LESSON CXXXVII. LETTER-WRITING.-RULES FOR IT. This is one of the necessities, one of the amenities, and may become one of the high accomplishments of life. Great skill and excellence in the performance of it should therefore be earnestly sought, and, if possible, attained. It should be made as much like conversation as possible. It should communicate on paper what you would communicate orally to your correspondents, could they present themselves before you. The best preparation for it, therefore, is to consider what you would say were the time for conversation very limited, admitting of no more to be said than your letter-sheet can include. This thought will give conciseness, terseness, importance, and comprehensiveness to every sentence. RULES FOR LETTER-WRITING. 1. The style should be simple and natural, as that which should be observed in conversation. Sprightliness and wit, however, if spontaneous and easy, may be happily and advantageously introduced. 2. The style should not be too highly polished, as it will then appear elaborate. It ought to be neat and correct, but no more. The best letters, commonly, are those which are written with rapidity, under the dictation of a warm heart or a glowing imagination. 3. What has been said does not imply that the style or manner of writing may be careless or slovenly. In writing even to a most familiar friend, a certain degree of attention and care to please, is due to him and to yourself. 4. In letter-writing, as in conversation, it is necessary to attend to all the decorums which our own character, and that of others, deman ls. We should never be rude or disrespectful. 5. Another good rule in letter-writing is, that we must never say what is not true, and should seldom tell what is not worth knowing. Truthfulness and importance in our statements should be studied. 6. In writing to a man of business, on affairs of business, as brevity is the soul of wit, so is it the soul of the business letter. Three counsels here are appropriate: first, use as few compliments as common courtesy will allow; secondly, never say any thing that has nothing to do with the subject; and, thirdly, write all that the subject really requires, and say that in the most perspicuous manner, that your correspondent shall not be able to misunderstand what you have written. Let not brevity lead you to omit any important particular. 7. The dignity of the style must be adapted to the age and attainments of our correspondent. It would be ridiculous to write to a child in the same strain as to a person of mature mind; to an uneducated person, as to a man of learning and varied acquirements. Here good sense must guide us, as it would in conversation. "That epistolary style," says a judicious writer, "is clearly the best, whether easy or elaborate, simple or adorned, which is best adapted to the subject, to time, to place, and to person; which, upon grave and momentous topics, is solemn and dignified; on common themes, terse, easy, and only not careless; on little and trifling matters, gay, airy, lively, and facetious; on jocular subjects, sparkling and humorous; in formal and complimentary addresses, embellished with rhetorical figures, and finished with polished periods; in persuasion, bland, insinuating, and ardent; in exhortation, serious and sententious; on prosperous affairs, open and joyous; on adverse, pensive and tender. A different style is often necessary on the same topics: to old people, and to young; to men, and to women; to rich, and to poor; to the great, and to the little; to scholars, and to the illiterate; to strangers, and to familiar companions." LESSON CXXXVIII. ADDITIONAL RULES FOR LETTER-WRITING. SPECIMENS. 8. The careful perusal of such well-written letters as are met with in good authors, sometimes in newspapers; but, above all, a regular and frequent correspondence with persons who write well, should be practised, as among the best means of excelling in this most useful, ornamental, and delightful art. 9. In letters of friendship and affection, beware of extravagant professions, and of affected sentimentalism. Never express more thar you feel. Expressions of unalterable attachment sometimes outlive what you express, and may expose you to reproach. Letters of condolence should be written in the most prudent and unaffected manner, and be limited to the occasion referred to. In letters of introduction, a sedulous regard to truth should be paid. It is usual to leave them unsealed, and to place on the back the name of the person therein introduced. 10. Do not regard as too formidable a task the writing of a letter. It is not to be regarded as a trial of skill, or a display of fine words, empty compliments, and pompous expressions; but as the communication to some friend, as if present, of what we really think, and feel, and desire. It is, to "say, in few and simple words, the things most important to be said; then things of minor importance, which yet may be interesting. If time and paper allow, put them all in; if not, leave out the most trifling. If, on the other hand, all is said, make a close, and do not, for the sake of filling your sheet, drawl on when you have nothing to say." 11. Not only write in a legible and good hand, but studiously avoid all errors in spelling, in the use of capitals, in punctuation, grammar, and rhetoric. When the length of your letter and the variety of topics justify the act, divide it into paragraphs of suitable length, so that the main topics may each be considered by itself. 