care nothing about.


In writing to very intimate friends, who
will be interested in the details of youl
daily life, it is well, sometimes, to make
your letter IL sort of diary-tclling some
thing of how you have spent each day
since you wrote last; what books vol
have been reading. what letters you have
received from mutual friends, and wha
you have heard or seen which has inter
ested you.


Write all that you have to say on one
; subject at once. That is, do not begin tC
tell about your garden, and then abou
your school, and then about your garden
again, but finish one subject before you
begin another. Do not be afraid of using
the pronoun I.