you will guess that it is not very far from my heart. I need not inform you, for you know it well, that you have my entire and undivided affection, and that I look forward to your return with the most pleasurable emotions. I am 'n excellent health, but cannot know real happiness until I share it with you. There, now I think you will not complain that I do not reciprocate your devotion. According to the rules of etiquette I suppose I ought to be more reserved; but truth is truth, and you shall never have aught else From your attached

TO WILLIAM ARCHER, ESQ., Chicago, Ill.

KATE MARTIN.

A Colder Response.

BLEECKER ST., NEW YORK, Sept. 16th, 18-.

DEAR SIR,-I think your expressions of regard are somewhat too extravagant. I am not fond of rhapsodies, and do not wish you to take it for granted, as I presume you do, that I am pining for your presence.

A passion so very ardent as you represent yours to be, is not apt to be lasting, I am afraid. Affection that is to last for a lifetime should be calm and rational. I do not wish to hurt your feelings, but really a less exalted style of language would better suit the taste and temperament of,

Yours truly,

KATE MARTIN.

TO WILLIAM ARCHER, ESQ., Chicago, Ill.

To a Lady, after a short Acquaintance.

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10th, 18-.

DEAR MISS GROVER,-It is with no small degree of mistrust as to the reception you will give this epistle, that I now venture to address you; and, as my future happiness

may in a great measure depend on your answer, I entreat you to give the following expression of my sentiments your most favorable consideration, attributing to the warmth of my feelings whatever may appear bold or presumptuous in my language or manner.

Though it is but a short time since we first met, and our intercourse has been comparatively limited, the impression created on my heart by your good sense, amiability of disposition and accomplishments, is a most pleasing, and, unless I greatly deceive myself, I believe, a permanent one. You may have perhaps observed that latterly my attentions were directed to you in a manner sufficiently pointed to show that some more than ordinary feelings prompted them, and—pardon my self-gratulations-I do not think these attentions were altogether disagreeable to you. To me, indeed, the hours I have passed in your society have afforded the most delightful enjoyment, and my ardent desire is to cherish a more intimate acquaintance with one for whom I entertain so high an esteem.

Should I be so happy as to receive your kind permission to wait upon you with the approval of your parents, a note in reply will confer a great favor on,

Dear Miss Grover,

Your sincere friend and admirer,

DEAR SIR,-Your letter of Wednesday has somewhat surprised me, and, although I cannot deny that I feel pleasure in having elicited such honorable sentiments from

you, I am at the same time aware, from our very brief acquaintance, that it is possible a momentary impulse may be mistaken for a permanent impression. On consideration of the circumstances, therefore, I resolved to place your letter in the hands of my parents, who, it seems, have not been unobservant of those attentions to which you allude, and as they have reason to believe, from your character, that the high compliment you have paid me has been done with a delicate sense of honor, they have permitted me to reply at discretion, cautioning me only, not to be too hasty in giving to, or receiving from another, such a promise as may involve the happiness of a whole life. Meantime, therefore, I must beg of you, until we know more of each other, to excuse my giving any direct sanction to your addresses.

Mamma begs to say she will be glad to have the pleasure of your company to meet a few friends at tea on Tuesday evening, if you are not otherwise engaged.

DEAREST MISS GROVER,-I cannot allow the day to close without making an attempt, however feeble, to express the delight I have experienced in perusing your letter. And such a letter! How frank and candid in its tone! how gentle and confiding in its sentiments! Believe me, words cannot describe the ecstasy of my feelings on reading it, nor tell how the thousand doubts and fears which had agitated me, gave place to feelings of unbounded felicity

on finding my flattering hopes have not been in vain! Tomorrow, then, I shall avail myself of your kind permission to wait upon you; and allow me to add, my most fervent wish is that the intimacy thus begun may result in our mutual love and happiness. In anticipation of the blissful hour when I shall hasten to your presence, believe me, Dearest Miss Grover,

To the Same, after longer Acquaintance, proposing Marriage.

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20th, 18—.

DEAREST JANE,—The delightful hours I have passed in your society have left an impression on my mind that is altogether indelible, and cannot be effaced even by time itself. The frequent opportunities I have possessed, of observing the thousand acts of amiability and kindness which mark the daily tenor of your life, have ripened my feelings of affectionate regard into a passion at once ardent and sincere, until I have at length associated my hopes of future happiness with the idea of you as a life-partner in them. Believe me, dearest Jane, this is no puerile fancy, but the matured result of a long and warmly cherished admiration of your many charms of person and mind. It is love-pure, devoted love: and I feel confident your knowledge of my character will lead you to ascribe my motives to their true source.

May I then implore you to consult your own heart, and, should this avowal of my fervent and honorable passion for you be crowned with your acceptance and approval, to

grant me permission to refer the matter to your parents. Anxiously waiting your answer,

To a Gentleman, after considerable Intimacy, in Answer to a Proposal of Marriage.

THURSDAY, Oct. 21st, 18-.

DEAR HENRY,-I have just perused your too flattering letter, and, believe me, I feel so excited that I scarcely know how or what to reply. You cannot but have observed that the favorable impressions I received on the night of our first meeting, have gradually deepened as our intimacy matured, and it would be false modesty in me now to disclaim a feeling of the sincerest and most affectionate regard for you, after such undoubted proofs of your attachment. Dear Henry, my heart is yours. Need I say more than that your proposals to my parents will find a warm and not uninterested advocate, in one to whom the acceptance of them will be happiness-their rejection a misfortune?

Excuse the brevity of this letter, for I cannot trust myself to say more than that I am,

RESPECTED SIR,-I have ventured to hope that you will call all your friendly feelings to my assistance in consider