12. As to the proper form and the several parts of a letter, the method of arranging the matter, the commencement and the close, -these things may be learned from the numerous specimens appended, some of which have been copied, with some slight alterations, from a recent London work, entitled "The Ladies' and Gentlemen's Letter-Writer." It requires some judgment and good sense, in certain cases, to decide whether we should commence a letter with "Sir," "Dear Sir," "My dear Sir;" or with "Madam," "Dear Madam," "My dear Madam ;" or "Miss "Dear Miss ," "My dear Miss Which of these should be adopted, depends on the relative position and familiarity of the parties. Relatives are of course addressed by the titles of relation which they bear; those of about the same age, or intimate friends, may be addressed by their Christian names: "My dear Fanny," "My dear Edward," &c. The name of the person referred to in the address, if inserted at all, may be placed on the first line, at the left, on the first page; or on the lowest line, at the left, on the last page. 13. Be careful what you write, since "what is written is written," and may be produced long after the occasion which prompted the letter. What you write may cost unavailing regret to yourself, or unhappiness and injury to others; therefore, “think before you write, and think while you are writing." 14. It is a matter of expediency to answer every letter, requiring an answer, as soon as practicable. This will save you and others, perhaps, from inconvenience or disappointment. In matters of business, delay may be attended with injury to parties concerned. From a Young Lady at school to her Mother. MY DEAREST MAMMA-Although I was almost heart-broken at parting from you, for the first time in my life, I felt that you would never have let me quit home but for my own good; and I hope I am not ungrateful enough to prefer mere selfish gratification to future welfare. I find school much less disagreeable than I had expected. There are, cf course, many varieties of disposition-for a school is like a little world, but, for the most part, the girls make themselves very pleasant to me. is kindness itself, and sets an example of mutual good-will tc Mrs. all of us. My studies are, I think, progressing satisfactorily, although I am, o course, in the background as yet, especially in my French. The music master is rather passionate, especially if we play out of time, which yon know, dear Mamma, used to be an unfortunate fault of your Julia's. But he takes great pains, and you will have less to complain of in my playing when I return. How I long to kiss and embrace you again! God bless you, dear Mamma, and believe me, To Mrs. Your ever affectionate child, Announcing the Vacation. MY DEAR PARENTS-It is with mingled feelings of regret and pleasure, that I announce that the termination of this half year's work is fixed for theth instant. I sincerely hope that I shall not only find you in excellent health, but that you will be satisfied with my improvement since I last left home. No pains have been spared by any of my teachers to ren der me worthy of your good opinion; and I must ever feel grateful both to them, and to yourselves, for the pains bestowed upon my education. Mrs. (or Miss) desires me to present her best compliments; and, with my best love to my sisters and brothers, believe me to remain, you are in want of a clerk, I beg to inclose testimonials, and venture to hope that from my previous experience in the line of business you pursue, I should be of some use in your establishment. My habits of life are such as to insure regularity in the discharge of my duties, and I can only assure you that, should you honor me with your confidence, I shall spare no pains to acquit myself to your satisfaction. I remain, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, To Messrs. Requesting the loan of some Books during Sickness. DEAR --I am far from well; indeed, I have been confined to my sofa for some days past, and have enjoyed no amusement but such as my few books afforded me. I write to beg the loan of some of the "Waverley" novels, of which I know you possess a complete set. They shall be taken every possible care of, and returned as regularly as read. Pray look in for an hour now and then, and speak a few words of comfort to To Miss Yours ever sincerely, The Answer. DEAR -How grieved I am to hear of your illness! I send you half a dozen volumes, which I hope will lighten the tediousness of your sofaconfinement, and will come and see you to-morrow morning. I should have done so ere now, but have been so variously engaged that I have scarcely had a minute to myself. Wishing sincerely to find you better, To Miss Yours ever affectionately, On returning a Borrowed Book. DEAR SIR-I return you the book which you were kind enough to lend me, and, with it, accept my best thanks for your kindness. The work is both interesting and instructive, and I have been much gratified by its |